Mechanical vs Electric Gauges? - Toyota Yaris Forums

PETERPOOP · 04-05-2009, 01:54 AM

I was wondering what is the difference between manual and electronic gauges. Especially for Boost/vac gauges.

I know that for an oil pressure gauge, you need to run a line from the engine bay to inside your car. I was planning on using a steel braided hose and won't have to worry about it busting. My dad did that with his mustang and it's been fine.

The question is of accuracy. I heard that electric gauges are more accurate. What are you guys opinions on this?

Wanting to know because I am going to be purchasing my gauges soon, and electric gauges are more than double the price of mechanical ones.

Sorry, I'm a newb. I searched google, but they referenced muscle cars and what not.

LtNoogie · 04-05-2009, 02:12 AM

Mechanical gauges are generally less expensive. You just need to make sure that your vacuum line is long enough to go through the firewall and reach the final location of your gauge.

PETERPOOP · 04-05-2009, 02:21 AM

Thanks. Do you know about the accuracy quality about both?

LtNoogie · 04-05-2009, 02:29 AM

I did a Google search with these keywords. I'm new to this myself so you'll just have to read the opinions and come to your own conclusion.

mechanical vs. electrical gauges

PETERPOOP · 04-05-2009, 02:36 AM

Ok thanks. I did something like that and all I got were muscle car forums. Strange. Ill check it out. But was hoping for people with the yaris and first hand accounts. ok then

eTiMaGo · 04-05-2009, 04:55 AM

well the main difference I guess is that with mechanicals, you gotta bring whatever you are sensing (oil, water, vacuum) TO the gauge itself. Which with electrical ones, you have remote sensors and a couple of wires to bring the information to the gauge.

So, in the end, it's a balance of price vs convenience. and keep in mind, do you want to take the worst case scenario risk of a hot oil or water line rupturing in your cabin, running down your dashboard and onto you?

yarisugi · 04-05-2009, 06:04 AM

When I had a mechanical boost gauge, I sometimes had to re-adjust it because it wouldn't go back to "0" after I turned the car off - probably because there was still pressure stuck in the gauge/vac line. Electrical is the way to go now.

ChinoCharles · 04-05-2009, 07:46 AM

Electrical gauges drive me nuts. They take a second to refresh if you know what I mean. I've never seen an electrical gauge that didn't.

Nexus1155 · 04-05-2009, 09:26 AM

I mean electrical is the way to go on gauges that don't fluctuate often like water temp bs etc. But on something on a boost gauge i wouldn't do anything but mechanical. Because if you're going to be in an out of boost so quickly the electronic gauge will lag slightly and you'll be like, what is my actual boost level?

Its nice to have the boost ping and stay and drop and etc. I am sure there is a more extensive write up around if you look for it..

Nexus1155 · 04-05-2009, 01:21 PM

you're right it must be a quality thing, because i have seen some very shitty electrical guages... i have yet to see some car with any nice gauges out of my friends...

LtNoogie · 04-05-2009, 06:31 PM

Camelll and I are both using nice Autometer electrical gauges. I do not sense any lag at all. I have posted videos of my gauges in operation.

cali yaris · 04-06-2009, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Electrical gauges drive me nuts. They take a second to refresh if you know what I mean. I've never seen an electrical gauge that didn't.

Not with the Autometer gauges in my car. volts, water temp, oil pressure. Probably a good case for buying quality gauges!

jkuchta · 04-06-2009, 01:13 AM

A gauge is worthless if it's not a quality gauge....

It's like buying a low quality helmet or seatbelts....why bother doing something if you're not going to do it right?

cali yaris · 04-06-2009, 01:25 AM

If that's OBDII it's going to be very slow for any data you want to watch in real time.

04-05-2009, 01:54 AM	#1
PETERPOOP View User's Garage Drives: 08 white liftback Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Oahu Posts: 3,674	Mechanical vs Electric Gauges? I was wondering what is the difference between manual and electronic gauges. Especially for Boost/vac gauges. I know that for an oil pressure gauge, you need to run a line from the engine bay to inside your car. I was planning on using a steel braided hose and won't have to worry about it busting. My dad did that with his mustang and it's been fine. The question is of accuracy. I heard that electric gauges are more accurate. What are you guys opinions on this? Wanting to know because I am going to be purchasing my gauges soon, and electric gauges are more than double the price of mechanical ones. Sorry, I'm a newb. I searched google, but they referenced muscle cars and what not.

