best gauges to have

[coupe_nasty]

So i currently have greddy ext temp gauge, and greddy (bar) boost gauge. I am switching out my boost gauge with an aem tru boost gauge and also getting an aem ugeo wideband. Do i still need the ext temp gauge since im getting a wideband?

 

[Bud92gsx]

EGT is never a bad idea..The more gauges you have the better you will be able to moniter what's going on with the car..The problem lies in how and where to mount them all..

 

[kzoosho]

i would worry about oil psi before egt but if u can fit them all, run them all.

 

[CONSIGLIERI]

Hey friend, I would also go with Oil Press Gauge
Big trio:
- Boost
- Wideband
- Oil Press

 

[clipto]

Hey friend, I would also go with Oil Press Gauge
Big trio:
- Boost
- Wideband
- Oil Press

+1 on that. If you want to go to the extreme water temp is good and if your auto run a trans temp gauge.

 

[rubadubdub]

You can never have too many gauges because then you can monitor your car's performance without ever having to leave the driver's seat. I currently use Wideband, Boost, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp and Exhaust Temp. But I will be adding more so that I know what is happening at all times so that I am in control.

 

[Frskrgps]

in this case more is better +1 for being gauge happy

 

[newTSIguy]

I agree with every one above the more gauges the better. I don't know how deep your pockets are but I'm running Blitz DC2 gauges, there real nice because most of their gauges have dual monitoring, so for example my pressure gauge reads oil and fuel pressure, my egt is both egt and rpm, they are pricy, but you get more out of em and save space. Plus they have peak and hold function on them too,.

 

[wvturbo2]

I run boost, oil pressure, and voltage.. also a wideband. As for brand pro sport has good gauges at a great price

 

[El Cuervo]

One gauge that a lot of people take for granted and tend to forget a lot is the voltage meter gauge. Contrary to what some will say, the voltage is right there with the oil pressure gauge. Though not as accurate as an aftermarket, the stock oil pressure could give you a rough estimate of the oil pressure in your engine. It can also help you see if you are running low on oil when driving in conjunction with your oil light. However, this is not a way to replace or substitute checking your oil level via dip stick. The stock won't tell you either the exact oil psi since there isn't numbers there to read. Same with water temp and boost gauge.

A voltage gauge is important. I like to consider it as warning gauge. There isn't anything more horrible than your car loosing power and dying on you while on the interstate in the middle lane at rush hour. A voltage gauge can help you narrow down to your diagnosis on what happen. It can also warn you if your voltage is dropping while you are driving. This way you can take action sooner and merge to the shoulder or nearest ramp.
Again. It's a great gauge to have that many people take for granted.

So the must gauges to have in my opinion are :
Boost, wide band, oil press and voltage. The more you have the better. But I believe that these are a must to have.

 

[V12 Killa]

One gauge that a lot of people take for granted and tend to forget a lot is the voltage meter gauge. Contrary to what some will say, the voltage is right there with the oil pressure gauge. Though not as accurate as an aftermarket, the stock oil pressure could give you a rough estimate of the oil pressure in your engine. It can also help you see if you are running low on oil when driving in conjunction with your oil light. However, this is not a way to replace or substitute checking your oil level via dip stick. The stock won't tell you either the exact oil psi since there isn't numbers there to read. Same with water temp and boost gauge.

A voltage gauge is important. I like to consider it as warning gauge. There isn't anything more horrible than your car loosing power and dying on you while on the interstate in the middle lane at rush hour. A voltage gauge can help you narrow down to your diagnosis on what happen. It can also warn you if your voltage is dropping while you are driving. This way you can take action sooner and merge to the shoulder or nearest ramp.
Again. It's a great gauge to have that many people take for granted.

So the must gauges to have in my opinion are :
Boost, wide band, oil press and voltage. The more you have the better. But I believe that these are a must to have.

Couldn't of said it any better.

