Gauge Explanation Please!
Gauge Explanation Please!
Hello everyone, I've searched for a while now and thought it would be nice if someone with the knowledge could post up the:
-function of certain gauges
-how applicable they are to the base lancer with an NA or turbo setup
-how difficult to install and what you need besides what comes with the gauges.
I'm finally about ready to buy, but I hate buying things unless I know exactly whats best and what is possible. Right now I'm looking at:
-oil pressure
-oil temperature
-trans temperature
-water temperature
-egt (exhaust gas temperature)
-volts
I'm looking to go electric shortsweep on 3 of these, and go with autometer cobalt gauges. If someone who knows could answer those questions I would be very very very happy. Thanks!!
oh and please don't tell me to just get a wideband. I know what a wideband is and what it does, and there are millions of threads on them. Theres not enough info about gauges like these.
-function of certain gauges
-how applicable they are to the base lancer with an NA or turbo setup
-how difficult to install and what you need besides what comes with the gauges.
I'm finally about ready to buy, but I hate buying things unless I know exactly whats best and what is possible. Right now I'm looking at:
-oil pressure
-oil temperature
-trans temperature
-water temperature
-egt (exhaust gas temperature)
-volts
I'm looking to go electric shortsweep on 3 of these, and go with autometer cobalt gauges. If someone who knows could answer those questions I would be very very very happy. Thanks!!
oh and please don't tell me to just get a wideband. I know what a wideband is and what it does, and there are millions of threads on them. Theres not enough info about gauges like these.
Hello everyone, I've searched for a while now and thought it would be nice if someone with the knowledge could post up the:
-function of certain gauges
-how applicable they are to the base lancer with an NA or turbo setup
-how difficult to install and what you need besides what comes with the gauges.
I'm finally about ready to buy, but I hate buying things unless I know exactly whats best and what is possible. Right now I'm looking at:
-oil pressure-Gives ou the oil pressure of your motor
-oil temperature-givs you he oil temp of your motor
-trans temperature-really only used in a auto. Its yor trans temp
-water temperature-Tells you what emp your motor is runnng at
-egt (exhaust gas temperature)-Tells you how hot your gas's are coming out of your motor
-volts-Tells you how many volts your Alternator is putting out
I'm looking to go electric shortsweep on 3 of these, and go with autometer cobalt gauges. If someone who knows could answer those questions I would be very very very happy. Thanks!!
oh and please don't tell me to just get a wideband. I know what a wideband is and what it does, and there are millions of threads on them. Theres not enough info about gauges like these.
-function of certain gauges
-how applicable they are to the base lancer with an NA or turbo setup
-how difficult to install and what you need besides what comes with the gauges.
I'm finally about ready to buy, but I hate buying things unless I know exactly whats best and what is possible. Right now I'm looking at:
-oil pressure-Gives ou the oil pressure of your motor
-oil temperature-givs you he oil temp of your motor
-trans temperature-really only used in a auto. Its yor trans temp
-water temperature-Tells you what emp your motor is runnng at
-egt (exhaust gas temperature)-Tells you how hot your gas's are coming out of your motor
-volts-Tells you how many volts your Alternator is putting out
I'm looking to go electric shortsweep on 3 of these, and go with autometer cobalt gauges. If someone who knows could answer those questions I would be very very very happy. Thanks!!
oh and please don't tell me to just get a wideband. I know what a wideband is and what it does, and there are millions of threads on them. Theres not enough info about gauges like these.
If you are going to boost your car then oil psi, oil temp and wideband 02 and boost gauge are a must.
If you are staying NA... oil temp, maybe oil psi and volt. You really dont need more than that.
EGT would be a waste in an NA car imo.
If you are staying NA... oil temp, maybe oil psi and volt. You really dont need more than that.
EGT would be a waste in an NA car imo.
Thanks so far! My plans are currently undecided. I was hoping for the thread to be more of a general reference for myself and anyone else.
