I am researching gauges for my truck. What are folks' opinions about electrical versus mechanical? I am leaning toward the mechanical personally, I like the idea of not needing a sending unit for each one. <br>Thanks,<br>Rob

 

For ease of installation the electrical beat the mechanical hands down. On the other hand the mechanical in some cases do appear to be a bit more reliable, but not necessarily more accurate. Have used both over many years and never had a failure in either case. Suspect for many guys it boils down to a matter of preferance as to my knowledge there is no firm argument either way.

 

Your choices depend on the gauges in question, where they're mounted, and availability.
My EGT and Trans Temp are electrical.(Kinda hard to find mechanical).

My boost is mechanical (kinda hard to find electrical), and here's your real choice,....

Fuel Pressure,...mine's mechanical, no sender to go bad (if fuel pressure drops, and there's no leak...the pump's dead), others use electronic.

I know that's clear as mud now.........

Ed

 

<br><br>And twice as thick. <br><br>Just kidding, thanks for the info.<br>I am planning on putting an EGT, FP and boost. Haven't made up my mind about the tranny temp yet (is this as important on a manual as on the auto?)

 

Tranny temp is more of an Auto Tranny kinda thang...... ;D

 

I dont think electric has been an issue except for fuel pressure guages. There has been a problem due to the mounting locations. To close to the VP and the pulses of the pump cause the sendors to fail. But good mounting spots and using hoses to mount the sendor off the motor has proven to be some what reliable. Now for mechanical, you have two choices: use a isolator, which has also given some trouble or run straight diesel in the cab to the gauge. Choice number two is not for smokers! <br>

 

<br><br>Thanks, that's what I thought, but someone suggested the tranny temp. gauge on an earlier post (maybe they didn't see my sig.)

 

any one using the X-monitor?, i saw it @ GENOS GARAGE.this product interests me. please tell me what you think.

 

dd361,<br>This is also one of the devices I am looking at. So far, I can not find anyone that is using one. You can order them from BD with 3 parameters of your choice. Ex. EGT,Boost and Tranny temp or EGT, Boost, FP etc. The list price for the one I am looking at is $639 on BD's website. I have found a place in Texas that will sell it to me for $575. Just go to the BD site, find the model number you need and then shop around, because as I understand, if you buy direct from BD, you pay full list price.

 

run the fuel to the cab 8) It takes more than cig to light it up

 

<br><br>I can hear my wife now: &quot;What's that smell?&quot;. Me: &quot;Oh nothing dear, just my new air freshener&quot;.<br><br>dd361,<br>No one else has replied what they think about the x-monitor. Here are my random thoughts: I decided that I think analog gauges look better (just my opinion). I have not seen an x-monitor installed, but it looks like it sticks out pretty far from the A-pillar. I do like the fact that on the x-monitor you can set your own limits and the display flashes to warn you (now, if I could get it to say &quot;Pull over stupid&quot;, I might condsider it more). I also don't like the idea of having a $600 electronic box that could get fried or need to be sent in for repair. Cost is also an issue, the analog gauges win this point too. Therefore, the final answer for me is analog gauges.<br>

 

To me, analog gauges are quicker to read than a digital readout.
Once you get used to them, a quick glance to see the needle position is all you need.
Isspro EV series.

Ed

 

Mechanical...Dipricol<br><br>http://www.dodge-diesel.org/yabbse/g...5&amp;pid=1872<br><br><br>Steve<br>

 

I love my digitals. Got em all from www.dakotadigital.com. Very easy to read. Have high and low warning settings. A little on the expensive side ($450 for FP, boost, EGT, and Tranny and senders). They are a little more involved in hooking them up cause you have to run wires from the senders, up the pillar, and wire them into the gauge, but it's not that bad. They are very quick reading and very accurate.

 

bigblue, do you have any pics of your guages installed?