hey guys ,
so I got my 8mr with a real cheap crappy boost gauge and same with oil/water temp
its time to get some decent gauges and get them set up (I'm thinking AEM gauges) but first want to decide on what I definitely want or need.
honestly at this point I'm thinking just a boost gauge (up to 35psi) and maybe an air/fuel gauge, other than that I am thinking is there really much use for others or any point having them? I was thinking maybe a oil/water temp one as well but is there really any point?

car is currently fairly stock with a few expected minor mods, may be doing a flex tune for ethanol (e85) soon but still undecided.

 

The purpose of gauges is to save the operator from trouble. The speedometer can save you from $250 speeding tickets. An air/fuel gauge can save the engine. The CEL illuminating with knock is a step in the same direction. Unless you run the engine out of oil, which should never happen in a well maintained machine, about all an oil pressure gauge tells you is that the engine is shot after the fact (but I still like having one). If the machine is run on the track an oil temperature gauge could save the engine. A boost gauge is like a fuel gauge, the engine will run fine without them but they are necessary for filling the tank or adjusting boost.

 

AFR and boost are both musts, anything else is probably personal preference. I run an oil temp and pressure gauge so I can know when the car's at operating temperature and if it's ever having oil flow problems.

 

unless you are tracking it I would say its really just personal preference as you don't really need any if you are setup right. I just spot check my tactrix 2.0 stand alone data logs every now and then to make sure everythings looking good. My Tephra v7 is setup to cut boost and flash CEL on AFR out of range so I don't really need an AFR gauge, and the tactrix logs boost through a JDM/evo x map sensor so thats covered, as well as a host of other data items. If you are going to track it I would probably want an oil temp gauge.


Of course this is all my personal opinion based on my setup, usage, preferences, and driving style.

 

thanks guys, i was going to get an oil/water temp one as well, but i thought there would be no point seeing as car already has that standard? thoughts?

 

the car comes with 2 water temp sensors already, the one that feeds the cluster gauge and the other that the ecu reads, which can be logged. IMO i think the oil temp gauge would be enough combined with the cluster temp gauge. Then you can review the logs after a session and see what your water temps where doing if you wanted.

 

here is what i have and like the set up.

AEM X series AFR
Prosport boost
Prosport Fuel Pressure
Prosport Oil Pressure...

If the car is stock, you dont need a fuel pressure.

I know everyone says the Prosports are "cheap"... but ive had good luck out of them and i really like the audible warning on the oil pressure.
a loud BEEEEPPP happens when it drops below my set level.

 

Boost for sure is a must. Just wanted to share that ive had an autometer gauge for about 8 years now and still works great, no need to buy an expensive one unless you wnt to.
​​​​​​​Also i had bought an air fuel, but its not a wide band, i later found out that its just an led light show lol. Its pointless but i already have it. A wide band would also be beneficial.

 

As others said none are necessary and yes you don't need a water temp since the OEM guage will be ok. Wideband AFR and boost would be the ones to start with then potentially oil temp and oil pressure if you take the car to the road course.

 

Would say Wideband,boost and oil pressure are the typical big 3. My evo has 2 gauges, a aem wideband and a aem serial gauge that has the ability to monitor a bunch of stuff ( currently monitors Flex fuel, boost, oil pressure, Air temp, Voltage, coolant temp) and can set up warnings and such which is nice. One of my Sti's has wideband, Boost, and oil pressure and other track sti has AFR,EGT,Oil pressure, oil temp, Boost and I think coolant temp, honestly can't remember last one .


Really just a personal preference when it comes down to what you think you want or need.

 

boost and afr. this is an unpopular opinion, but i think too many gauges is a ricer thing. i know they're functional, but as previously stated, anything else will not be preventative

 

yeah man i think im going to just go with boost and afr.
i may go with a third gauge , probably oil pressure, but literally the only reason considering this is so it looks better when i have 3 gauges set above my single head unit.
if i only run afr and boost i would proably replace my current head unit with a double head unit and then run double gauge on steering wheel

 

thats the exact thing i did. I had a triple gauge pod below my single din for years (the middle hole was covered with a nice looking 52mm cover), but then a couple of years ago i did a double din navi and relocated my hvac to under the double din and moved my boost and afr gauges to the sterring column. its been great

 

Stock car does not need any gauges unless you track it.

Most gauges tell you after **** is broken. I personally run aem gauges, tied into my infinity with all the failsafes enabled. So if I go lean car cuts boost, if I loose oil pressure car cuts rpm, temp sensors cut boost.

The morale of the story the gauge is just there to look cool. You are not taking turns at 100mph and watching your gauges.

 

I'm actually in the market for gauges for my track car. Oil pres is a must, boost, and oil temp are what I'll probably run.

Yeah sure logging is great after the fact, but I want to know oil pressure on demand, same for oil temp and boost.