04-05-2009, 02:12 AM	#2
LtNoogie View User's Garage Drives: '08 Bayou Blue LB AT Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: West Hills, CA Posts: 2,517	Mechanical gauges are generally less expensive. You just need to make sure that your vacuum line is long enough to go through the firewall and reach the final location of your gauge. __________________ aFe Intake \| Blitz Supercharger \| Megan Header \| TRD Exhaust \| NST Pulley Set TRD Shocks/Struts \| Tanabe NF210 Springs \| TRD Sway Bar \| Motegi TRAKLITE wheels \| Kuhmo Ecsta XS R1 Concepts slotted rotors \| Carbotech 1521 brake pads \| stainless steel brake lines \| Seibon vented carbon fiber hood

04-05-2009, 02:29 AM	#4
LtNoogie View User's Garage Drives: '08 Bayou Blue LB AT Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: West Hills, CA Posts: 2,517	I did a Google search with these keywords. I'm new to this myself so you'll just have to read the opinions and come to your own conclusion. mechanical vs. electrical gauges __________________ aFe Intake \| Blitz Supercharger \| Megan Header \| TRD Exhaust \| NST Pulley Set TRD Shocks/Struts \| Tanabe NF210 Springs \| TRD Sway Bar \| Motegi TRAKLITE wheels \| Kuhmo Ecsta XS R1 Concepts slotted rotors \| Carbotech 1521 brake pads \| stainless steel brake lines \| Seibon vented carbon fiber hood

04-05-2009, 04:55 AM	#6
eTiMaGo vroom vroom View User's Garage Drives: lil red 5-door Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 7,744	well the main difference I guess is that with mechanicals, you gotta bring whatever you are sensing (oil, water, vacuum) TO the gauge itself. Which with electrical ones, you have remote sensors and a couple of wires to bring the information to the gauge. So, in the end, it's a balance of price vs convenience. and keep in mind, do you want to take the worst case scenario risk of a hot oil or water line rupturing in your cabin, running down your dashboard and onto you? __________________ The price of freedom of religion, or of speech, or of the press, is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish. - Robert Jackson Bye bye 1NZ...

04-05-2009, 06:31 PM	#11
LtNoogie View User's Garage Drives: '08 Bayou Blue LB AT Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: West Hills, CA Posts: 2,517	Camelll and I are both using nice Autometer electrical gauges. I do not sense any lag at all. I have posted videos of my gauges in operation. __________________ aFe Intake \| Blitz Supercharger \| Megan Header \| TRD Exhaust \| NST Pulley Set TRD Shocks/Struts \| Tanabe NF210 Springs \| TRD Sway Bar \| Motegi TRAKLITE wheels \| Kuhmo Ecsta XS R1 Concepts slotted rotors \| Carbotech 1521 brake pads \| stainless steel brake lines \| Seibon vented carbon fiber hood

04-05-2009, 02:21 AM	#3
PETERPOOP View User's Garage Drives: 08 white liftback Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Oahu Posts: 3,674	Thanks. Do you know about the accuracy quality about both?

04-05-2009, 02:36 AM	#5
PETERPOOP View User's Garage Drives: 08 white liftback Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Oahu Posts: 3,674	Ok thanks. I did something like that and all I got were muscle car forums. Strange. Ill check it out. But was hoping for people with the yaris and first hand accounts. ok then

04-05-2009, 06:04 AM	#7
yarisugi やりすぎだ～ View User's Garage Drives: Me: Nuts: Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: ハワイ Posts: 2,041	When I had a mechanical boost gauge, I sometimes had to re-adjust it because it wouldn't go back to "0" after I turned the car off - probably because there was still pressure stuck in the gauge/vac line. Electrical is the way to go now.

04-05-2009, 07:46 AM	#8
ChinoCharles Banned Drives: LB Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: OH Posts: 7,787	Electrical gauges drive me nuts. They take a second to refresh if you know what I mean. I've never seen an electrical gauge that didn't.

04-05-2009, 09:26 AM	#9
Nexus1155 Bathroom + Laptop = <3 Drives: Audi Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Dorchester Posts: 1,009	I mean electrical is the way to go on gauges that don't fluctuate often like water temp bs etc. But on something on a boost gauge i wouldn't do anything but mechanical. Because if you're going to be in an out of boost so quickly the electronic gauge will lag slightly and you'll be like, what is my actual boost level? Its nice to have the boost ping and stay and drop and etc. I am sure there is a more extensive write up around if you look for it..

04-05-2009, 01:21 PM	#10
Nexus1155 Bathroom + Laptop = <3 Drives: Audi Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Dorchester Posts: 1,009	you're right it must be a quality thing, because i have seen some very shitty electrical guages... i have yet to see some car with any nice gauges out of my friends...

04-06-2009, 01:13 AM	#13
jkuchta View User's Garage Drives: 2007 Yaris hatch (red) Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: L.A. Posts: 557	A gauge is worthless if it's not a quality gauge.... It's like buying a low quality helmet or seatbelts....why bother doing something if you're not going to do it right?

04-06-2009, 01:25 AM	#14
cali yaris ULTIMATE View User's Garage Drives: 07 Yaris Turbo Join Date: May 2007 Location: Canoga Park, CA Posts: 14,859	If that's OBDII it's going to be very slow for any data you want to watch in real time. __________________ Micro Image forums, online store and shop are now closed. It was a great eight year run, but it was time to focus on other things. I'm still selling parts on eBay under micro*image seller ID and customers can still make requests for anything specific.

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