As of now my plans are getting a few NA gauges to dress up interior (i accidentally drilled a hole in my dash where my radio is, don't ask) so it would be nice to have a 3gauge pod but also something that is functional. It's a DD, but auto-x soon.
As of now my plans are getting a few NA gauges to dress up interior (i accidentally drilled a hole in my dash where my radio is, don't ask) so it would be nice to have a 3gauge pod but also something that is functional. It's a DD, but auto-x soon.
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Evolving Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 383
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From: Fremont, Ca
EGT and Boost/Vaccum Gauges are only needed if your going to turbo the car.
Oil Pres. Oil Temp. would be good for Turbo or N/A applications and with these I would recommend getting an Oil Filter Sandwich Adapter because it just makes it easier to install the sensors instead of having to drill and tap the oil pan cleaner installation
.
Water temp is not nessecary as in you car already has one but you can put it in if the application your car is going to be doing requires you knowing the exact temp of the motor or you live in a hot climate area.
Volt gauge I would recommend installing if your going to be putting alot of devices in your car like neons, interior lighting, amps, dvd, gps/nav. etc.
Trans temp would be good if your going to be Auto xing or Drifting as in you'll be working that tranny to death and it would be good to know if it can handle it.
A wideband would be great for any application as in the info you get from it is a big help in tuning your ride.
There is also a Narrow Band A/F Gauge that works with the factory 02 sensor but is not as accurate as a Wideband however the LED ones are a good light show where as the needle ones looks like the gauge is going crazy sometimes.
For a DD car and just to spruce up the interior I'd say get the Volt Gauge, Water Temp, and a Narrowband A/F LED Gauge (I say this gauge because the LED's flashing back and forth trying to give you readings on the A/F mixture may go with any additional gadgets you may install to look high tech
).
Installing them are pretty easy the hardest part like all install's on the lancer is getting through the firewall but I think someone posted about a small rubber grommet behind the glove box you might wanna look behind there. Just makes sure when you buy the gauges they come with sensors as in some manufacturers sell the sensors separately. You can power the gauges from the fuse box under the dash and ground them to where ever you find metal or a ground wire.
If your on a budget and this is for a Lancer and you want nice show/go gauges I'd say check out http://www.glowshiftdirect.com/ for gauges and they also have the Oil Filter Sandwich Adapter that I talked about earlier.
Oil Pres. Oil Temp. would be good for Turbo or N/A applications and with these I would recommend getting an Oil Filter Sandwich Adapter because it just makes it easier to install the sensors instead of having to drill and tap the oil pan cleaner installation
. Water temp is not nessecary as in you car already has one but you can put it in if the application your car is going to be doing requires you knowing the exact temp of the motor or you live in a hot climate area.
Volt gauge I would recommend installing if your going to be putting alot of devices in your car like neons, interior lighting, amps, dvd, gps/nav. etc.
Trans temp would be good if your going to be Auto xing or Drifting as in you'll be working that tranny to death and it would be good to know if it can handle it.
A wideband would be great for any application as in the info you get from it is a big help in tuning your ride.
There is also a Narrow Band A/F Gauge that works with the factory 02 sensor but is not as accurate as a Wideband however the LED ones are a good light show where as the needle ones looks like the gauge is going crazy sometimes.
For a DD car and just to spruce up the interior I'd say get the Volt Gauge, Water Temp, and a Narrowband A/F LED Gauge (I say this gauge because the LED's flashing back and forth trying to give you readings on the A/F mixture may go with any additional gadgets you may install to look high tech
).Installing them are pretty easy the hardest part like all install's on the lancer is getting through the firewall but I think someone posted about a small rubber grommet behind the glove box you might wanna look behind there. Just makes sure when you buy the gauges they come with sensors as in some manufacturers sell the sensors separately. You can power the gauges from the fuse box under the dash and ground them to where ever you find metal or a ground wire.
If your on a budget and this is for a Lancer and you want nice show/go gauges I'd say check out http://www.glowshiftdirect.com/ for gauges and they also have the Oil Filter Sandwich Adapter that I talked about earlier.
