Mazda Rotary Club

General => General Technical => Topic started by: Jim_rx7 on March 15, 2007, 01:44:00 AM

Title: Which gauges should I buy??
Post by: Jim_rx7 on March 15, 2007, 01:44:00 AM
I already hav a blitz boost gauge, but have spotted some decent ebay auctions where you can buy 3 gauges at the same time. (and they will go with my already el glow dials etc).

I was thinking it

Oil Pressure
Oil Temperature
Water Temperature

Sound about right if I already have a boost gauge?
Title: Which gauges should I buy??
Post by: strange_days_uk on March 15, 2007, 01:46:55 AM
Top Tip - Get an Apexi PFC, you will save money long term and benefit greatly.

With the Apexi commander you can monitor all different engine reading, I view 4 at once

Air Intake Temp
Water Temp
Boost Pressure
Knock Reading

With the Apexi installed, you can have your car mapped to any other mods you make.  Installing the Apexi with exhaust and filters you can expect a noticable power gain..
Title: Which gauges should I buy??
Post by: Jim_rx7 on March 15, 2007, 01:51:12 AM
Yeah, I know roughly how much these are, but what about mapping? It\'s probably something worth thinking about for the future. But for now I\'m just gonna go down the multiple gauge route.
Title: Which gauges should I buy??
Post by: strange_days_uk on March 15, 2007, 01:53:34 AM
thing is you will pay out for the guages, but I guaruntee at a later point if you keep the car you will defo get an Apexi, and have the same functionality + more, at an additional cost.

Mapping is pricey from a specialist, generally cost you £300 odd first time, although whenever you go back they will only charge you normal labour rate.

Blitzboy on the forum and one or two others know what they are doing with the Apexi\'s, and might help map wise for beer tokens :guinness
Title: Which gauges should I buy??
Post by: strange_days_uk on March 15, 2007, 01:57:20 AM
mind you if the guages are cheap enough then it certainly can\'t hurt
Title: Which gauges should I buy??
Post by: banned advertiser on March 15, 2007, 08:22:34 AM
Very good price on Apexi
http://www.rotaryart.uk.com/acatalog/Apexi_ECU.html
Title: Which gauges should I buy??
Post by: elford_tim on March 15, 2007, 10:50:38 AM
I\'ve got a PowerFC in my car and I\'m still planning to put a couple of analog gauges simply because they\'re easier to monitor - once you got used to what they should look like when everything\'s OK all you have to do is glance at it without reading it properly...
Title: Which gauges should I buy??
Post by: Bobfish on March 15, 2007, 10:58:22 AM
The Defi gauges are the way to go IMO. A little expensive, but the record function and the warning setting/alarm function coupled with the peak hold values make them a wise choice.

I knew within a second when my oil filter fell off due to a shoddy aftermarket oil filter pedestal and pulled over with engine off and it saved my engine, i was just coming onto a motorway slip and getting ready to floor it.  Had i not have had the audiable alarm of the Defi\'s then im sure i wouldnt have noticed my oil pressure was 0 until too late and would have lost my engine when it had only covered 5000 miles.
Title: Which gauges should I buy??
Post by: croig on March 15, 2007, 11:22:40 AM
Probably a bit of a silly question, but could a normal performance garage fit the power FCs, or would it have to be a rotary specialist in order to properly map it?
Title: Which gauges should I buy??
Post by: elford_tim on March 15, 2007, 11:25:39 AM
I wouldn\'t go near any non-rotary specialist for mapping the ECU unless I had the readies for another rebuild.
Title: Which gauges should I buy??
Post by: Bobfish on March 15, 2007, 12:06:37 PM
agreed with Timo.

However you can run them on a base map pretty safely.  Installing the ECU is as simple as just plugging it in.
Title: Which gauges should I buy??
Post by: RemarkLima on March 15, 2007, 03:06:19 PM
Quote from: rotaryart.uk.comVery good price on Apexi
http://www.rotaryart.uk.com/acatalog/Apexi_ECU.html

That is a good price! Is that inc. VAT?

If it is I\'ll probably take a quick journey over the bridge to Kent ;)