What things to monitor (what gauges to get?)

[lockwood77]

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!

[Kash_]

oil pressure is a good one and maybe fuel pressure ?

[banned advertiser]

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.

[lockwood77]

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!

[grinder]

you could always splash out and put EGT or Wideband in the extra hole

[lockwood77]

Sounds expensive and tricky to install! (And something I don\'t know much about... < cough >)

[grinder]

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

Stu

[lockwood77]

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!

[grinder]

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 ?!?!? )

[lockwood77]

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!

[grinder]

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

[Grizzly]

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

[Grizzly]

the 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.

[grinder]

i thought the EGT was supposed to be as close to the turbo as possible

[Grizzly]

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??