TheWulf

iTrader: (4)

Ok... I'm not by any means the best resource for this kind of thing, but I've considering setting up gauges and it's been a PITA to find a single thread that has all the information I need. I'm not the most mechanically inclined person, so I don't even really know why most people choose one gauge over another. We need a "Noob's guide to gauges"

I don't presume that the information below is 100% accurate, so please correct me if I'm writing BS and I'll update this post so that next time someone needs concise information they'll find it. Most of this post was mashed together from dozens of threads and other websites.

Please add to this if you feel the need to; especially installation tips and the reasons someone should choose a specific gauge.

**Don't take this as gospel until the resident experts have added their opinions

Ok here we go:


Mounting Options

There are 3 places we can mount gauges:

The A pillar: ]This is where gauges usually end up on most other cars. Click here for an example. Available from Carbontrix.
Above the NAV screen: Only if you don't have the NAV package, obviously. This is commonly known as the LOTEK pod. Click here for the thread on this.
Ashtray/Cig lighter: This is commonly known as the Racing Beat gauge pod. Click here for the thread on this. | Click here for a DIY on this.


Gauge Options

Air/Fuel Ratio (AFR) Gauge
What it does: Measures the ratio of air to fuel in the combustion chamber and lets you know if you are running rich (more fuel) or lean (less fuel). A richer mix will give you more power while a leaner mix will give you more fuel economy. More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air-fuel_ratio
Why you want it: Keep an eye on your gas mileage, engine performance, emissions and/or the condition of your O2 sensor.
Normal reading: 10:1 (startup) 13:1 - 15:1 (normal)
Required accessories: None
Installation difficulty/tips:


Boost (EGB/MBG) Gauge
What it does: Measures the air pressure inside the manifold. More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boost_gauge
Why you want it: Keeping an eye on your manifold pressure ensures you won't blow your manifold or your engine under high pressure.
Normal reading: Depends on your boost application, many people advocate under 9psi
Required accessories: None
Installation difficulty/tips:


Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) Gauge
What it does: EGT is an indication of how hot the combustion process is and the amount of afterburning that is occurring in the exhaust manifold. EGT is also directly related to the air/fuel ratio. The richer the air/fuel ratio, the higher the EGT will be. For more info: http://bankspower.com/Tech_whyegt.cfm
Why you want it: Keeping an eye on your EGT will warn you when you're pushing your engine too hard to avoid engine damage.
Normal reading: 800F - 1200F
Required accessories: Exhaust Temp Sender
Installation difficulty/tips:


Fuel Pressure Gauge
What it does: Monitors the pressure at which your fuel pump is pumping your fuel.
Why you want it: If you've modified your fuel system, it might be a good idea to keep an eye on your fuel pressure to ensure that fuel is pumping at the right pressure.
Normal reading: 60psi
Required accessories: Fuel Pressure Sender
Installation difficulty/tips:


Oil Pressure Gauge
What it does: Measures the amount of pressure created in an engine's oil system by the oil pump. A certain amount of oil pressure is needed to circulate oil throughout the engine and to maintain adequate lubrication. Low oil pressure or loss of pressure is dangerous because it can lead to expensive engine damage. High oil pressure may indicate a blocked filter, blocked oil gallery or the wrong grade of oil. More info: http://www.international-auto.com/in...m?fa=ad&aid=45
Why you want it: We all know the story of the RX8 and its oil thirst. If you haven't modified your OMP and are feeding off oil from the crankcase, this is a little extra to make sure you aren't running low.
Normal reading: Varies with RPM, 15psi (idle) 65psi (max)
Required accessories: Oil Pressure Sender (Opt: Oil Filter Adapter Plate)
Installation difficulty/tips:


Oil Temperature Gauge
What it does: Measures the temperature of the oil in your crankcase. High oil temperature in excess of 240°F (115°C) will break down petroleum oils and cause oxidation, which in turn forms deposits, varnish and increases wear. Low oil temperatures will cause formation of sludge, which can block oil passages. Very low temperatures of -40°F (-40°C) will make oil too thick to flow.
Why you want it: If you're not using 5W20 and you're not sure if the oil you've chosen if right for your 8, this can be a little bit of extra help to make sure your oil is flowing properly.
Normal reading: 180F - 210F
Required accessories: Oil Temp Sender (Opt: Oil Filter Adapter Plate)
Installation difficulty/tips:


