Opinion: What gauges are most important?

[float_6969]

Ok, I have a boost gauge, and I just bought an AFR, oil pressure, and water temperature gauges. I have a 2 pod A-Pillar gauge holder, and I've purchased a plate that will set in the center vent that will hold two gauges and has a vent in the middle of it.

Here is my dilemma, obviously, the gauges in the center vent can't be ready as quickly/easily as the two on the A-pillar. So which 2 peices of information are more important? I'm thinking that the oil pressure and water temperature are, but they are also the ones that I expect to have the least amount of trouble with. (brand new oil pump, oil cooler, water pump, and radiator) The boost and the AFR are the most variable and change constantly.

So what do you guys think?

[tyrannix]

i am doing boost and AFR on my a pillar, then oil press, oil temp and volts on the dash (single din 3 gauge holder)

thats just what i am doing....

but that Defi cluster looks so sexy... boost, pressures, temps, speed, all in the cluster....

you can also stick one or two in front of the gauge cluster, they wont impede vision of the tach/speedo and up your max to 6 easy-view gauges

im putting all the non-essential ones in the glove box ..... like so they can be used for dyno tuning, but not necessary for normal driving

[float_6969]

I've thought about trying to put the water temp gauge infront of the stock temp gauge on the cluster, but I'm not sure if I could get it to mount there. I'll have the gauges later this week, so I may tinker with it.

[rico05]

Well, I would actually want to keep an eye on a newly installed part and its system more than say, a 30k mile one. Always nice to check up on your mad tyte install skillz.

Having said that, I feel that boost and water temp are the most important, followed by AFR (assuming that you are set up solid, which I know you are Ryan) and oil temp/pressure...pick one.

[boost_boy]

Ok, I have a boost gauge, and I just bought an AFR, oil pressure, and water temperature gauges. I have a 2 pod A-Pillar gauge holder, and I've purchased a plate that will set in the center vent that will hold two gauges and has a vent in the middle of it.

Here is my dilemma, obviously, the gauges in the center vent can't be ready as quickly/easily as the two on the A-pillar. So which 2 peices of information are more important? I'm thinking that the oil pressure and water temperature are, but they are also the ones that I expect to have the least amount of trouble with. (brand new oil pump, oil cooler, water pump, and radiator) The boost and the AFR are the most variable and change constantly.

So what do you guys think?

On the A-pillar, I would monitor oost and oil pressure. Those are oh-so vital...........

Dee

[NeedCAforS13]

I have water temp and oil pressure on the A pillar, and boost (and eventually a/f too) on the steering column.



Sean

[Coldspawn]

I would put Boost and water temp. I would put a low oil pressure light do to the fact that you will probably not see the oil pressure drop in time to not cause damage with a gauge.

BTW, I would put the A/f as the least importance

[c-rad]

Oil pressure and water temp would be the two most critical IMO. Once you set the boost, it's set. It doesn't fluctuate. Same with the A/F ratio.

[Coldspawn]

Once you set the boost, it's set. It doesn't fluctuate.

That is not true. Many things can create a boost spike even after you tuned/set it.

Warning lights are always the best. Use them for importance things (oil pressure)

[rexhunta]

I've got boost and oil pressure on my a pillar, and i've just bought a water temp, soi gotta sit down and work out where i want them all

Pete

[float_6969]

I've thought about putting them where Sean has them on the steering column, but with my smaller diameter steering wheel, I can barely see the entire tach and speedo as it is. It cuts off the tops of the fuel and temp gauges already.

Thanks for all the input guys. I'm pretty sure I'm going to put the boost on the lower A-pillar as that is only mechanical gauge and so I'll be limited on the length of hose I've got (though I think they've got the same stuff at the hardware store). Everthing else is electric, so can mount it wherever. I think I'll put the AFR on the far side of the center vent and then just test fit the water temp and oil pres and see which I like best where.

Regardless, when I get this thing running well (this week) I'm hoping to have LOTS of pics.

[biosehnsucht]

I'm thinking to put it dead center on the steering column, it'll block things less being between them I'd think

[float_6969]

My friend put his boost gauge there and it wasn't too bad. It only blocked from about 85mph+ and from about 2Krpms-. The only thing that sucked was that it was harder to reset the trip and it was hard to read. I use the crap outta my trip, so I want to leave it accessable.

