Electrical or Mechanical Gauges? [Merged 9-6]

[TSiAWD91]

Ok i ordered an autometer mechanical oil pressure gauge today on accident.i wanted to get the electrical,but for some reason i picked the mechanical.anyways,i was wondering if the mechanical gauge is a PITA to install and if i should send back the one i ordered to get the electrical gauge,or if its not too bad of an install.thanks for any help!!

 

[91 GS NT]

Hey guys, I'm getting ready to install my boost gauge on my 90 tsi awd, but I was wondering if I should install a mechanical or electrical boost gauge? which one is better and easier to install? Thanks alot.

 

[dave99gst]

either or is fine -
but sence were just dealing with air - mechanical = cheeper+ less parts to brake.

 

[91 GS NT]

thanks for the reply. So I should run electrical gauges for the rest of my set-up? I'm planning to add an air/fuel gauge.

 

[Deadly BlaZe]

thanks for the reply. So I should run electrical gauges for the rest of my set-up? I'm planning to add an air/fuel gauge.

from what i read on the site, the air/fuel gauges are useless.

 

[mitsuclipsegsx]

from what i read on the site, the air/fuel gauges are useless.

yes they are

 

[dsm_illicious]

Get mechanical gauges, I believe they are more accurate.

 

[ddavisaf]

I agree with you dsm_illicious

 

[bane3d]

I'm sorry to jump threads, but then in your opinions, which mechanical gauge would you trust? I'm looking for something that is quality vs cost. I can't afford a greddy or apex'i, but I don't trust an ebay. I've looked at dsm reviews but I'm trying to find a middle ground $75 - $100 gauge that is fairly accurate.

 

[SethA]

I agree with using a mechanical boost gage. I have a mechanical gage on my Talon and an electronic gage on my WRX. The mechanical responds almost instantly to changes where the electronic acts almost like the stock DSM boost gage. I am not saying that all electronic gages are this way, but this is my experience.

Seth

 

[WiCkEd95GSX]

I'm sorry to jump threads, but then in your opinions, which mechanical gauge would you trust? I'm looking for something that is quality vs cost. I can't afford a greddy or apex'i, but I don't trust an ebay. I've looked at dsm reviews but I'm trying to find a middle ground $75 - $100 gauge that is fairly accurate.

Well they sell Autometers for about $50 at Slowboy
http://www.slowboyracing.com/shop.php?sid=&cat=2829

 

[stirpicult]

i would stick with mechanical for boost, electrical for everything else. you dont want a water or oil line failing inside the cabin of your car. as far what gauge, vdo and autometer are good and pretty cheap. autometer comes with everything needed, vdo requires an install kit. autometer uses a nylon/plastic/whatever tube, vdo uses copper. its not a hard install.

 

[98DropTop]

I was just curious about why are electrical gauges more $$ than mechanical? I'm assuming more accurate...? Because the price diff. is quite large, and if its that much of a diff. in precision should i just go with electrical??

Also, i want to get the Autometer C2 gauges, anyone have them or know someone that does, ive seen pictures, they look

-thanks

 

[Quasimondo]

Electrical gauges are more internally complex and are more expensive to manufacture. They are also more accurate and not as easily damaged (or succeptable to losing their calibration) as mechanical gauges.

 

[98DropTop]

I did a very quick little job of what i would like my set up to look inside with the triple a-pillar w/ the C2 gauges, and the gauge face off mach V, picture quality is garbage when i cut and added it, didnt bother fixing it, you get the idea, i thought it looked pretty good though

 

[Defiant]

I was just curious about why are electrical gauges more $$ than mechanical? I'm assuming more accurate...?

Nope. You can't much beat a mechanical oil pressure gauge for accuracy. Same for boost/vacuum, and an ether-bulb temperature gauge. But they're a nuisance to install compared to running a wire from a sender to a gauge. Electric gauge senders cost more than a piece of tubing.

 

[CHnKTSi]

i agree on that.
i believe the mechanical is more accurate than electrical.
most oem gauges are electrical, so why bother spending more money for another electrical?
well, but electrical is easier. especially oil pressure gauge, where you don't have to worry about oil inside your car, leaking through the gauge.
Also, mechanical will change the calibration after long period of time.
But, still think the mechanical is more accurate.

 

[98DropTop]

so what are the three best gauges to get for my triple a-pillar, counting boost, since i read air/fuel are useless, oil pressure and egt? boost- mechanical others-electrical?

 

[dsm_illicious]

The moral of the story is, go with mechanical gauges. They're often cheaper and more accurate. Yes, the installation may be a bit more difficult, but you're only going to do it once-right?

 

[ChrisNelson]

Some good gauges to install on a DSM:

EGT

Air intake Temp

Voltage (Helps to spot a failing alternator)

Boost

Wideband O2

N2o Pressure!

 

[raven32usk]

ok first of all i have search on this topic both here and on 2gnt i just cant seem to find an answer to my question.

i have an autometer phantom mechanical water temperature guage. i bought a mechanical one cause i dont like how the half sweep electrical ones look. my problem is that the sensor is way to big to fit in the whole were the stock electrical temp sensor goes in. and its mechanical so i can not tap the signal coming off the stock sensor.

i was reading on 2gnt that there is a port on the back of the block that woudl work for this. to the right of the stock oil pressure sensor. the aftermarket sensor is pretty long, will it disrupt anything if i install it on the back of the block? im just wondering if anyone else has installed a water temperatue gauge like this before? i know that i could just drill and tap a hole in the side of my thermistate but i dont really want to have to resort to that.

thank you for your time
-rick

 

[Fb90gsT]

I want to buy a oil press gauge but I don't know wether to get a mechanical or electrical.
Which one reads better?
Which one is harder to install?
Thanks
Rick

 

[stirpicult]

i would definitely go with an electrical oil anything gauge. you don't want to run the lines into the cabin and then have them pop or come lose or whatever and spray that crap all over the inside of your car. as far as ease, assuming you have the right adapters, the electrical should be really easy, too. put in the sender unit, run some wires, mount the gauge.

 

[Fb90gsT]

Thanks

 

[rs-t eclipse]

i would definitely go with an electrical oil anything gauge. you don't want to run the lines into the cabin and then have them pop or come lose or whatever and spray that crap all over the inside of your car. as far as ease, assuming you have the right adapters, the electrical should be really easy, too. put in the sender unit, run some wires, mount the gauge.

i agree the electrical is easier. and hot oil in the face doesn't sound good thats why you mount fuel gauges oh the hoods so that fuel don't spray in your face. i think the same should apply to oil press gauges if you run mechanical

 

[99gst_racer]

So...... You already searched this topic, right?

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=201677&highlight=mechanical+electrical

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185925&highlight=mechanical+electrical

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=171594&highlight=mechanical+electrical