so i'm new to the turbo scene and i'm really short on money, i probably have enough for only one decent gauge right now. i'm deciding between boost, a/f, and oil temp. for sure i'm going to have to get all of them, but as of right now which one should i get first boost or a/f? this will be my main gauge until maybe a month or 2 until i have enough money..

 

Boost will be your #1 priority!! because if you are running lean or rich you will either ruin the seals on your turbo or get crap gas milage, stalling and what not... BUT if you are having boost spikes and stuff you will blow your motor! now which do you think would be more important? hmmm.

 

Not necessarily... if ur running lean, you can also blow your engine. You should not go turbo or s/c unless you got the money to go all out and have some left over for repairs. You should have off the bat, boost/vacuum gauge and wideband a/f gauge. Oil temp is good, EGT is good, oil pressure is good. Boost is sensitive and could cost you your engine when not taken care of properly. If you can't afford these things maybe you should rething boost, or take out a loan from a bank or ur parents

 

hes correct too i didnt account for running lean and blowing the motor. good call. and yeah many people are going to tell you:

"dont boost on a budget."

healthy advice.

 

can anyone recommend an inexpensive yet good wideband?
i know aem is good, and the least i found it for was around 240.
by the end of this month im buying a/f wideband, oil pressure, and egt. should i get something other than the egt?

 

honestly eveyone pretty much goes with the aem uego controller. im assuming you already have a boost gauge if not, add that to your list. i think if you have afr gauge egt isnt fully necessary anymore. boost, afr, and oil pressure seem to be thr trio i see most go with. i myself have thsoe three aem tru boost, aem afr, aem oil press

 

i have cobalt boost gauge and like 99% i'll be purchasing the a/f wideband, egt, and oil pressure. aem uego controller is most likely what i'll get for a/f. but if i get something like glo shift gagues for oil pressure and egt..would it matter?

 

boost, you can remedy that with a tiny spring.

, AFR is what you need

that's like 300 dollars tho....look for prosport gauges, pretty good stuff. i use it. works decent enough.

those thirty dollar gauges aren't HORRIBLE, you can use it. they just wont' be insanely accurate

 

not at all those gauges are fin to get glow shift i jsut wouldnt recommend them for boost or afr. egt oil press no prob. dont you want a little uniformity though?? haha you will have three different brands! no biggie though!

 

I'd say get boost and AFR gauges at same time.. I wouldnt even debate which one is more important since the two are must have

 

nice gauges aen.. i just looked at them.. which color did you go with?

 

well i'm purchasing my apexi gauge next week when i go to riverside.. and i might get an autometer a/f gauge from another member on this website.. that should be good to start off right?

 

i also recommend eventually getting a turbo timer and until then, let your car idle for about a minute until u shut off your car

 

the autometer a/f gauge is at least decent right?

 

ahhh i just did a search, and i guess widebands are the way to go, not narrowband, so i can only afford a boost gauge right now.. anyone know a cheap wideband a/f gauge or does anyone have one for sale?

 

it's more than decent...autometer is one of the best brand, if not the best, of gauges...and they have a bunch of different styles to choose from. make sure that u get a wideband with an 02 sensor

 

most new gauges come with the sensor right it's when buying it used i should be careful?

 

yes new ones come with sensors and just make sure its wideband not narrow band.

 

what's the cheapest and most accurate wideband?

 

im gonna say aem thats because i have that one though! haha and honestly i dont know of many others???