rkostolni

I am ordering some gauges and wanted to get an opinion.

I am ordering boost, oil pressure and either oil temp or water temp.
Which is the better indicator of engine temp, water or oil? It seems to me that water is the better indicator, if so what is the benefit of monitoring oil temp over water then?

Also, I assume that the gauges will come with some instructions that hopefully I can figure out the details from there, but to help shed some light any suggested mounting locations for the sensors would be great!

Thanks,
Ryan

v300

iTrader: (1)

Why not EGT?

PUR NRG

If you had to choose, I'd go with oil temp 'cause you always have the stock water temp gauge to tell you if things are getting bad.

The Defi gauges look very pretty but functionality won out over looks when I bought gauges. http://www.spatechnique.com/dualgauges/dual1.htm
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Hotbrunette

StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

I would really want an EGT with any FI gauge set. Especially on a rotary - with boost, you will need one that goes to 2000F!

Only the good gauge makers have models that will 'take the heat.'

S

...you DO already have a gauge for 'BLING', right? :D

rkostolni

But the stock water temp gauge is really just a dummy light and doesn't tell you much.

I don't see too much benefit of a EGT temp gauge right now since I don't plan on putting my car on a dyno until I get a boost controller which isn't going to be for a while. An EGT gauge by itself without calibrating it on a dyno isn't very useful, at least not from my understanding.

therm8

EGT guages are too susceptible to location, in my opinion. Given the choice between an EGT and a WB O2, i'd take the WB. As for oil or water, i'd probably choose water, as it is the actual cooling medium. If the engine is too hot, the water will be too hot.

zoomzoom_8

Mazda Maniac told me on here the best place to mount the sensor for an EGT gauge is near the secondary 02 sensor on the cat pipe. So that is where mine is going.

PUR NRG

What's your definition of "dummy light"? The stock water temp gauge tells you when the engine is too cold, within normal operating temp range and too hot. That is not a dummy light and tells you a lot more than the non-existent stock oil temp gauge.
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StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

You are probably thinking of the oil pressure 'dummy light'.

The water temp gauge works fine, and will pin right out when your fan breaks! (ask me how I know!)

S

rkostolni

You know you're right, I was thinking about the oil press gauge being the dummy light. So is there a big advantage to having both water and oil temp? Can the oil temp be estimated from the water temp? It seems like they should be very related!

PUR NRG

Sure they're related--except for the bit where the turbo is cooled by oil, not water. That's why you want an oil temp gauge to begin with.
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Wendie 99

RX-8fan01

i would recomened a WB 02 gauge ..... seems to be most helpfull with FI cars ... PLus we are rotary ... so i would get that first .... and it prolly the most expensive so get that one first and for the oil and water temp get the oil temp cuz oil coles the turbo more important then water if you ask me ... Just like PUR NRG said

Shane