thoughts on crappy boost gauges

[OhioSpyderman]

I don't know guys, I have a Prosport stepper boost gauge in my Stealth....I got it from my son when I bought him a SBC-iD (built in boost gauge).

Didn't have a clue whether it was accurate or not UNTIL I bought an SBC-iD for the Stealth.

Turns out that they are < 2 PSI apart at ALL times and sometimes dead on....

FWIW, I located my sender as far away from all heat sources that I could (and still keep it under the hood)....and my connections to the boost/vacuum source are SOLID....

Bob.

As of 5/1/11 my Prosport gauge has taken a dump. Worked fine one morning, came out to the car after lunch turned the key and the gauge turned red, screaming, needle pegged full up.....

[VR4]

I have seen rings blown on my friends car from his bad mechanical boost gauge. It was an autometer mechanical and he had no reason to assume it didnt read right. It looked like it worked fine but didnt read right. He was set at 17psi, with all proper fuel mods, according to his gauge. but after a couple passes at the track his rings were gone. When he got rings fixed, I let him try my boost gauge (another autometer pro comp I used for years) and we compared the two gauges.

His autometer read 8 psi, mine read 17psi. Then his read 16psi when mine read 25psi. SO long story short is make sure your gauge is in working order. DOuble check it with another or a source that you know how much is being applied before going all out. And if something feels wrong make sure boost is right.

A crappy gauge cost a whole engine rebuild in only a couple passes. And it was weird because he turned it up little by little but it still kept reading low so he thought it was okay. It barely went up and was still in pump gas territory. But it just went up alot slower than what was correct. He was running 17 psi on pump in his dsm on the bad gauge which was prolly over 26psi in real life.

BTW it was a newer gauge so don't assume just that its a new mechanical gauge that it is 100% accurate. Bad stuff does still get pass quality control.

not the first time i heard of this. i have one in my garage that reads 10 psi at 15.

[Austin@STM]

Nothing is perfect, even the AEM guages should be checked every now and then. We had a customer with a DSM running AEM EMS and AEM boost guage with a sepreate MAP sensor for each. Something seemed off with the boost readins between the dyno, the AEM, and the guage, so after looking into it the sensors were mounted very loosley and were just banging around on the transmission and IC piping and were both bad and both reading completely different.

[cjbyron]

while we're on the topic of AEM gauges, do you guys have any experience monitoring knock with the AEM serial gauges? Do the gauges "hold" the maximum knock counts for very long or does it just flash and then disappear?

I tried a while back to throw in the knock count into the telemetry stream to AEM serial. Never could get it working right. I didn't knock myself out trying but did follow a few instructions on it from AEM. I'm sure there must be a way but after a few decent tries I gave up as it wasn't that important to me to keep on messin with it. I had the same issue when trying to use the trigger output based on parameters (opening ex cutout above xx psi). I REALLY like the serial gauges but the setup is a major PITA unless you stay with default config.

On gauges in general - IMO it does come down to 'you get what you pay for'. There are some differences among like-style gauges sure but that saw holds true to a high degree. The problem is people don't wanna pay the prices for quality stuff sometimes. LOL, I've got 7 really nice black Greddy 60mm warning style gauges I've had for sale at around 40% retail but no takers in this current ecomony because buyers seem to be looking for cheap. Or they want some ridiculous deal (like,,uhh yeah, I'm not going to take $40 for a $250 gauge!). Gauges a one-time purchase if you buy quality and to me that's the only way to go. Especially if you're making any tuning or other decisions based off the date they provide!

Most definately AEM if you dislike the metric readout and want imperial readout (which I prefer like most americans, lol). And the digital readout is nice. Serial style if you have AEM EMS and don't use your outport for other uses. The new Defi system is still nice but it isn't geared towards USA market that's for sure. Autometer has the most choices of anyone, no doubts there, but they look a little odd in imports IMO and especially not a good choice if it's the bottom-priced models.

Nothing is perfect, even the AEM guages should be checked every now and then. We had a customer with a DSM running AEM EMS and AEM boost guage with a sepreate MAP sensor for each. Something seemed off with the boost readins between the dyno, the AEM, and the guage, so after looking into it the sensors were mounted very loosley and were just banging around on the transmission and IC piping and were both bad and both reading completely different.

Can't blame the gauges or mfg'r for crappy or amateur install.

[DocWalt]

Good info in this thread! I recently got in an argument with some idiot that claimed Prosports were built in the same factory as Defis, so they must be as good. lulz.

[cjbyron]

Good info in this thread! I recently got in an argument with some idiot that claimed Prosports were built in the same factory as Defis, so they must be as good. lulz.

LOL, had heard that too. Part of their marketing ploy no doubt. Put the guarantee on the box Ted! LOL.
I think the word is totally out now that prosports are a lower-end gauge and have accuracy and failure issues. Too many people reporting problems for it to be anything other than quality as spec'd and built.

And even if it was true about the factory, so what. That doesn't make them equal to the specs or quality. "Factories" build to all differing specs and acceptable deviation or quality standards. I'm sure autometer can also use same factory for their $15 gauge as their $200 one. Just a lame way to mincing words to make them appear to be something they are not. Because of that style of marketing alone I'd not buy their stuff.

[DocWalt]

It wasn't their marketing, he was just a misinformed tool. I don't pay Prosport any attention, so I'd have to do research to see if they ever did claim that they were made in the same factory.

[i3igpete]

I do distinctly recall michael b reading a magazine article that did a steady-state test and saying "THEY ARE AS GOOD AS, IF NOT BETTER THAN, DEFI GAUGES" (CAPS emphasis my own, he may have used bold or a large font).

[TonyM]

I have seen rings blown on my friends car from his bad mechanical boost gauge. It was an autometer mechanical and he had no reason to assume it didnt read right. It looked like it worked fine but didnt read right. He was set at 17psi, with all proper fuel mods, according to his gauge. but after a couple passes at the track his rings were gone. When he got rings fixed, I let him try my boost gauge (another autometer pro comp I used for years) and we compared the two gauges.

His autometer read 8 psi, mine read 17psi. Then his read 16psi when mine read 25psi. SO long story short is make sure your gauge is in working order. DOuble check it with another or a source that you know how much is being applied before going all out. And if something feels wrong make sure boost is right.

A crappy gauge cost a whole engine rebuild in only a couple passes. And it was weird because he turned it up little by little but it still kept reading low so he thought it was okay. It barely went up and was still in pump gas territory. But it just went up alot slower than what was correct. He was running 17 psi on pump in his dsm on the bad gauge which was prolly over 26psi in real life.

BTW it was a newer gauge so don't assume just that its a new mechanical gauge that it is 100% accurate. Bad stuff does still get pass quality control.

Remember too that mechanical gauges are dependant on a quality mechanical link with the car. Not saying they can't be inaccurate, but I've seen many times those nylon lines get kinked and bent. Electronic gauges have the benefit of only needing to run a wire to the gauge while the sender can sit right on the manifold, etc. Much less involved.

For the record, my Autometer Pro-Comp is within 1 psi from where my MAP sensor reads on my datalogger.

[i3igpete]

even more shitty boost gauges