Bit of a conundrum here - I already have an RE-A steering column boost gauge and a PFC Commander. So, I can see water temp, intake temp and the other things available on there.
I\'m planning on putting a DIN gauge panel in, with three gauges - oil temperature is a given, but which other two gauges should I fit?
I was thinking oil pressure and a clock, but my new head unit provides the clock and there is the oil pressure gauge in the dash (admittedly, not the most accurate device!) - so I have at least one, if not two slots up for grabs.
What do you guys think is most useful for monitoring the car\'s well-being?
Also, any recommendations of gauges to match the FD interior (black face, silver surround, amber backlighting)? I\'d really like a peak recall and maybe user-defined level warning, but I do look at the gauges quite a lot while driving so may not be necessary. :rolleyes:
Your thoughts appreciated! :)
oil pressure is a good one and maybe fuel pressure ?
deff go pressure as Mazda one is not really any good, plus you could go battery or fuel pressure.
These Defi have the peak you want.
http://www.rotaryart.uk.com/acatalog/Defi_Gauges.html
a selection here.
or you could forget the peak, if you check your gauge half hr later to find you have had low pressure it will prob be too late, and go for some twin readings, effectively giving you 6 gauges in place of 3.
http://www.rotaryart.uk.com/acatalog/Racetech_competition_gauges.html
although Defi will give you an alarm, again it might be too late.
Those Defi gauges are very nice (as is the complete DIN unit), but the price is a little out of my range!
Racetech look nice too, but I don\'t think there\'s a combination of the dual ones to use up three slots! ;)
So, assuming oil temp and pressure, that leaves one slot free with fuel pressure getting two votes and battery one vote so far! :)
you could always splash out and put EGT or Wideband in the extra hole :D
Sounds expensive and tricky to install! (And something I don\'t know much about... < cough >)
i must admit they arent cheap - but is a very good indication of whats going on in and around the engine
the EGT ( exhsust gas temp ) if this rockets then you are running lean ( you need to get a probe welded into the exhaust )
and the wideband - same again - probe welded into the exhaust - but will let you know your air fuel ratio EXACTLY
if you want a cheap but flashy guage - put in a narrow band Air Fuel gauge :D
Stu
Whereabouts in the exhaust system do either of these need to go?
Probably a bit more than is required on my car running stock twins/boost TBH, but always interested to know! :)
the EGT goes in the downpipe ( i think ) and the same for the Wideband
the narrow band just splices into the 02 probe thats already in there ( i think there is one on the FD ?!?!? )
Hmm, got a downpipe on the way, could have that done before it gets fitted I suppose... will have a check on prices I think!
if you are thinking of doing it in the future you can get the bungs welded on and just put a blanking plate in there - saves any more work in the future
well i only have Water temp, Oil Temp, Oil Pressure and Boost.
I went through it all with my T2\'s and tbh i only realy used the Oil temp and boost (oil temp to tell me when i can give it some beans and Boost to tell me what My Profect is set to without looking in the Glove box while i\'m WOT), Din panels are a waist of time as you can\'t read them, you want one of these http://hometown.aol.com/flyrx7/Rx7-Gauge-Pod.html
Now if i was doing it all again i\'d put the PFC comander in a place i could see it properly and leave it on the Temp screen. I have never seen the point of a EGT meter? maybe once when you are building the car to see if you have the correct Exhaust/Turbine housing but i\'d rather save the money and buy a Wideband/Datalogger
O yeh and Defi is the only way to fly, if there is a problem they all go wild :)
Quote from: grinderthe EGT goes in the downpipe ( i think ) and the same for the Wideband
I think every one has there wideband Bungs fitted in diffrent places, mine is in the Mid pipe on my FD.
i thought the EGT was supposed to be as close to the turbo as possible ???
Well when i bought my To4R kit i had to weld up a EGT hole in the Exhaust manifold, but i read that you can put a egt on each side of the turbo to test if the Turbo is causing a restriction. But i personaly don\'t understand why you need to know what temp the exhaust gases are? maybe if there was a Scale of what they should be but every car is diffrent or should i say there are too many things to change the results I.e. a bigger turbo will drop the EGT in the manifold or a smaller Turbo will raise the Manifold temp and drop the Downpipe temp but these figures are fairly useless unless you have something to gauge it against or have two gauges fitted??
i suppose if the gauge shoots up to some REALLY Hot temp - that would be an indication of running lean ??
i would prefer a wideband over the EGT - i think it tells you a lot more
Quote from: grinderi suppose if the gauge shoots up to some REALLY Hot temp - that would be an indication of running lean ??
Being on the exhaust side of the engine if you used it to tell you if you had a problem i.e. went very lean for any reason the damage will have already been done. Also the problem is what is really hot? as every car is diffrent how do you tell if a normal temp for a Track/Spirited drive is wrong or right? I think i\'d rather have a Fuel rail Pressure gauge than a EGT.
I do agree though Wide band is the Way..
Changing tack slightly from the EGT/wideband discussion, I\'m looking at oil pressure gauges and noticing they tend to only go up to 100psi. What pressure do rotaries normally see?
I ask as my DC5 oil pressure gauge (showing 100psi max) is pretty useless, as anything approaching VTEC sees it hit over 100psi! :rolleyes:
In what respect? On idle or WOT? I know most rotarys are limited to about 100psi anyway unless its a Racer.
WOT, although having said that about the DC5, I guess it\'s low pressure you\'re looking for rather than high, so going off the scale isn\'t a big deal (would be nice to know the actual reading though!)
I just noticed my Defi gauges are in Bar so 10 bar or roughly 150psi.
Ah, Defi - if only I could justify spending that amount on gauges, I would! :)
Quote from: GrizzlyI think i\'d rather have a Fuel rail Pressure gauge than a EGT.
I\'ve got an aftermarket HKS fuel pressure gaue on my FD.... I\'ve no idea what are good values... or what to look for... any ideas?
:confused:
Quote from: Grizzlywell i only have Water temp, Oil Temp, Oil Pressure and Boost.
Now if i was doing it all again i\'d put the PFC comander in a place i could see it properly and leave it on the Temp screen. I have never seen the point of a EGT meter? maybe once when you are building the car to see if you have the correct Exhaust/Turbine housing but i\'d rather save the money and buy a Wideband/Datalogger
always have my commander on water/intake temps showing its dash mounted but not the best lit screen in the world - or my eyesights getting worse with age
Quote from: GrizzlyWell when i bought my To4R kit i had to weld up a EGT hole in the Exhaust manifold, but i read that you can put a egt on each side of the turbo to test if the Turbo is causing a restriction. But i personaly don\'t understand why you need to know what temp the exhaust gases are? maybe if there was a Scale of what they should be but every car is diffrent or should i say there are too many things to change the results I.e. a bigger turbo will drop the EGT in the manifold or a smaller Turbo will raise the Manifold temp and drop the Downpipe temp but these figures are fairly useless unless you have something to gauge it against or have two gauges fitted??
EGT is a good indicator of combustion chamber temps - if these are too hot, then you could well be looking at Detonation or pre ignition problems, which is why people like to monitor it. If you put it on the engine side of the turbo - you will see pretty much what temps the combustion gases are as they leave the engine.
Definitely go for fuel pressure - if you\'re pump is dying hopefully you\'ll notice before its too late!
Went for water temp along with the two oils, which was a bad bad idea as I have silicone hoses and it seems the adpater won\'t form a water-tight seal, despite being the correct diameter. :(
I\'m gonna use silicon adhesive to seal it in, once I get time to take the hose(s) off and dry them out properly. I don\'t even need the damn thing! :rolleyes: