Mechanical or Electrical Gauges?

Dbeck002 · Nov 23, 2005

I need a set of gauges, electrical or mechanical?

Please list advantages and disadvantages of each.

How do each install? Electrical are more expensive, so im assuming they are more accurate/better.

EDIT: I will be mounting them on the A-Pillar. I think ill get the 2 5/8 so i can read the gauges easier. I always monitor the vitals when driving.

RacEoHolic330 · Nov 23, 2005

If you're mounting them on the pillar, electrical is the way to go. The only mechanical gauge i'd use inside the car is a boost gauge. It's not increadibly safe to have 200 degree coolant and oil running to a gauge that is 2 feet from your face. Not to mention, fuel, thats even more dangerous. If anything breaks or leaks, it won't be too fun for you.

Mavrick · Nov 23, 2005

Your best off with electric gauges on the A-pillar, but i prefer mechanical gauges otherwise.

Morales · Nov 23, 2005

Hmm.. I was always under the impression that Mechanical were more accurate. I just picked up 2 mech units for my A-Pilar. Should i exchange them for electric ones?

keith1991 · Nov 23, 2005

Here, this should help clear things up a little..

clicky..

Morales · Nov 23, 2005

how about the question of having them installed inside the car (i.e. the A pillar) id hate to get burned in the face with oil or coolant

feifong · Nov 23, 2005

how do u get burned in the face with coolant lol

Morales · Nov 23, 2005

feifong said:
how do u get burned in the face with coolant lol

nerd

5spd GT · Nov 23, 2005

So what would be the best way to setup a fuel pressure guage, oil pressure, and temp sensor? Electrical or mechanical?

Morales · Nov 23, 2005

I picked up a mechanical fuel preassure guage im going to mount outside, but i also picked up a mech oil and coolant temp gauge for the A-Pillar. Now im worried about it blowing up in my face

townethug · Nov 23, 2005

It’s really a person decision. If you want the gauges in the car then you almost have to go electrical. In my opinion the only down fall of electrical is that it is just one more thing that could potentially break. If you go mechanical, then you should have the gauges on the outside of the car, incase a line where to break, it wouldn’t leak all over the inside of your car.

Mavrick · Nov 23, 2005

Morales said:
how about the question of having them installed inside the car (i.e. the A pillar) id hate to get burned in the face with oil or coolant

Hot coolant does not run inside the car with a mechanical temp gauge. If your worried about oil pressure, then use flexable stainless lines or something. I don't have a problem with mechanical oil/water gauges in my dash and i use copper line for the oil pressure.

HISSIN50 · Nov 23, 2005

Gauges these days are so good, the choice should not be based upon how accurate the gauge will be IMHO.

For OP in a pillar, I advise running elec. For temps, as Mav said, the capillary tube is filled with gas, not coolant.

Good luck.

Kerpal · Nov 23, 2005

I thought that the fluids did not actually run through the lines to the gauges inside the car...

Even so, I've never seen mech. gauges advertised for outside the car use only, and if they were really that dangerous, nowadays there'd be liability warnings plastered all over them. I've never actually heard of somone's mech. gauges leaking inside the car either.

I bought mechanical for the full sweep, but now that AutoMeter makes some full sweep electrics, I might go that route just to make installation easier... I'm just wondering about their accuracy when paired with my stock alt, since the stock gauges dip down every time I hit the brakes, turn on the headlights or use anything else electrical.

If anyone's looking for a good deal on 2 1/16" mechanical gauges, see my sig. Nothing wrong with them, I just decided I wanted to get a gauge cage which uses the 2 5/8" ones. /spamming

RacEoHolic330 · Nov 23, 2005

actually, on the autometer fuel pressure gauges, there are warnings that they should only be mounted outside the car.

gt40_2003wes · Nov 23, 2005

id go with electrical.

Mustang5L5 · Nov 23, 2005

There is no coolant routed to the cabin on a mechanical temp gauges, just a safe inert gas inside capillary tubing.

For oil pressure run braided stainless steel line and you will be fine.

I like my mechanicals

HISSIN50 · Nov 23, 2005

RacEoHolic330 said:
actually, on the autometer fuel pressure gauges, there are warnings that they should only be mounted outside the car.

The fuel gauge is one of a few guages that you need the isolator for (dont run the source into the cockpit). But with other mech gauges (oil pressure, temp gauges and most other gauges) one does not need to isolate the fluid from the cockpit.

FWIW, on another car I have had a mech OP gauge installed for 10 years, still using the nylon line it came with. But with elec guages being so good now, I personally choose not to use mech OP gauges inside the car. I do like the full sweep though.

RacEoHolic330 · Nov 23, 2005

here's what i did with my fp gauge

Mustang5L5 · Nov 23, 2005

Nice, i did the same thing

Mechanical or Electrical Gauges?

Dbeck002

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RacEoHolic330

I like to dress like a pretty girl

Mavrick

Morales

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keith1991

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Morales

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feifong

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Morales

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5spd GT

"the 5.0 owns all"

Morales

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townethug

Mavrick

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

Kerpal

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RacEoHolic330

I like to dress like a pretty girl

gt40_2003wes

I did sound a wee bit gay there.

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

RacEoHolic330

I like to dress like a pretty girl

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

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