Electric or Mechanical?

[69Rcode_Mach1]

I decided to make a new thread to address this question. I am ordering the guages for my shelby pod in my console for the mach. I am gettting an electric oil guage, but I don't know if the water temperature one needs to be electric or mechanical? I was going to splice it in with the factory temperature guage to see if that works out okay. Im guessing it is electrical correct? (Sorry don't know much about this never done it so I apologize if it is very obvious)

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

Anyone I need to order these guages today so the sooner the better.

 

[jikelly]

The factory gauge was electrical, and that is what I would go with. I might be wrong but it seems like the electrical guages are more durable. Granted you may eventually have to replace a sending unit.

 

[Pakrat]

Well, I would say that the oil gauge is better as a mechanical, but you seem to have already made your choice there. I personally just like to know exactly what my oil pressure is under all siutations and I don't think an electrical can be as accurate when it comes to oil.

 

[jikelly]

I think Pakrat is right about those mechanical guages being more accurate on the fly, but I had a mechanical oil guage come apart on me once and hot oil spraying out on your leg is not cool. Of course it was just a cheap 25 dollar three guage set I got from autozone.

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

Well the electric sending unit is on backorder. So I could switch it if need be. The thing I hate about electrical guages is that the writing on them are usually semi-circles from what I have seen whereas, the mechanical ones are full circles. Is there a reason for that or am I looking in the wrong place. I was looking at the autometer sport comps with black face guages can't stand white faced guages. And I don't want to have one electrical water temp guage that is a semi circle and one oil pressure guage that is a full circle. What do you guys say.

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

?? Last question guys I gotta order these things in a sec so sorry for rushing so bad.

 

[67coupe351w]

I'm not trying to get all up into anybody's grill here but theres no reason a mechanical guage would be more accurate than an electrical guage unless its is a cheap peice of crap.

A pressure transducer for instance outputs varrying voltages for varrying pressures...for our car's purposes...instantly although there will be a little lag with the guage but I would expect both types to lag slightly.

 

[Max Power]

That pod for your console will be easier to work with electrical gauges. They are a tight fit.

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

Okay cool looks like I am going with electrical guages. Just out of curiosity why can't I find the electric guages in full circle writing all of them are semi circles.

 

[HistoricMustang]

Well, I would say that the oil gauge is better as a mechanical, but you seem to have already made your choice there. I personally just like to know exactly what my oil pressure is under all siutations and I don't think an electrical can be as accurate when it comes to oil.

I am in this boat. Electrical is Ok except on oil.

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

 

[1320stang]

You can get a kit for a mechanical oil pressure gauge that mounts it remotely, so you don't get hot oil inside the car in case it breaks. Basically its a diaphram that mounts to the firewall and the fluid on the passenger side of it isn't hot or flammable as I recall. Now that I think about it, am I thinking of a fuel pressure gauge? (I've been wrong before too.......once..........and I think it was about being wrong. )

 

[69Rcode_Mach1]

After talking about it with you guys and Ronstang I have decided to go with mechanical. They are all around better and more accurate.

 

[Pakrat]

Good choice.

 

[mustangman70]

I agree too, and as for lag on mechanical? hell no, my mechanical oil pressure gauge the SECOND i hit the gas that sucker starts moving

 

[faultlessfocus]

So you all are saying that mechanical lags a little...what is (if any) the drawback to an electrical?

 

[mustangman70]

No, mechanical dosent have lag


At least mine dont

 

[Pbum5]

After talking about it with you guys and Ronstang I have decided to go with mechanical. They are all around better and more accurate.

Good Choice..
If you are worried about oil in the car you can upgrade your hose.
I used the plastic tube that came with my autometer guages, but just recently bought a Braided Line. I'm going to install it this weekend..
It should hold up a lot better than the plastic tube although I never had a problem with it..

 

[mustangman70]

DONT USE THE PLASTIC!!!!!!!

I used it at first and had it melt in the engine bay! Go to auto zone or advance and they will have 1/8th inch copper tubing made for the oil gauge use that instead ( i check my gauges reguarly, and while getting on it one night i saw the oil pressure go dead, i allmost died shutting the car off lol

 

[Pakrat]

I think every case is different really, it depends on where you run the line and how much heat is being trapped in your engine bay combined with how long you drive the car each period and what not. I have had the plastic line for over 5 years and 5,000 mi now with no issues. I did have a drop of oil hit my shoe once but that was fixed with another 1/4 turn of the coupling on the back of the gauge. I run it from the manifold hidden under my air cleaner to the fire wall and it seems to be fine. Upgrading never hurts though. When/if mine ever does fail I would likely not replace it with another plastic one but until then, it's fine for me.