I'm looking at getting a 3 gauge pillar. Looking for recomendations on what 3 gauges to run--also post why and what range to look for when driving and going WOT.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a Tranny temp gauge so more looking for the other 2.

Here is what I have to choose from:

Boost / Vacuum Gauge
Volt Gauge
Air / Fuel Gauge
Oil Temp. Gauge
Oil Pressure Gauge
Water Temp. Gauge
Vacuum Gauge
Trans Temp. Gauge
Fuel Pressure Gauge

I was thinking the following:
Tranny Temp
Water Temp
Oil Temp or Vacum

Air fuel gauge is not a wideband so I dont think getting one will help me much.

Thanks,

 

Tranny temp
Volts
Vacuum


Or get a scangaugell and monitor a lot more.....at the press of a button....

 

Why do you suggest the Volts and Vacuum?
I'm assuming with the vacuum if it falls below a certain point I have a leak.
As for the Volts, thats just giving me a alternator output of how much power is being produced right?

I guess to me, would water temp and oil pressure/temp be more important?


Thanks for the reply.

 

i ran oil pressure, water temp, and trans temp for a couple years, < i recommend these three.

now im running oil pressure, trans temp, boost/vacuum and a wideband

 

I suggest running every gauge you can fit!! Here's mine...

 

You asked for an opinion and I gave you mine.....

The battery/alt gauge on your dash is an over glorified dummy light with a needle.....so is the water temp gauge>>>its derived from the CHT.....

 

trans temp
water temp
oil pressure

those are the critical gauges for a NA engine, all others are pointless

 

I agree

 

I've been using a 2 pod for about the last 9 years or so. Water and Trans temp. I figured I'd just rely on the idiot lights for the other stuff...

Knowing your oil pressure.. Nice, but you either have it or you don't. If you lose OP all of a sudden, the damage is already done and a gauge isn't going to help with that.

Knowing your volts.. Again, nice, but you are either charging or not.. If not, the idiot light comes on. Grab the volt meter and check it on the battery.

Knowing your vacuum.. If you are into that hyper mileage deal and want to squeak every ounce of gas, it'll help you keep your foot out of the gas as much..

Maybe an oil temp gauge if you must have 3 pods..

What are your plans for the truck that necessitates adding these to the mix?

I tow a TT, so I wanted to know the temps. So far, the highest I've seen is 210* on either gauge working the engine pretty hard. Normal driving in the summer time, they are between 180* and 195*.

I'm sure there are good reasons for having any of the mentioned gauges.. Really depends on what your intentions are and what you are going to do with the info.

Mitch

 

oil pressure can tell you if you have a dying oil pump, but mainly like you said not much it will tell you other than "hey look that big cloud of smoke is because you lost oil pressure from a hole in the side of your block"

 

agreed thats what i have in my truck.

 

Mitch...one comment about your feedback on a oil presure gauge. I respectfully disagree. I'll sum it up with a story. I once blew the filter mount off my Mustang one day (that's a separate story...completely my fault and not a reason to fear remote oil filters). The first funny indication I noticed was rapidly and quickly fluxtuating oil presure...tell tale signs of loss of quantity. I didn't sexid guess anything...I immediate shut her down. Next I noticed the trail of oil on the road behind me which I did not notice before hand. Had I not had a gauge that day, odds are extremely likely I would have kept driving until the noise and what-not was apparent to make me shut it down, and in that case you would be correct in that the damage would have been done. But due to the gauge, it bought me SEVERAL critical seconds that day and no doubt saved me my motor. Just food for thought, not baggin on ya at all; but you know that!!

 

But since we're sharing...I have oil and tranny temp. Tranny temp is mandatory if you're towing, but to me so is oil. I bet A LOT of you would be surprised what your motor is really doing out there. Oil temp is completely unnecessary on these motors if you dont tow, but still a useful bit of information.

 

Galaxy, I expected to get some comments on the OP deal.. (bored at work at the moment )

Nice example of how it would come in handy for sure. That does make sense. Sounds similar to why NASCAR has fuel pressure gauges and when they start to fluctuate, it's a sign they are low on fuel...

Having the gauge is one thing... Knowing how to interpret it and knowing what to do is another!

A long time ago, my Mom seized up the motor on her 1973 Impala (2 door too!). She got it only half way up our long, steep driveway. When I came home from school, there it was blocking the driveway.. I asked her what happened, and she said that the engine just stopped.. I asked if any dash lights came on, or if she noticed anything different and she said "the oil light was on when I left this morning, but I didn't think it was bad until it started to blink...." I asked, "did it ever blink?". "No". "Okay, I'll get the tractor and we'll tow it up to the house... I checked the dip stick and it didn't register at all... Dad came home and Mom told him it was 'his' fault because he's supposed to check the oil! Dad was good natured about the whole deal and we informed Mom about the function of those idiot lights and that 'blinking' was not a sign of trouble! ha, ha!

Mitch

 

But of course it was dads fault...still is today, LOL!