EGT and Boost/Vaccum Gauges are only needed if your going to turbo the car.
Oil Pres. Oil Temp. would be good for Turbo or N/A applications and with these I would recommend getting an Oil Filter Sandwich Adapter because it just makes it easier to install the sensors instead of having to drill and tap the oil pan cleaner installation.
Water temp is not nessecary as in you car already has one but you can put it in if the application your car is going to be doing requires you knowing the exact temp of the motor or you live in a hot climate area.
Volt gauge I would recommend installing if your going to be putting alot of devices in your car like neons, interior lighting, amps, dvd, gps/nav. etc.
Trans temp would be good if your going to be Auto xing or Drifting as in you'll be working that tranny to death and it would be good to know if it can handle it.
A wideband would be great for any application as in the info you get from it is a big help in tuning your ride.
There is also a Narrow Band A/F Gauge that works with the factory 02 sensor but is not as accurate as a Wideband however the LED ones are a good light show where as the needle ones looks like the gauge is going crazy sometimes.
For a DD car and just to spruce up the interior I'd say get the Volt Gauge, Water Temp, and a Narrowband A/F LED Gauge (I say this gauge because the LED's flashing back and forth trying to give you readings on the A/F mixture may go with any additional gadgets you may install to look high tech).
Installing them are pretty easy the hardest part like all install's on the lancer is getting through the firewall but I think someone posted about a small rubber grommet behind the glove box you might wanna look behind there. Just makes sure when you buy the gauges they come with sensors as in some manufacturers sell the sensors separately. You can power the gauges from the fuse box under the dash and ground them to where ever you find metal or a ground wire.
If your on a budget and this is for a Lancer and you want nice show/go gauges I'd say check out http://www.glowshiftdirect.com/ for gauges and they also have the Oil Filter Sandwich Adapter that I talked about earlier.
Oil Pres. Oil Temp. would be good for Turbo or N/A applications and with these I would recommend getting an Oil Filter Sandwich Adapter because it just makes it easier to install the sensors instead of having to drill and tap the oil pan cleaner installation
. Water temp is not nessecary as in you car already has one but you can put it in if the application your car is going to be doing requires you knowing the exact temp of the motor or you live in a hot climate area.
Volt gauge I would recommend installing if your going to be putting alot of devices in your car like neons, interior lighting, amps, dvd, gps/nav. etc.
Trans temp would be good if your going to be Auto xing or Drifting as in you'll be working that tranny to death and it would be good to know if it can handle it.
A wideband would be great for any application as in the info you get from it is a big help in tuning your ride.
There is also a Narrow Band A/F Gauge that works with the factory 02 sensor but is not as accurate as a Wideband however the LED ones are a good light show where as the needle ones looks like the gauge is going crazy sometimes.
For a DD car and just to spruce up the interior I'd say get the Volt Gauge, Water Temp, and a Narrowband A/F LED Gauge (I say this gauge because the LED's flashing back and forth trying to give you readings on the A/F mixture may go with any additional gadgets you may install to look high tech
).Installing them are pretty easy the hardest part like all install's on the lancer is getting through the firewall but I think someone posted about a small rubber grommet behind the glove box you might wanna look behind there. Just makes sure when you buy the gauges they come with sensors as in some manufacturers sell the sensors separately. You can power the gauges from the fuse box under the dash and ground them to where ever you find metal or a ground wire.
If your on a budget and this is for a Lancer and you want nice show/go gauges I'd say check out http://www.glowshiftdirect.com/ for gauges and they also have the Oil Filter Sandwich Adapter that I talked about earlier.
Thanks for the very thorough answer. that was exactly what i was looking for!
The car will be doing autocross soon, so I would like the gauges to be functional. i basically figured if i was buying a new dash piece i might as well get started on something I always wanted to.
i also read up about the grommet behind the glove box, so i think i'm going to go that route. If i get auto meter cobalt gauges, will i need to buy anything else to install?:
-oil pressure
-oil temp
-either trans temp or volt
also thanks for the info about the filter sandwich adapter, that looks like a great idea
