Engine Gauges ?

Gauges ?

What gauge would you guys get? A/F ratio or EGT ?

The reason I ask is I will be installing a 3 gauge pillar pod on my car. I will install oil pressure, boost (turbo coming in this Wesdnesday ) , and a choice between A/F or EGT.

Some time ago I talked to somebody from EL prototypes and he recommended that I get an EGT gauge to monitor if I am running lean or rich. The EGT should read around 1250 to 1350, he said. However, EGT gauges are like 2X the price of an A/F ratio gauge.

What would you guys get? Any recommendations?

Air Fuel Ratio.

Depends on what kind of boost you are running and what you will ultimately end up usuing for engine management.

An EGT gauge measures (ahem) exhaust gas temperature. This reading is directly related to the internal combustion temperature of the engine, and indirectly related to the quality of the air/fuel mixture entering the engine.

There are some pros and cons for both guages. Primary benefit of the EGT gauge is that it will measure the exhaust gas temperature, which is directly related to the internal combustion temperature of the engine. This is important because if the engine runs too hot inside, you will get component failure (parts melt). An EGT can give a direct indication that the engine is operating correctly. A/F meter is still very important, but indirectly indicates what is happening to the engine (just measure how much air is used with a given amount of fuel).

But I would say if you are running mild boost with good tuning, the A/F would probably provide you with enough information. You could always cut a window to the exhaust manifold - if it starts glowing on you, you know that the temps are too high.

First off don't take this as gold. I may be 100% off, or I may not be.

Don't get AFR unless you you get wideband, otherwise everyone says its highly inaccuracte. Something about not being about to read in time or something. But narrowband AFR gauges are more for show than accurate readings, which is what you want. (or so I'm told)

I recommend Vac/Boost, Oil Pressure, and Exhaust Gas Temp. But everyone has their prefs and reasons for it.
I agree with fishexpo about the EGT, it can serve as sort of a two-fold reading.

Some people recommend Fuel Pressure, but I've been told that some tuners choose to mount this under the hood and check it once in a while from there seeing as it is not one that needs to be watched, so to speak.

Other than that I have no idea. lol Basically do what you know from what people tell you that you trust and from what you read and decide is the best setup for you.

wideband AF or EGT. narrowband is useless