do not get mechanical gauges!!

 

I like the autometer mechanicals, more lightweight and accurate than digitals.

That and they function without electricity so I can still have readings when the car is off.

 

mechanicals have always been more accuate to me.
olddragger

 

i'd be curious to compare some of the guage readings to a scanalyser

 

how do you judge accuracy? how many car gauges would be calibrated? then you can't compare readings from sensors in different locations. in reality the reading is arbitrary to your situation.

 

Well, I judge accuracy just the way that every other person judges accuracy. That is, I put it in 180 degree water and it reads 180 degrees.

How many car gauges would be calibrated = all of them, but the problem is that digital gauges need to self calibrate each time they turn on, this is because the sensors inside them need to read the ground value of the car battery versus the piece of metal where the sensor is located so that it can set its reference points.

So, your accuracy on digital gauges is directly related to: how well your entire system is grounded, how near to high amperage you run the wires, how well your gauge wires are shielded, how well your spark plug wires are shielded, and how often the system re-calibrates itself, because once the car warms up the resistance values of all the grounding points change.

Whereas, with mechanical gauges, they read what they read, assuming they are functioning within the factory's tolerances reguarding calibration, they will always give you accurate readings, car on car off, good day, bad day, new battery, old battery.

 

Its true, a lot of people are comparing their car sensors which are properly hooked up to an improperly hooked up aftermarket gauge.

 

trouble is the car has some sensors and then it doesnt have others.
I double check what temperatures i can with a candy thermometer. Oil and water temps secured in a can of water, heat the water and read both, electrical s are hooked to the car(ground and power). mechanicals have always given me a closer reading to the candy thermometer. the electrical s are usually off(lower by 2% or so) so 2% of a 180F fluid is = 3.6 degrees and so forth.
And as with a lot of stuff it is not the one reading you want(except in a crisis situation!) but it is the range and how that particular situation has affected your readings.
olddragger

 

I made my decision.

AEM UEGO Wideband Air/Fuel Gauge and AEM Tru-Boost Controller.

I like the Tru-Boost gauge because it acts as a boost gauge and EBC in one!

 

I got them in today. I am not sure about the AutoMeter mounting cups yet.

 

while a gauge maybe manufactured based on some "calibration" at the factory is doesn't mean they are all calibrated and the scale adjusted for accurate or precision. for example bathroom scales are calibrated at the factory but one scale can read completely differently to another.