[biosehnsucht]

hadn't thought of that

but sitting in my car it doesn't seem like it woquld really block anything at the angle I'd be looking down at the gauges, the way I'm sitting anyways.. but as I haven't even got a boost gauge to mount yet, I don't know

[float_6969]

Do you even have boost to read? Maybe they just don't make ones that got that low...

[biosehnsucht]

ha ha

now that I'm running on all 4 cyl's, yes :P

I can verify by watching the fuel pressure rising

(I have a gauge in the engine bay.. not permanent, just too lazy to take it on and off repeatedly)

[float_6969]

I plan on doing that for the dyno actually. Just having one in the engine bay.

[biosehnsucht]

I only left it on in case when I smog tomarrow I need to play with the FPR

I got less lag on 3 cyl, but less power too.

'Cause, to even do 60, it was boosting all the time.. now I go off boost (somewhat) while cruising and there's actual lag (not much, but it's there)

[ca18detdrift]

Sean,

what did you use to mount the boost gauge in the steering column? I installed my gauges a few days ago, and left the sensor wire hanging near the ecu so when i do my swap this week it'll be something less to do.

I also put my boost gauge in the steering column but i have mine zip tied LOL, looks ghetto but it works, yours looks pretty clean! I also mounted my water temp oil temp and AFR gauges in the center dash in that order.

[sdtouge]

water temp

with a good aftermarket gaguge, you can tell even when your heater hose has a small leak and fix accordingly.afr unless your engine is pretty moddded, or it its a wideband i would say not as improtnant, and boost unless you have a boost controller, oil psi is pretty improtnat i guess lots of peoplehave them i just have boost and h2o temp.

[81na ZX]

I have Boost and EGT in my A pillar.H2O temp and Fuel pressure in my vent.Oil Pressure low on the dash (radio bezel).In my talon.

Standard AFR's don't help you tune or anything, so keep it in the worst spot/best spot for a passenger

[float_6969]

This is a wideband AFR guys...

[tyrannix]

you know of any stand-alone warning light systems?

[slownslurious]

3 most important are boost, water temp, and oil pressurenext up would be volts and oil temperatureand then exhaust gas temperature.

the AFR you don't really need to "mount" since you'll only have it up long enough to tune the car. If you run it every day you'll have to replace the sensor on a regular basis and wideband sensors are pretty expensive.

[c-rad]

the AFR you don't really need to "mount" since you'll only have it up long enough to tune the car. If you run it every day you'll have to replace the sensor on a regular basis and wideband sensors are pretty expensive.

They're a heck of a lot cheaper than standard heated O2 sensors.... You can get a wideband O2 sensor from a mid-80's Honda CRX for like $40. Also, the Bosch one's from places like PLX are $80 which is still cheaper than an OEM. Run it everyday??? You do realize that these wideband setups have a narrowband output so that you replace the factory O2 altogether, right?

[Coldspawn]

You can get a wideband O2 sensor from a mid-80's Honda CRX for like $40.

What CRX has a Wideband? what CRX has a heated 02? Mid-80's CRX = carbed motor.

Float, SDS have a water temp warning (light) output?

[c-rad]

What CRX has a Wideband? what CRX has a heated 02? Mid-80's CRX = carbed motor.

Sorry, it was a Civic

Application/part number: 92-95 Honda Civic, 1.5 VTEC, 36531-P07-003

[Coldspawn]

Sorry, it was a Civic

Application/part number: 92-95 Honda Civic, 1.5 VTEC, 36531-P07-003

Where you get it for $40? The cheapest I have seen was $120. They are $320 from the dealer.

you can also use 36531-P2M-A01

[slownslurious]

yeah thats more what I was thinking... and form what I understand, the wideband sensors need replaced far more frequently than the narrow band ones.

[NeedCAforS13]

Sean,

what did you use to mount the boost gauge in the steering column? I installed my gauges a few days ago, and left the sensor wire hanging near the ecu so when i do my swap this week it'll be something less to do.

I also put my boost gauge in the steering column but i have mine zip tied LOL, looks ghetto but it works, yours looks pretty clean! I also mounted my water temp oil temp and AFR gauges in the center dash in that order.

haha, its ghetto, but it looks pretty decent and it holds the gauge well. I used a hose clamp with a small screw thorough it. Then I screwed the hose clamp to the center colum, and put the gauge in and tightened the clamp

Sean