Which/What gauges should I get? [Merged 12-6]

[EcLiPsEgSt97]

I have a 3 gauge pillar and I dont know what gauges i need to get.. I know i need to get the BOOST gauge but i dont know what other 2 i should...can some one help me????????????

 

[DSMxJB]

So I've looking into a few different type of gauges and have come to the decision of getting Megan Racing gauges. Now the thing I'm wondering about is which ones should i get? i was thinking of getting a boost and AFR but was wondering if there are other more important ones to have? I'm going for the Megan's because of the price and have read reviews that they aren't that bad for the price.

This has been covered many times but boost, wideband afr, and oil pressure are a good start.

 

[LopezG]

Sorry i thought i looked thru all the FAQ and stuff but it must have slipped. Thanks.

 

[gieri002]

Make sure to get a wideband, don't waste your time/money on a narrowband.

 

[DSMxJB]

Sorry i thought i looked thru all the FAQ and stuff but it must have slipped. Thanks.

No worries, try using the search feature when you're looking for information. The FAQs don't quite cover every detail. I like the use google site search ex. (site:www.dsmtuners.com recommended gauges) to search the forums I find it easier than using the search engine on the site sometimes.

 

[LopezG]

Make sure to get a wideband, don't waste your time/money on a narrowband.

So like the AEM Wideband UEGO? I think i read somewhere that you need something else to wire it up for it to work. Does that sound about right?

No worries, try using the search feature when you're looking for information. The FAQs don't quite cover every detail. I like the use google site search ex. (site:www.dsmtuners.com recommended gauges) to search the forums I find it easier than using the search engine on the site sometimes.

Awesome ill do that next time. Thanks again

 

[iBoostDSM]

Autometer boost and oil pressure, Innovate MTX-L wideband

 

[LopezG]

Autometer boost and oil pressure, Innovate MTX-L wideband

Mostly all widebands run about the same price huh. Is there a reason you chose innovate over the other ones?

 

[WES_393]

So like the AEM Wideband UEGO? I think i read somewhere that you need something else to wire it up for it to work. Does that sound about right?

It's probably the easiest high-quality wideband to install since the gauge is the controller. All wideband AFR gauges need their own separate wideband O2 sensor installed in the exhaust. Cheap narrowband gauges tap into the stock narrowband sensors and are virtually useless.

I would also suggest Innovate since their widebands are very high quality and work well with DSMLink. AEM is also good quality but doesn't play well with DSMLink and isn't backed by any reasonable warranty.

 

[Rsawd95dsm]

Is there a reason you chose innovate over the other ones?

More accurate Reading. More compatible with logging software.

 

[renovatdkitchen]

+1 for the wideband, boost and oil pressure.

If you don't have any tuning software, you could always just weld a new bung into the downpipe and plug the o2 sensor in there.

 

[LopezG]

It's probably the easiest high-quality wideband to install since the gauge is the controller. All wideband AFR gauges need their own separate wideband O2 sensor installed in the exhaust. Cheap narrowband gauges tap into the stock narrowband sensors and are virtually useless.

I would also suggest Innovate since their widebands are very high quality and work well with DSMLink. AEM is also good quality but doesn't play well with DSMLink and isn't backed by any reasonable warranty.

By something else for it to work i didnt mean the O2 sensor i thought it was like the defi gauges where you need a control unit.

+1 for the wideband, boost and oil pressure.

If you don't have any tuning software, you could always just weld a new bung into the downpipe and plug the o2 sensor in there.

I dont have a tuning software so would the innovate be the best choice so if i ever get dsmlink?

 

[AK Maniak]

Innovate or PLX would be your best bet for future proofing your setup with link.

 

[renovatdkitchen]

Anything will work.

You could also pickup a wideband which does narrowband simulation and hook it up directly to your stock ecu.

Or avoid the inevitable and get dsmlink now.

 

[Terrancep7]

Don't forget about fuel pressure gauge.

 

[LandSpeed-DSM]

In order: Wideband UEGO, Boost, Oil Pressure, and Voltage should constitute your first gauge purchases.

