mechanical vs. electrical?
- Thread starter Eon_Anadlas
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HookandLadder
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Electrical will use a remote sensor and send a signal to the gauge.
Mechanical will have the gauge reading from a tube that will carry the actual pressure to the gauge. i.e.....small tube carrying a fluid to the gauge.
Mechanical will have the gauge reading from a tube that will carry the actual pressure to the gauge. i.e.....small tube carrying a fluid to the gauge.
HookandLadder said:
The up-side of a mechanical oil pressure gauge is that it it is argueably more precise BUT if the connection or tube ever ruptures, oil is sprayed EVERYWHERE until the engine is stopped. An electrical gauge is easier to install but indicates a range from HIGH to LOW without quantifying what is meant in terms of PSI.
SD: Are you saying that all electrical gauges don't read actual numbers, just high and low? Or are you just referring to most stock gauges? All aftermarket gauges will give an actual read out.
I have all Auto Meter electrical and love them. When I called to order them the Auto Meter guy told me that electrical will last longer in terms of hours/accuracy. If it’s a daily driver go with electrical if not then mechanical would be fine.
I have all Auto Meter electrical and love them. When I called to order them the Auto Meter guy told me that electrical will last longer in terms of hours/accuracy. If it’s a daily driver go with electrical if not then mechanical would be fine.
With todays technology the electrical gauges are nearly as accurate as mechanicals. When I first fired up my motor and for the first week of running I had both mechanical and electrical gauges hooked up. The mechanicals are a set we use to trouble shoot and break in motors, so anytime we want to be sure we run both to check the readings of the other. In my case my Autometer Phantom electrical gauges were dead on with the mechanicals (oil press, water temp, and back then trans temp).
Eon_Anadlas said:
I don't disagree with whats been said so far. Be aware that electric guages come in different types. Most of todays modern cars use "position indicators" that simply are switch driven. For example, a modern Mustang has an oil pressure indicator driven by a pressure switch sender. This type only reads when the pressure exceeds a certain pre-determined pressure (comes on). As long as the oil pressure remains up, so does the needle position on the guage. It does not vary with changes in pressure. Its done this way to prevent uninformed motorists from complaining about oil pressure going up/down with engine rpm and having to explain to them what's going on. Most people are quite happy with this arrangement even though its nothing more than an "idiot light." Some aftermarket guages may also work this way.
OTOH, some guages actually read oil pressure. In this case, the sender unit is a pressure transducer. A resistance changes inside the transducer and a varying current is sent to the guage. In this situation, the guage reads actual oil pressure.
Is electrical better than mechanical? Modern electrical transducers can measure the pressure with a high degree of accuracy...far more accurate than a mechanical (aneroid) pressure. Accuracy of the system you buy depends mostly on the transducers accuracy.
The bottom line, is know what you're buying, and what the products limitations are. In this manner you won't be disappointed.
1969mach1351 said:
You are correct. I was thinking stock/factory gauges. The original question doesn't make a distinction. In my experience, an oil pressure gauge is often only referenced AFTER a problem is detected. Too often it only confirms the situation rather than prevent it. MOST drivers don't read their gauges until too late.
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