Mechanical or Electrical Gauges
 

Well while I was working on my mustang I got to thinking "why don't I just replace my aftermarket gauges with some cool new more accurate ones" But looking at performace catalogs I was looking at the difference between mechanical and electrica. l know how the two work but I was wondering is one more accurate or reliable than the other?

They both have their benefits and applications, although I prefer mechanical gagues with a 270 degree sweep. They are easier to read without having to concentrate on them.

Mechanical will be more accurate, however they have their drawbacks. For instance, with fuel pressure, you have to run an isolator if you're to put the gauge inside the car, and then obviously with oil pressure, if you ever have a line bust to the gauge, you'll have to deal with oil expelled inside the car.

Simple and to the point - however very true. I had a buddy in highschool that ran a Fuel Pressure Gauge into his GTO - lets just say the car "afterwords" was never the same. The first time he hooked it up to see if his new toy worked the fitting on the back cracked and sprayed fuel everywhere......

Gas smell does not come out of cloth interiors very well.

Oh I remember my buddy had that happen, was not happy and I think he got some money out of the company for a shity gage. But me I would go with mechanical for some and maybe electrical for others, if you can do that!

Well I think I'll run mechanical. I was thinking of electric ones because it would be easier to mount in my stock location. But I decided to use a mechanical oil pressure and temperature gauge and mount them under my radio temporarily.

I'd suggest mechanical as well, as much as the electrical ones are easier to install, I would trust mechanical ones more.

Good luck with the install, and hope everything turns out the way you wan it.

Ya I trust mechanical more, I just hope to hell they never brake a hose!:hmm:

Ok I just picked up a set of mini gauges at a local autoparts store. I am gonna mount them in my center counsel. They are mechanical. I just have to run a steel line from the from of my block to the firewall, because where the oil pressure hooks up it is right in front and i have to go around my headers. And the plastic tube they gave me won't survive.

I think that plastic tube they include must be some huge inside joke or something, I'm scared for the person who even remotely thinks that those things will do the trick.

BRAND NAME matters more than elec/mech. Greddy/Defi make the best gauges handsdown. Autometer is the cheap crap you find in summitt or jegs catalogs.

Some gauges really NEED to be electric,...like oil pressure. You don't want an oil line entering your cabin, if you get in an accident, this could result in spewing hot oil everywhere...not to mention the possible oil starvation your engine could endure if not remedied quickly.

I run mechanical oil and everything else electrical. If I lose power, I ABSOLUTELY need to monitor the oil pressure in my motors.

As for autometers being crap... :rolleyes:

I purposely tested a few different gauges to see which were the most sensitive/accurate/reliable, and the Autometers were amongst the better of the group, only bested by IMO Stewart Warner.

I agree with autometers being among the better of gauges. I haven't personally tested various brands like you, but throughout the years friends have had different gauges, and most have had some problem with them until they moved to autometer.

My van has all electric but that is stock...and Im not going to change it now!