Voltmeter Gauge
What it does: This measures the voltage output of your alternator. If this drops too low, your vehicle is running off battery power -- this can be the sign of a faulty alternator or voltage regulator. If this is going too high, it could mean a bad battery that constantly needs to be recharged.
Why you want it: Helps you keep an eye on the condition of your alternator and battery; especially useful if you have an aftermarket stereo with a amplifiers (in this case, having a capacitor would really help).
Normal reading:13.6V - 14.4V
Required accessories: Nones
Installation difficulty/tips:


Water Temperature Gauge
What it does: Measures the temperature of the engine coolant. If the reading is too high, your engine could suffer severe thermal damage, rendering it a nice paperweight. Low readings should be rare, unless the car is just started, and would usually amount to a faulty sensor.
Why you want it: Keeping an eye on your water temperature lets you know when to let your car cool off to keep your engine from overheating; especially useful if you're running any sort of forced induction, aftermarket radiators or if you're playing with different types of coolant. It can also help you notice a radiator leak before it's too late.
Normal reading: 180F - 210F
Required accessories: Water Temp Sender
Installation difficulty/tips:G

foo77

nice write up

Babo4u

wow definitely helps

yale02

iTrader: (16)

this is just what I needed as a 'gauge noob' myself. Thanks for the write-up!

bigireland

needs to be a sticky.. great write-up..

lxlxlxl_saki_lxlxlxl

iTrader: (1)

Nice explanations. found it Helpful, thanks

Mazdaspeed RX8 ver2

very awesome write up. this will help a lot of people on the forums.

foo77

just wanna add, there's site about A pillar for Rx8 http://www.carbontrix.com/store/inde...dex&cPath=1_14

or you can make it custom like rkostolni
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...A+pillar+gauge

or you can do it yourself like adrian
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...t=gauge+pillar

Flashwing

I'd recommend the Lotek gauge pod as I've been very happy with it!



The lotek gauge pod is a fitting over the stock dash cover which is where your factory nav system would normally go. If you have a factory navigation system then sadly you would not be able to use this pod.

Installation itself is very simple. The primary steps involve removing the top cover and then using a provided template to cut out a center of the cover which the gauge pod will fit over. Once the cut section is removed, use the provided epoxy and clamps (an extra $5) and let it dry for about 4 to 5 hours.

Afterwards the cover reinstalls with the gauges installed. fits any 2 1/8 size gauges. The pod tilts the gauges toward the driver for easy viewing. Another nice element is the factory nav tray is very large and is capable of holding a lot of wires. You'll want to organize then so they don't get out of control but any excess wiring fits easily.

You can easily draw power from this location as well.

Since I have planned on staying N/A for a while I opted for the Water Temp, Oil pressure and Oil temperature gauges.

nelsonrx8

Prosport Air/Fuel Ratio (AFR) Gauge...no good on rx8

TheWulf

iTrader: (4)

I believe it's because their AFR gauge is for narrowband O2 sensors. They are in the progress of making one for wideband sensors. (correct me if I'm wrong)

edit: basically it's not so much that it won't work, but narrowband gauges won't really give you solid real-time readings. Wait for the wideband if you really want accuracy.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

The Wulf: great write-up!

If you wanted to add a DIY for the RB pod + digital gauges, feel free to use mine if you'd like: https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=133938

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

awesome writeup

TheWulf

iTrader: (4)

Done.

Thanks for the props guys... I wouldn't mind having someone comment on the accuracy of it all though!

Flashwing

I would like to see some information on the accuracy of various gauge types or brands. I know there have been threads or comments in the past about various popular gauge sets but it seems to turn sour without any real data.

rx8speeddmon

iTrader: (4)

I am sure, in this crowd, if you were really off on something they would have let you know by now. Great write up and very useful, since I just purchased a gauge pod and was wondering some of these very questions. Also, thanks Jedi for the write up on the install it will really help when I come to that point.

Incorigible

coool that really helps

MazdaJeff

I know this is an older thread, but I wanted to say how useful this was.

Thanks!

StuttgartRX8

Good Writeup

N rider89

for the mounting options you should add the autoexe pod. it sits behind the nav like so;