So I'm trying to decide which gauge to put in my car. Would you chose the Oil Pressure vs Oil Temp or vice verse? And why?

 

wHAT DO YOU PLAn on doing with the car?

 

^^^ good point. i have both, but i track my car some. the only thing about an oil pressure guage is you'll go nutz when you see how low the oil pressure drops when you first come to idle at a stop light

 

Also, if you plan on listening to the radio a lot w/the engine off, make sure your gauges are wired into a power source that only comes on when the key is in the ON position, not ACC. I just put an oil pressure gauge in and tapped into the cig lighter which comes on in ACC... so with no oil pressure with the engine off, it's impossible to just listen to the radio. My pressure reading is about 16-18 psi idling, with the A/C that drops to like maybe 10.

My $.02

 

Well what benifits do I gain from either? I do eventually want to mod for about 330 whp and track the car. Right now I'm looking at a 3 gauge set up with Boost, EGT and either the oil pressure or temp.

 

It's a tough call... I liked pressure because then I knew what the engine/turbo was seeing. I figured with a turbo car, oil pressure was a must. Temp would be nice too, but there's already one of those on the dash (I know I know, it's just a crappy water temp gauge).

 

oil pressure first. the temp is secondary if you are tracking the car and unecessary for street driving only. The pressure shows the oil is flowing. You can have low oil temp with almost no oil in theory.

Go with the pressure gauge first. Much more vital as to what the car is doing while driving. You may see the pressure drop suddenly which will give you the clue to turn the engine off. Where as the oil could lose pressure and still show temp and you would have no idea that the oil wasnt flowing until the temps started climbing and by then it would be too late.

 

Bingo! ^+1

 

I did pressure myself.

 

Thanks guys!

 

Do both. I put them in a dual Autometer A pillar pod.

You'd be surprised how long it takes the Evo motor oil to warm up to operating temp--at least ten minutes at 2-3000 rpm.

Oil press is great for pump failure detection

 

There's also a roundabout way to read the oil temp w/the oil pressure gauge. Like I know what the idle psi is once it's warmed up. So in the morning if I'm idling at like 40psi, I know the oil hasn't warmed up yet. It's the same with driving. When it's cold, driving around I'll be at like 80-100psi on partial throttle. So I know the oil is still thick and cold because it's generating more pressure than when it's warm. Once the pressure drops to where it should be, I know the oil is warmed up. Now obviously that's not going to give you any warnings or anything, but at least I know when it's up to temp and it's safe to get on it.