Since I am new to the turbo game, and I would like to get the most out of my Evo, performance-wise and durabilty-wise, I am going to need some gauges. I know what a boost gauge is for and what the readings should be. From earlier cars, I know about oil pressure, water temp, etc. However I've read a lot about EGT (exhaust gas temp) and A/F (air/fuel) meters. What exactly do they read (other than the obvious that their names imply) and what are the needs for them? Also, what should a normal reading be for those gauges. Please don't flame me for asking this. I know a lot of people out there are wondering the same thing. Like I said, I've never owned a turbo car before, so it's a little new to me. I know more about aluminum heads in Mustangs than this stuff (please forgive me).

Also, if there are other gauges or durability items I should know about and install, please speak up. Thanks!

 

Anyone?? Or is everyone else in the dark, too?

 

personally i think that a AF gage is a waste. lots of pretty flashing lights...
the EGT will give you a much quicker responce time than anything else.
typically 1450 F is about stoich. a bit higher on a turbo car, i've seen upwards to 1600 on my Subaru RST that made well over 350 HP on a stock 2.5 motor.
it also makes a big difference where you install the probe for the EGT. if its after the turbo it will typically read a few hundred degrees lower.
other gages i would think about getting, Boost( if you have modified the boost setting) Fuel pressure( same) Oil temp or pressure.

Tom

 

Thanks for the input. I am still uncertain as to why EGT is important to know. Obviously I need to know the oil pressure, the water temp, etc. for the life of the engine. But why is EGT important? Boost I understand if you want to make sure you are maintaining boost or to make sure your boost adjustment is working.

 

EGT us usefull for tuning. the richer the car is running the lower the EGT's will be, and the leaner the car is running the higher the EGT will be.( in most cases, theres allways an exception)
email me if you have some more questions
Tom

 

Thanks again. Seeing how I run an ECU flash and don't plan to adjust boost or richness any further, I don't see the need for me to have an EGT gauge. Since most of the gauge pods I like are for 3 gauges, I think it's wise to get boost, oil pressure and oil temp. Any suggestions?

 

thats the million dollar question. i havent found any decent looking gages that match the EVO

i'm installing the MAX-Q data system this week. check it out www.maxqdata.com
prety slick
Tom

 

to : tom@kartboy... i think your on crack... u think oil temp/ oil pressure is NEEDED but A/F isnt..? hmm... guess u havent heard of detonation from running too lean and all you care about is the temps.... OOO WAIT a minute running lean is a very big reason for being too hot in the first place.... ooo wait a minute running to lean is the reason engines die... wish i wouldve known the temp my oil was when my engine detonated from being too lean instead of knowing it was running lean in the FIRST place and tuning it richer to cause it from detonatin

to chris : EGT / BOOST / A/F is all you really need... no oil temp guage is needed... the car COMES with one! sure its not TOTALLY accurate but it does its job...chris do notl isten to what tom said... an a/f guage is very important... just dont get a ****ty one like autometer... go greddy 60mm peak hold/warning guages =)... i will show u my set up at our dcevo skyline drive meet...EGT so you know when yo car is running hot as ****... boost so you know about boost spikes/ creeps / and boost leaks for that matter... a/f so you know if your car is running too lean or too rich... as for the other 3 guages u can get ...arent needed unless you just like to know everything thats going on on the inside of your engine bay...

EDIT: i edited this because i forgot to mention ... i have the silver guages chris they light up the reddish or watever color you want to call it color...so easiest to read IMO... they are sadly an extra 10$ though just because they are silver!....if you are looking to get guages... or actually a lot of different parts for that matter...get at me man i get very good deals in the local area for the parts... especially since you a part of dcevoclub... ill hook ya up...im still working on getting the discounts for the whole club... should know wsup by the time i see you...hopefully

 

Tom, I've been looking at the MaxQData device for awhile, but haven't seen any feedback from someone actually using one. Would love to know what you think. How about letting us know once you've tried it? Thanks!

 

if you get the EGT gauge don't even bother with the air/fuel gauge. the EGT will essentially tell you the same thing, which is whether or not the car is running lean.

 

That's true if you're using the EGT to monitor. It's NOT the best idea to tune AFR's using EGT's though. You're asking for problems. If you are tuning your AFR, a wideband with a number display is the only way to be.

EDIT: Also not the best idea to tune AFR's on a narrowband sensor for that matter.

 

i've been using the system for the past few years on my RST and our MP5. we also sponsored the USTCC to run these systems. Gary Sheehan driving the WRX has had some good luck using the setup.
we just purchased the new MQ125 that has YAW
Ed is very helpfull if you have any questions. please tell him that tom@kartboy sent you.

Chillin:
No crack here. most of my tuning was with a TEC-2,3 and you set the AF ratios and then it will stay there. Also 99% of my tuning was on a Dyno so there was no need for an aditional AF gage. If you really want something then get a datalogger that will record all the OBD2 readings then you can go back and see whats really happening.
The MAX-Q Data can be used as a monitoring system with up to 4 inputs on the screen at one time.
ok i stand corrected
i want a Boost, EGT and a nice CLOCK!

Happy Shifitng

 

i think what tom is trying to say is that a NARROWBAND af guage (like your run of the mill autometer guage) is almost entirely useless. A wideband on the other hand is quite useful, but may not necessarily be something you need to buy and have in the car always as they can be quite expensive.

 

er, I just realized this post is really old, please ignore me, sorry to dredge up the past.

 

hey, its cool that your still posting on this thread cause i was just lookin up this sort of thing, so keep postin if you can, its all very helpful stuff, also, is there anybody else out there who sells a wideband O2, ive been lookin but i usually come across the AEM one