Thread: What are the first Gauges to Buy

I had bought a Trans temp gauge, Boost gauge, and a nitrous gauge...

but If I had to do it over again, I would sub an oil pressure gauge in for the nitrous gauge.

The first gauge that anyone should get is an oil pressure gauge. This should have been on every car produced.

After that, I choose boost/vacuum, and trans temp. I don't see a need for much else.

Woot, my Impala came with an oil press gauge stock.

Anyway, my Interceptor gauge is on its way. I think a fuel pressure gauge would be good to have, and if I ever go some sort of F/I then of course a boost gauge.

Originally Posted by archemedes

it would be if you had a problem (your idiot light only comes on when you are on battery power and under 12 volts aka stranded)

For the average driver/modder, fuel pressure is good, but not necessary in my eyes. It is when you start doing hard core modding and tuning that you need fuel pressure. For me on my daily driver, it is not necessary. If I am working on something that I need to know fuel pressure, I can rig something up for awhile.

As for voltage, yes, it is nice to know. But I typically don't need a volt meter. Only once every 5-6 years, when my battery or alternator starts getting weak will I need to look at the voltage. And again, I can deal with that when the time comes.

But oil pressure is important. It is the life blood of your engine. If you don't have oil pressure, you don't have an engine that will run very long. And if you have a gauge, you can watch it and know when something is starting to go wrong by the oil pressure will start to decrease. I think oil pressure is one of the most important gauges that every car should have.

As for the other gauge I choose, trans temp, I am just anal about my transmission. I am so worried that it will take a dump and leave me setting. So I have a cooler installed. Change fluid religiously. And watch the temps like a hawk. So this was not an option for me. I needed the trans temp gauge.

Boost/Vacuum is just fun to watch

I'd agree that volts aren't really necessary, but good to have. I have the voltmeter stock on my car and hardly look at it except once started to make sure everything is running well.

While driving I do glance over all my gauges every few minutes to make sure there are no obvious issues coming up. Lots of nice info to have.

I think the Volts and the Oil Pressure gauges are soem of the most important you can have. The oil pressure for obvious reasons but the Volts too. I've had alternators go bad on other cars, I would notice the gauge reading off and loosing volts, a couple times I made it home before the car completely went dead. On my 93 GP I was on the other side of town and noticed my headlights flickering and I was loosing volts. I headed straight home. By the time I was in my neighborhood the light were dim and the car was cutting out because the fuel pump was getting voltage, as soon as I pulled in the driveway it died. At least I made it home where my tools were!

Anyway, for my triple pillar a must was the Oil pressure and Volts, I was disappointed the new gen (97-03) didn't have those gauges factory. For the 3rd I added a Boost/Vac Gauge...

Originally Posted by Iron Indian

Oil pressure and Volts, I was disappointed the new gen (97-03) didn't have those gauges factory.

I never understood why most GM cars don't. For the Impalas, you had to either buy an SS or get the LS Sport package (not just a regular LS or a base model) to have them.



Cobalts/G5s scare me. Speedo, fuel, and tach. Not even a temp gauge!

Originally Posted by silverbullet

sabrewings is that one of bb's cluster? i don't like my stock boost and op gauges cause there's no number reading just bunches of lines. that's why i'm upgrading mine.

Yep, one of BB's. I'm actually going to have him redo the LEDs to get rid of the red tach and swap over to silver overlays that light up better than the stockers do. Not so concerned with numbers on the OP gauge, but I thought the SC gauge had numbers (at least on the Imps it does).

Edit: It has numbers here...

I've got a 3 pillar with trans temp, aeroforce and battery volts since I have a system. I really wish I would have just wen with the 2 pillar so I can see better, sometimes cars like to pop out of odd places? The aeroforce is about the only gauge I really use, especially now when I have it set on mpg scan, almost instantly lets me know what the best driving practices and little things I do help the mpg.

Aeroforce FTW

Id say if you had the money a Knock gauge form this company Tech Gauges :: V6 Engine Gauges, Dual and Triple. would be a really nice gauge to have.

I have a 2004 GTP CompG and I have a lot of readings from the Drivers Info. Ctr. But I opted to go with three Aeroforce Scan Gauges. I like the fact that I can check just about anything under the sun. And I also like the fact that I am not limited to just 2 or 3 gauge readings.
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Originally Posted by bula81069

Id say if you had the money a Knock gauge form this company Tech Gauges :: V6 Engine Gauges, Dual and Triple. would be a really nice gauge to have.

Aeroforce gauges have so many more features for about the same price, though.