i'm going to turbo my stock d16, and i want to get the best possible 3 gauges for my first 3. I'm definatly going to get a boost gauge, i was thinking .. oil pressure, and oil temperature? ... what does everyone on her reccomend? i'd like to get an air fuel .. but i think i'm going to wait on that

 

I would probably do boost, oil pressure, wideband if I was only getting 3 gauges. If you're considering oil temp, I would put water temp ahead of it, since the stock in-dash gauge is pretty useless until your coolant temp is WAY above normal. I'm personally running boost, EGT, oil pressure, wideband, oil temp, and water temp at the moment.

 

boost, oil pressure, oil temp, and wideband

 

what is egt? engine temp?? and i know the oil pressure will tell me if my oil isnt flowing .. what happens if the oil gets to hot? i just need to let it cool??

 

EGT is exhaust gas temp. Oil's viscosity will drop when heated, so you'll notice that your oil pressure will also drop once it warms up.

 

what would exhaust temp do? if its too hot .. what would happen

 

To an experienced tuner, EGT's can be another variable to use while tuning, since things like A/F ratio and ignition timing will affect it. To an average person, it's just another thing to monitor, since higher than observed normal readings can indicate a lean condition. I would put an EGT gauge relatively low on the priority list.

 

It's an indication on how the motor is running. Generally, High EGT's=Running Lean, Low EGT's=Rich

 

well i can't get a wideband right now .. so boost, oil pressure, and ....?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pjr710 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well i can't get a wideband right now .. so boost, oil pressure, and ....?</TD></TR></TABLE>
I would just leave it at that until you have the funds to pick up a wideband. Or, if you have to get a 3rd gauge, my next choice would be water temp. A good quality water temp gauge will tell you precisely when you start running higher than normal temps, and allow you to react sooner to prevent damage. For example, my car usually runs between 80-100C, but back when the headgasket blew on my old SOHC setup, my coolant temps climbed to 120-130C on my gauge before the dash gauge even started moving from its usual 1/4 of the way up position.

 

aight .. and to protet against water temp .. just let it cool down?

btw i was going to buy all prosport gauges .. they go for like $50 a pop

 

just get a tunerview and monitor everything

 

sounds cool .. but wouldnt i need to buy all sensors/wiring anyway?? plus that thing prolly costs a ton

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pjr710 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">aight .. and to protet against water temp .. just let it cool down?

btw i was going to buy all prosport gauges .. they go for like $50 a pop</TD></TR></TABLE>
If you see your water temp creeping higher than it should, you can blast your heater to keep it under control until you're able to pull over and diagnose the problem.

 

hm alrite .. and what does the water temp cool? my engine?

and so then shouldi get a water temp for my 3rd gauge .. or oil temp?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pjr710 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hm alrite .. and what does the water temp cool? my engine?

and so then shouldi get a water temp for my 3rd gauge .. or oil temp?</TD></TR></TABLE>
A water temp gauge monitors the temperature of the coolant circulating through your cooling system. Yes, unless you drive something like a motorcycle or air-cooled VW Bug, your engine is water-cooled. If you absolutely must have a third gauge right now and can't afford a wideband, water temp would be my choice.

 

when i buy tha water temp gauge .. how do i install that? they sell a little piece with the guage separately .. i don't konw if i need it or not .. it looks like a T alomst

 

you would put the t where the stock water temp sending unit is and then hook onto it with your new water temp gauge... that would allow you to still have the stock water temp on your gauge cluster working as well... if you have the water temp unit for the new guage it isn't completely neccessary but i am a stickler about having my stuff all work...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pjr710 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">when i buy tha water temp gauge .. how do i install that? they sell a little piece with the guage separately .. i don't konw if i need it or not .. it looks like a T alomst</TD></TR></TABLE>
I'm using a fitting that splices into the upper radiator hose. My water temp sender screws into it.

 

I do not see much of a point to filling the car with mechanical gauges, once you get used to them being there they are hardly ever looked at. I like gauges with built in warning systems, this way you have a chance if something bad happens. If you lose oil pressure...damage is happening right away and you had better catch it immediately. You most likely will not notice it in time unless something really popped. Same with overheating. I have a buddy club digital meter for water temp in my car and it beeps and flashes when the temp goes over the warning threshold that I set into it.

 

insprayal .. if you could point out where that piece is that would be great b/c i don't know what to look at..


runnerdown i agree with you. i just bought a set of prosport blue gauges, but i probablby should have just sprung for the peak warn gauges they sell. the only reason i didn't buy them is b/c they didnt' come in blue. i don't know of any other peak warn blue gauges either, do u?

 

I think the important ones are a boost gauge, an oil pressure gauge, and a wideband. If you cant afford a wideband right now then just run the boost gauge and oil pressure. Or you buy a DIY wideband kit to save money. Those 3 things can help you save your motor.

You don't really need a coolant temp. Factory coolant temp gauge on the cluster will help you monitor the coolant temp. Given it may not be the most accurate and give the exact temperature like an aftermarket one, but when your factory gauge starts moving past the 1/2 mark, you know something is wrong.

 

well i just ordered a water temp, boost, and oil pressure.

what exactly is a wideband? how does it work?

 

wideband is a real air/fuel gauge, not some damn blinky light show, and it is more important than all your other gauges combined in my opinion. I would have bought one of those and not the others if you are limited by money.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by inspyral &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I'm using a fitting that splices into the upper radiator hose. My water temp sender screws into it.
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my old temp gauge probe replaced the coolant bleeder screw... and now i just use ectune LOL