Electrical vs. Mechanical Gauges

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

The factory gauges that most don't trust are electronic; I can't actually see any wisdom in replacing those with another electronic gauge; I much prefer mechanical.


Also, I don't see where Autometer are such a good gauge; they are just a real good example of how saturated advertising hype and lots of fancy color schemes can convince the buying public of the superiority of a product.


Take in hand a shiny new Autometer gauge and a like gauge available for much less cash made by SunPro; if you had never heard of either brand-name, you would always pick the SunPro first.

Autometer = cheap molded plastic with a **** dial.

SunPro, Stewert Warner, IssPro, VDO = nice brass housings and replaceable lighting.


Now, put the probes of both brands of mechanical temperature gauges in a pot of water on the stove; you will see that it would take scientific equipment to tell if there was any difference in the accuracy of either one.


One important safety net that I seldom see employed with mechanical liquid pressure gauges, such as oil- or fuel-pressure, is to first screw a ball-shut-off valve into the sender port, then screw the gauge-line into that; should a leak ever develop anywhere in the line, simply close the valve to stop the leak.

I use stainless 1/8-NPT male-X-female ball-valves from McMaster-CARR.

 

[Agnem]

VDO made the electronic dash in my Four Winns boat, and they all developed a problem after a while. There is a whole industry out there for repairing these dashes, because appearantly VDO, or at least the VDO who made this dash, is out of business. The name is probably around as a result of some kind of aquisition. You could probably google it. ISSPro is my favorite. For all the trouble putting the gauges in is, I like to test temperature senders and gauges in a pot of boiling water before I put them in. Simple enough to hook up a couple of wires between the two, and run the gauge off of a small battery or a couple of 6 volt dry cells tied in series. I use the wife's digital meat thermometer to check the actual temp of the water while the guage is coming up to max temp.

 

[hheynow]

I run 6 electrical gauges made by Isspro. They are the EV (enhanced visibility) type.

smart guy ^
ISSPRO EV me too
Quality electrical gauges are a wise choice.
I always considered the Auto Meters a notch below ISSPRO.

Autometer = cheap molded plastic with a **** dial.

SunPro, Stewert Warner, IssPro, VDO = nice brass housings and replaceable lighting.

Yup

 

[ghunt]

For what it's worth-

My thunderbird has VDO boost & water temp gauges in the pillar (boost is mechanical), and Autometer electric oil temp, oil pressure and volts in the center console.

All gauges work very nicely and have been very reliable. I honestly hate running all that stupid tubing for mechanical gauges.

Truck has Autometer pyrometer and mech. boost.


BTW- what's all this about brass housings? My VDO's are identical to my autometers in construction...except neither of them came with senders, tubing or any other sort of associated installation hardware. Had to buy that separately, as I found out AFTER I got them (of course, that was 6 years ago, that might have changed since then)

And all the SunPro's I've ever seen were "cheap molded plastic" and just looked...well, cheap.

 

[Chevyboy_0]

I cant believe how cheap SunPros are! I think Im going to have to look further in to them

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

SunPro may make some plastic versions, but the ones I use (Classis Series --I think) all have brass housings, as do my Stewart Warners and IssPros (the IssPros may actually be steel--I haven't seen the back side of them in a LONNNNGGGGGG time.).


REMEMBER, SunPro is the daddy of the tried and true SUPER TACH II, probably found in more 60s, 70s, 80s vehicles than all the rest combined.

http://www.amazon.com/Sunpro-CP7901...3?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1244072857&sr=1-23


http://www.amazon.com/Sunpro-CP7975...1?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1244072857&sr=1-21



I ain't trying to push these, just saying that I have had good results with them.

 

[dyoung14]

SunPro may make some plastic versions, but the ones I use (Classis Series --I think) all have brass housings, as do my Stewart Warners and IssPros (the IssPros may actually be steel--I haven't seen the back side of them in a LONNNNGGGGGG time.).


REMEMBER, SunPro is the daddy of the tried and true SUPER TACH II, probably found in more 60s, 70s, 80s vehicles than all the rest combined.

http://www.amazon.com/Sunpro-CP7901...3?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1244072857&sr=1-23


http://www.amazon.com/Sunpro-CP7975...1?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1244072857&sr=1-21



I ain't trying to push these, just saying that I have had good results with them.

i love sunpro gauges eberything in my truck is mechanical sunpro gauges not very expinsive and you can get them at any auto zone to bad they dont make pyrometers or i would buy one

 

[Agnem]

I doubt they are steel. Brass or plastic is the best choice from a technology standpoint. Has to be non-magnetic.

 

[hesutton]

I doubt they are steel. Brass or plastic is the best choice from a technology standpoint. Has to be non-magnetic.

I was going to say the same thing.......You beat me to it.

Anyway.........I have 7 gauges. Two from Banks (they came with the turbo), the boost gauge and the pyro. The other 5 are Autometer Z-Series. I'm using their electical oil pressure, fuel pressure, water temp, voltmeter. I'm also using their mechanical air pressure gauge. I've found that they are very good quality wise, and have been please with them. I've used VDO gauges in the past as found them to be good as well.

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There is no way I'd plumb hot, toxic fluid into the cab for mechanical gauges........especially with my two year daughter riding in the truck on a regular basis. But, that's just my preference.

Heath

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

I didn't think there was anything "toxic" about diesel-fuel and engine-oil; I have swallowed and absorbed gallons of both with no ill effects that I can notice.

 

[Agnem]

Not withstanding, a hot stream of motor oil would do wonders for your carpet if so equipped.

 

[Chevyboy_0]

I curious, is it nesecary(sp?) to have a voltmeter? I know it helps monitor the electrical system, but is it something you absolutly need?

also Is that an extra fuel level gauge in ther Heath?

 

[snicklas]

Chevyboy,

A voltmeter isn't absouly necessary, but it can be nice to help troubleshoot a problem. I have been running down a battery discharge problem, I looked all over for a short in the system. I happened to have a voltmeter out and put it across the battery terminal and found the alternator was not charging. If I had a voltmeter, I would have seen that before all the searching.

I believe that is a fuel pressure gauge, to monitor the Holly Red, is that correct Heath?

 

[sle2115]

I didn't think there was anything "toxic" about diesel-fuel and engine-oil; I have swallowed and absorbed gallons of both with no ill effects that I can notice.

Uhm, others have!

 

[sle2115]

Not withstanding, a hot stream of motor oil would do wonders for your carpet if so equipped.

When that line ruptured and ignited, it reminded me of one of those little butane torches...nice, white looking flame, small, but in the right place could have been disasterous! I was a little busy to watch the complete burn process, but it burnt longer than I thought it would.