If you already have the oil pressure and boost gauges and want to add two more gauges, which would you get and why? I realize there may be differences based on street vs. track monitoring and the use of a NO2 system, but let's hear it.

 

I've added the following:

A/F gauge (I went wideband so this came w/ it , but seriously I've always found this gauge to be very essential in all my cars)
EGT gauge (temp of your internals are VERY important.. goes well w/ A/F as far as tuning for (lean/rich)..)
OIL temp
Water temp (don't like the fact that our water temp gauge is an "idiot gauge" in a sense)

///Gilbert

 

Oil temp 4+

EGT 3+

A/F (wideband O2) 3+

IAT 2.5+

Water temp 2+

Fuel pressure 1.5+

Intake manifold pressure 1.25+

Heads-up display 0 to 5+ depending on the pilot

Shift light 2 to 4+ depending on type of driving

 

oil Temp
Alternator.
fuel pressure

 

- Oil temp
- Water temp

A wideband is nice, but only if you have a way to tune with it. Plus, it's obviously much more expensive.

 

oil temp
volt meter

 

I like the MINI Cooper Gague kit. Accessory gagues beside the Tach. I would like to get somethign similar for my MC But I don't need the boost gague. I was thinking of getting an Alta Gague pod and adding an Oil temp and Oil pressure gague.

Now where to find 60mm gagues with white face that lights up orange. Any thoughts?

 

Isn't there a water temp gague on the speedo in the dash?

What is more beneficial oil temp or oil pressure?

Volts would also be a good choice. Monitor the condition of the battery.

 

If you make me choose I would go with pressure. with high temps you can still drive......no pressure shut it down NOW

 

Now where to find 60mm gagues with white face that lights up orange. Any thoughts?

Try egauges.com

 

That's just an idiot gauge. Factory gauges have a big deadspace around the "typical" needle position. They don't show increased temperatures unless there's a BIG problem.

Oil temp vs pressure... Remember, the purpose of gauges is to spot problems. That, however, implies that you're capable or willing to do something about the problem. In a street car, oil temps aren't of much concern. If you track your car though, a gauge might tell you that you need to get a better oil cooler, or make changes to one you've already bought. If you're not willing to spend the money or make the change though, you might as well not have the gauge. It's just there to look pretty at that point. With oil pressure, you don't have to do anything but turn the car off. For example... hit debris on road which cracks your oil pan. You see the oil pressure drop and cut the car off before your engine grenades.

Volts - the "I want a pretty gauge that's easy to hook up" gauge. Prettymuch like the non-wideband A/F gauge.

 

Guys running the EGT gauge, can you give me some feedback at the temps your seeing & where your probe is placed in the exahust...ie before cat or after, or in the cylinder downtube and if so which cylinder.

Thanks!

 

Thanks for the tip! Checked them out and they have a gague pod similar to the Alta gague pod. Alta is aluminum and will not warp in heat. I don't know what the Egague pod is made of.

Still floping back and forth Oil temp vs Oil pressure Still like the volt gague idea though.

 

I'll give you some answers hopefully in 2 weeks.. I have installed the gauge but the bung for my probe still needs to be welded in...

As long as you're not reaching 1600 F, it should be fine.

I'm going to tap in right after my 1st cylinder.. Some people claim 2nd cylinder gets hottest though.. But I've always tapped mine on the 1st cylinder.. The EGT should be installed at a location which is 1/2 the tube diameter from the head surface.. This is the standard location in the automotive world...

Hope this helps...

///Gilbert

 

Thanks Gilbert! I havent ever run a EGT gauge on a gasser, just diesels &* the rule of thumb there was 1300°F was safe pre-turbo. 1600 was piston melting range, how do gas engines differ?


Thanks

 

Well here is a link, but doesnt really answer my question, but good insight on EGT.
http://www.sdsefi.com/techegt.htm

 

Great site..

Remember though, every car is different so the EGT temp will vary from engine to engine.. I'm sure manufacturers know what the limits would be..

Now if there is only a way to find out from a MINI mechanics..

I know w/ my turbo miata, I was seeing 1550 at WOT so I wasn't too concerned, my buddy's RX8 , 1800 would be a norm. =)...

Once I have my probe in, and my aftermarket parts, I hoping to see a number less than 1500 ...

///Gilbert

 

???isnt there allready a 'Thread' started on this very subject on here????

 

Beg to differ. I use the oil temp gauge in both my cars every single time I drive, street or track. It's what tells me when the engine is warm enough to drive it hard. Until then I stay under 4K rpm and use only part throttle.

Paradoxically the oil pressure gauge is less useful, because the chance of my actually looking at it when the worst happens is about zero. Rely on the idiot light for that. Then the gauge just confirms the bad news.

Neil
05 MCS - bone stock
96 M3 - not bone stock

 

boost - good to have with lots of mods and a boost controller - good to know what psi your taxing the engine with.
oil pressure - good to know that the oil pump is working good....
oil temp - good to know if engine is warmed up for abuse.
egt - exhaust gas temp... good to know how hot...
voltmeter - good to know battery level.

egr - neat, but junk...roams too much, unless you are at WOT... used more for oooh-aaahh with the bobbing lights...

 

What we need is a group buy on the gagues and gague pod!

 

oil temp. would be the most important in my book, cold weather for sure!! but i agree w/u about the pressure guage.....