Mooney

What's the difference between a mechanical and an electrical gauge?

Also what's everyone's favorite gauge maker? I've heard good things about Auto Meter and VDO...

Thanks!

Clark@turbo5.com

Mechanical gauges normally have senders that hook up directly to the gauge. For example:

Old oil pressure gauges had a tube that ran from an oil source on the motor and then into the car. It then hooked to the gauge with a fitting. That tube had oil in it. There is a diaphragm inside the gauge to transfer the pressure of the oil to a reading on the gauge. That is a mechanical gauge.

Modern oil pressure gauges have a Pressure sender. The sender hooks to an oil source on the engine and then sends the oil pressure signal over wires to the gauge in the car. No more chance of oil leaking into the car.

Most gauges are available in both types. Electronic is easier to install in most cases as you are just running wires into the car.

I like VDO gauges personally but there are many good gauge company's out there. For a cheap gauge that has good quality try www.westach.com. I have there EGT gauge. It was like $80 with the sender shipped to my door and reads to 1000C. Call for a catalog as they only have a partial list on the page. I ran there boost gauge for a while in my A4. It worked perfectly and was inexpensive.

Clark<ul><li><a href="http://www.westach.com">http://www.westach.com</a</li></ul>

RangeR BoB

I run Autometers and am very happy with them. Color is about right and they are simple and accurate

Mooney

I was looking at egauges.com and they seemed to have very low ($30 or so) prices for VDO gauges... I thought gauges cost more, or are these guys a little off...

SMOKINA4TURBO

I payed like $30 for my VDO boost gauge from Summit Racing