big.turbo.daddy

I wanted to know what kind of boost gauge you guys running and if it electric or mechanical and why? Am debating on what to get and which one is easier to install

Geis

inb4 needles being easier to look at

viper_boy403

iTrader: (1)

he said electronic, not digital. You can have an electronic gauge with an analog display. I've always used electronic (peak recall, overboost warning, no vacuum lines to run inside, etc) but analog gauges do tend to react faster.

yungkhmer

i love my AEM tru boost (digital) matches my AEM wideband perfectly. Install took me about 45 to an hr installing both gauges. I can change boost levels in the car pretty quickly.

efHondefender

get a mechanical and save a bunch of money. If you need any kind of recall, etc., you should be looking at data logs anyway off of the map.

big.turbo.daddy

On electronic guages do you need a map sensor i saw you need one on a post?

big.turbo.daddy

I was looking at some aem ones thought of buying them but not sure which to get yet

viper_boy403

iTrader: (1)

they come with their own sensor

yungkhmer

aem tru boost.

wantboost

iTrader: (2)

Iirc tru boost is a gauge and boost controller in one. Totally useless if your ems supports boost control. Personally I won't run aem products unles there's no other choice. They don't really "make" anything, just license existing products from other companies and put their name on with their packaging. Only reason I'm using an aem standalone on my accord is I got it for free.

Typically mechanical gauges are cheaper and have less components that could fail. However most mechanical gauges aren't 100% accurate. Elevation, temperature, humidity, and age can all skew the readings.

Electronic gauges are hyper accurate, at least the name brand ones that use stepper motors are, an unlike the mechanical gauges this doesn't change over time unless you have an issue. That being said they are more expensive, and have more parts to damage: sensor, sensor harness, etc. while like said above it is best to view datalogs for info, having a gauge with a peak recall function can be useful for adjusting boost levels as well as diagnosing simple problems faster than having to hookup a laptop, datalog, and review. Things like boost creep, spikes, under boost conditions, surge/choke, and fluctuations can all be seen by simply hitting a button and comparing the max to what your setting is supposed to be.

TheShodan

iTrader: (14)

If you want the EMS to do that. Some of us don't for a variety of reasons. That's why TurboSmart had created these years ago.

dpetro1

i just run a mechanical autometer, gets the job done. its really just for reference, the s300 datalogs are used for fine tuning.

i couldnt justify a $125 price difference for electric boost gauge. my oil and water are electric though

LightningTeg

I've never had a mechanical boost gauge that was very accurate.

TheShodan

iTrader: (14)

After 12 years, my old school GReddy mechanical gauges (Same manufacturer as Defi) still is on point with my management to .01BAR

Autometer Sport Comp series did well too. But like with everything else, you only get out of it, what you put into it.

LightningTeg

I have the sport comp II now and its about 2-3psi off, my old ultra lite was closer.

Figures my ebay glowshift from 2008 was the most accurate of the 3 and the cheapest =P

Dark_Teg

I love my AEM gauges.

TheShodan

iTrader: (14)

Meh.. they copied off of Cyberdyne years ago

Dark_Teg

AEM didn't event the digital gauge but they make a good one. Have 3 in the Honda, 2 in the Lightning and 3 in the Mustang.