Guages to Have With Turbo Mods

[c150cglzp]

Hi there,

I've ordered a boost guage for my plans to work with the boost and
intercool my car. I'm curious whether I should get any other guages
such as an EGT? Any others to be on the safe side? I see interior
pics of WRX's with guage pods in the center console, usually in a row
of three, can anyone tell me what these three guages usually are,
other than boost?

Thanks,
Mark

[Todd Munson]

EGT. Get a nice Greddy, Apexi or Blitz. Supposedly Autometer probes
dont react fast enough. Theres debate as to where the probe should be
mounted. It should always be one inch from the chosen cylinder on the
manifold. Some people choose cylinder 3, some choose 2.

Fuel pressure is nice to have if you want to run high boost levels.
Oil temp is always nice.

Those are the biggies.
-T

[Z1Auto@aol.com]

the three we do virtually day in and day out are (in order of appearance.......)

boost, EGT, oil pressure.

Greddy si far and away best bang for the buck.

Apex'i gauges are nice, but eh probe are ridiculously long, so they do have a tendancy to crack over time.

Skip the Autometers......50% of hte time they come out of the box not even working in my experience.

HKs is also very nice, albeit priciest,

Defi I think is an awesome gauge for the money as well...pricey yes, but it truly is in a class by itself and LOOKS the most uality as well.

Adam
Z-1 Performance

[John D]

Can we get some more info on what an EGT meter does / where it hooks up to?

[Z1Auto@aol.com]

EGT measures exhaust gas temperature...effectively a very accurate reading of air fuel ration. All other things being equal, the leaner the car, the hotter the temps. However, this is a bit of a misnomer a heat (believe it or not) in the exhaust stream is desirable for fast spool times...which is why many tuners will lean the hell out of a car right as the turbo comes on line to get spool as quick as possible, then richen things up quickly once the boost level si reached at the car is under sustained load for longer time.

On a Legacy, best place to tap the probe is the #3 runner (passenger side closest to firewall) of the exhaust manifold, 2-6 inches from the head

Adam
Z-1 Performance

[c150cglzp]

Hi Adam,

So I would have to tap a hole on the up pipe(legacy Turbo) of
cylinder 3, 2-6 inches from the cylinder head, that sound right? Also
now I hear Auto meter gauges suck! damn Is this true? Cause thats the
boost gauge I just got. ARgh )

Mark,

[Brian White]

I have an autometer that works great. I wouldn't
worry too much. Just plop it in and see for yourself.
If/when I decide to use other gauges, I'll buy some
better ones. I just mounted the boost gauge on the
a-pillar so any others would go beneath my head unit
and wouldn't look out of place. Good luck.

-Brian

[Kam]

I think this is a matter of luck (or bad luck). Speaking to many tuners people who have installed gauges it appears that Autometer probably have more slack quality control so more dodgy units get through than other manufacturers

[Z1Auto@aol.com]

you would tap into the exhaust manifold, not the up-pipe.

I just don't like Autometer's electronic gauges...as far as I am concerned, a
boost gauge is boost gauge

Adam

[c150cglzp]

So, tap it after the turbo. Also Do all cylinder manifolds lead to the
turbo on our cars or just the right hand side manifolds?

Thanks
Mark,

[Z1Auto@aol.com]

no the exhaust manifold taps it pre turbo

We use #3 as it is the leanest running cylinder on most all of the EJ motors..so you moniter you're hottest cylinder

post turbo would be in the downpipe

Adam
Z-1 Performance