For any DSM, even one you don't plan to try and build up heavily, the smart route would be to save up and do the following first mods:

1. Any maintenance/repair
2. ECMLink V3 (Full or Lite)
3. UEGO + Boost, logging their outputs in Link

 

[Blurred Talon]

In order: Wideband UEGO, Boost, Oil Pressure, and Voltage should constitute your first gauge purchases.

For any DSM, even one you don't plan to try and build up heavily, the smart route would be to save up and do the following first mods:

1. Any maintenance/repair
2. ECMLink V3 (Full or Lite)
3. UEGO + Boost, logging their outputs in Link

Cannot agree more except for the voltage gauge.
Also I have to stress buying quality gauges such as AEM, Autometer, Defi, etc.
I've been down the whole cheap gauge (cheap part) route and it's not fun. You need up spending double the money where you could have just bought the right stuff to begin with you'd be better off.

 

[LandSpeed-DSM]

Cannot agree more except for the voltage gauge.
Also I have to stress buying quality gauges such as AEM, Autometer, Defi, etc.
I've been down the whole cheap gauge (cheap part) route and it's not fun. You need up spending double the money where you could have just bought the right stuff to begin with you'd be better off.

My rationale on voltage is how greatly even .5v drop can effect nearly everything in an EFI system.

Injector latency, fuel pump flow, etc.

 

[99gst_racer]

Oil pressure is my most important gauge.

The others mostly get looked at in a log.

 

[LopezG]

Anything will work.

You could also pickup a wideband which does narrowband simulation and hook it up directly to your stock ecu.

Or avoid the inevitable and get dsmlink now.

For the meantime DSMLink is out of the question since i need to get the car running and a few maintenance things before i get that.

 

[mnim15]

I'd say boost gauge. They're useful for comparing input pressure and read pressure when doing a boost leak test as well as making sure the boost control stays in check. Wideband will be crucial once you get to the point of tuning. Oil pressure, aside from the factory "gauge" which might as well be on/off if that, would come in handy once you start making engine modifications. You may also be interested in an accurate coolant temperature if you have no other means of logging it as I have seen the factory gauge vary quite a bit in actual temperature for relatively the same needlepoint.

 

[LandSpeed-DSM]

Oil pressure is my most important gauge.

The others mostly get looked at in a log.

I too place a lot of value on my oil pressure gauge.

 

[LopezG]

Don't forget about fuel pressure gauge.

In order: Wideband UEGO, Boost, Oil Pressure, and Voltage should constitute your first gauge purchases.

For any DSM, even one you don't plan to try and build up heavily, the smart route would be to save up and do the following first mods:

1. Any maintenance/repair
2. ECMLink V3 (Full or Lite)
3. UEGO + Boost, logging their outputs in Link

Cannot agree more except for the voltage gauge.
Also I have to stress buying quality gauges such as AEM, Autometer, Defi, etc.
I've been down the whole cheap gauge (cheap part) route and it's not fun. You need up spending double the money where you could have just bought the right stuff to begin with you'd be better off.

My rationale on voltage is how greatly even .5v drop can effect nearly everything in an EFI system.

Injector latency, fuel pump flow, etc.

Oil pressure is my most important gauge.

The others mostly get looked at in a log.

Thanks for all the help guys. Guess Megan Racing are completely out of the question.

 

[greydelta38]

I'll throw a vote out for Prosport, I'm using their EVO wideband and it's accurate and looks badass. A little pricey but when you look at what all it comes with and how good it is, it was worth the price to me.

Wideband Digital Air Fuel Ratio Gauge-Amber display

 

[LopezG]

I too place a lot of value on my oil pressure gauge.

Right now my stock oil gauge isnt working. Had a shop try to put in a new sensor but that didnt do anything. So a oil pressure would be smart for my situation?

I'll throw a vote out for Prosport, I'm using their EVO wideband and it's accurate and looks badass. A little pricey but when you look at what all it comes with and how good it is, it was worth the price to me.

Like i said most widebands run right around the $200 mark so ill be spending about the same amount for any wideband just need to see which brand to go with.

 

[maximum9898]

Oil pressure is my most important gauge.

The others mostly get looked at in a log.

I too place a lot of value on my oil pressure gauge.

I also believe that an oil pressure gauge is most valuable. And like you said it all gets logged. Most the time I don't even have time to read he gauges. By time the boost comes on I only get a glimpse of what they reading.