I have a Greddy EGT that I'm probably going to get rid of since its been dead for the longest while (needs a new probe) and replace it with a pil pressure over the winter. But I would like to add a fuel pressure gauge to the list because it's one of those gauges you can live without but great to have just in case (especially with no-start situations). I just turn on my fuel pump via DSMLINK and check if I'm getting fuel or not while still sitting in the car. I have mines tapped after the fuel filter btw. Just don't go overboard with gauges now

 

[pbwu1f]

Although I prefer aftermarket Oil and Water Temp gauges, I don't use them. Our cars already have them and they work fine for me and what I use them for. I do run Boost, Fuel pressure and Wideband. Now if I was building a drag car or something in that area, then I would have some extra gauges like Oil, Water Temp, Volt, and maybe an EGT.

 

[coupe_nasty]

i have an aftermarket voltage gauge. i forgot to mention that.

 

[El Cuervo]

A fuel pressure gauge is good to have but its not a must in the cabin. However, if you have a fuel pressure regulator, then yes, it makes it a must. Its best for it to be mounted on the fpr. You could also have it mounted in the cabin. However, as with an aftwrmarket oil pressure gauge, its recommended to use electronic gauges when mounted in the cabin. One disadvantage of mounting the fp gauge in the cabin is that it makes it hard to to properly adjust your fuel pressure via the fpr. If you have a walbro pump and a volt gauge, along with your fuel tank gauge, you can quickly diagnose or find out if the fuel pump is operating like it should. Because these pumps are pretty loud, you will be able to tell if the pump is malfunctioning just by listening to the change in sound or if there is any.

Yes the stock water temp and oil press gauges work well and you can get around them on a DD just by checking the oil dipstick and oil flow on the head by removing the oil cap and making sure you have a healthy flow on the cams at cold start, idle wot, etc. Checking oil press with the position of oil pressure gauge needle at different rpms and memorizing it. This can help you have a good idea of what's going on with the oil. Same goes with the water temp gauge but a bit simpler. If you know that the needle is pass the half way on the gauge, then you know that your engine is starting to over heat or running hotter than normal.
I just wish that the factory gauges had come with numbers or a proper reading.

 

[V12 Killa]

A fuel pressure gauge is good to have but its not a must in the cabin. However, if you have a fuel pressure regulator, then yes, it makes it a must. Its best for it to be mounted on the fpr. You could also have it mounted in the cabin. However, as with an aftwrmarket oil pressure gauge, its recommended to use electronic gauges when mounted in the cabin. One disadvantage of mounting the fp gauge in the cabin is that it makes it hard to to properly adjust your fuel pressure via the fpr. If you have a walbro pump and a volt gauge, along with your fuel tank gauge, you can quickly diagnose or find out if the fuel pump is operating like it should. Because these pumps are pretty loud, you will be able to tell if the pump is malfunctioning just by listening to the change in sound or if there is any.

True but personally I like it so can I can have a piece of mind that my fuel isn't leaking before reaching my injectors (Yes I think the worst can happen at any time ). Its great but not a must have. Forgot to mention, I have my Aero AFPR with a gauge tapped to it so I can adjust my fp w/o walking back and forth & its an electric one gauge, also.

 

[chipchip]

Does anybody know of a good mid priced boost gauge?

 

[gusu]

Does anybody know of a good mid priced boost gauge?

Prosport is cheap but good so is the AEM 30 psi gauge. The AEM is almost double the price as the prosport though.

 

[chipchip]

I just bought a STRI electronic gauge off of a member, just waiting for it to arrive in the mail. Thanks for your insight though!

 

[PanZero]

+1 on the voltage meter... I've had enough trouble with the battery and alternator already...

 

[PieEyedPiper]

The best gauges are matching gauges.

When I first started here on tuners the idea of spending ~$100 for a boost gauge was certainly distasteful but then someone put it to me this way; you have to sit there and have the damned thing stare you in the face any time you're in the car. That cheap autometer with a white face and indiglo lighting just wasn't going to cut it.

Unfortunately, I do not know of a matching gauge still being made. I guess ghetto blue and flaming red will have to suffice.