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Electric or mechanical Autometer water temp guage, whats more accurate?

  • Thread starter Thread starter juiced_94gt
  • Start date Start date May 27, 2009

juiced_94gt

Active Member
Mar 30, 2005
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Southern California
May 27, 2009
#1
  • May 27, 2009
  • #1
I bought a electric cobalt water temp guage, is it just as accurate as mechanical piece? I had that one before it failed so now im trying the electric one.
 

Venom351R

Founding Member
Apr 27, 2002
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MAINE
May 27, 2009
#2
  • May 27, 2009
  • #2
I have one now and ive had one before and both seemed to work very well. Never had any issues with either so Id say they are pretty accurate. Much better then the stock gauge
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
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129
May 28, 2009
#3
  • May 28, 2009
  • #3
Elec don't have as great of a sweep (thus they are not as accurate simply because of the scaling), are susceptable to sender degradation, and are reliant on the E-system being up to par.

That said, your new gauge will be accurate and tell you what's up.
 

Chern_889

New Member
Oct 22, 2006
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Lumsden, Saskatchewan
May 28, 2009
#4
  • May 28, 2009
  • #4
Dont you guys get nervous running coolant/oil into the interior with mechanical gauges? whenever i decide to buy a couple gauges, they are going to be electric
 

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.
20+ Year Stangneter
Jun 14, 2004
9,302
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Acworth, GA
May 28, 2009
#5
  • May 28, 2009
  • #5
Well, the mechanical water temp gauge doesn't actually run coolant into the interior. The mechanical oil gauge has a restrictor in it, so it doesn't run much oil into the car. With the oil pressure gauge it's always a good idea to run a copper line instead of the cheap plastic one. The only one that is really dangerous is the fuel pressure gauge. You can run an isolator, but then it can be innacurate.

Kurt
 

SN95StangMan

New Member
Jul 5, 2003
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Lynwood, CA
May 28, 2009
#6
  • May 28, 2009
  • #6
HISSIN50 said:
Elec don't have as great of a sweep (thus they are not as accurate simply because of the scaling)
Click to expand...
FYI Hissin, there are full sweep electric gauges available

just an example Auto Meter
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
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129
May 28, 2009
#7
  • May 28, 2009
  • #7
You're right Eddie. They've been out for a few years. I don't assume that most people are talking about them because they're so expensive. A bad assumption on my behalf.
 

juiced_94gt

Active Member
Mar 30, 2005
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36
Southern California
May 29, 2009
#8
  • May 29, 2009
  • #8
HISSIN50 said:
You're right Eddie. They've been out for a few years. I don't assume that most people are talking about them because they're so expensive. A bad assumption on my behalf.
Click to expand...

I bought a full sweep elec. cobalt peice
 

S351Saleen77

Member
Jun 27, 2002
423
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16
Washington
Jun 1, 2009
#9
  • Jun 1, 2009
  • #9
Chern_889 said:
Dont you guys get nervous running coolant/oil into the interior with mechanical gauges? whenever i decide to buy a couple gauges, they are going to be electric
Click to expand...

The Temp gauge has a line that is sealed and filled no coolant enters the line or your interior.
There is a big sensor "Bulb" end so you need a big hole in the firewall to run it through. You also need a big hole in the manifold to put the sensor into.
This filled line cannot be kinked in any way. As the liquid expands inside it makes the gauge move.

I think Mechanical are more accurate.... much more of a pain to install over electric!
 
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