Team-BHP - Essential gauges for a modded turbo-charged car

Guys,

I am thinking of adding aftermarket gauges in my Linea T-Jet. Since the car is tuned by Wolfmoto and runs 150 HP, I feel it is necessary to monitor a few parameters, apart from what the OE console shows.

I am getting a boost gauge for sure, to be able to monitor boost levels the turbo is producing. Additionally, I would also like to get gauges to monitor

Oil pressure
Oil temperature
Water temperature (the OE has only 3 stages - cold-warm-oops, too late)
EGT
AF ratio
Fuel pressure

The catch is - I can accommodate only 3 gauges in the A pillar. Also, having all these gauges may not really make sense as it would result in information overload. I am looking for help narrowing down to 3 gauges, that will go on the A pillar. For the rest, I could continue using Torque Pro, though the readings are not likely to be as accurate as a real gauge.

Please help me finalize the other two gauges, apart for the boost gauge.

Thanks in advance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by laluks (Post 3846784)

Will it not be ok that you have a bluetooth OBD connector or similar and an app on your smartphone than wiring the car?

Already have that. Have tried both BT & WiFi connections. BT is very slow and WiFi is a tad better. Wired gauges will be far more accurate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatchyBoy (Post 3846777)

Oil temperature
Water temperature (the OE has only 3 stages - cold-warm-oops, too late)
EGT

My 2 cents: I'd recommend running these 3 temperatures via OBD/Torque, as they tend not to spike or fluctuate easily, and its the trend that is of as much value than just an instantaneous value (you can view the trend via a Torque graph and see how they change with hard driving, etc.).

The other measures you're interested in (A/F ratio, boost, fuel rail pressure) all all things where the instantaneous value is what really matters, so put these up as physical gauges on the A-pillar.

Err I'd recommend just the AFRs and the boost gauge.. That's all you'll ever need honestly.. Both have proved to be a boon to me to make sure the car is running alright.. If I were to be compelled to add another gauge I'd go with the oil temperature gauge, that's the only thing that makes most sense to me out of the other options.. Do upload the gauges in their pods when you're through with them please :D

Technically; Boost pressure / Rail pressure / Oil temperature / EGT / AFR are interesting. Only other things that fascinates me is the Turbo - RPM. Don't know if that is easy / possible to measure.

Most parameters can be logged once to know the trend and assess the impact of the re-tune, on the engine related parts. For real time, I would be only interested in Engine-Oil temp and Turbo-RPM (if not, then Boost Gauge) if possible. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatchyBoy (Post 3846777)

...Since the car is tuned by Wolfmoto and runs 150 HP, I feel it is necessary to monitor a few parameters, apart from what the OE console shows....

I think you definitely have to monitor the EGT's and need to have a boost guage.

Also, I hope you have modified your intake and exhaust.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatchyBoy (Post 3846920)

No I have not. It is only a remap.

The turbo needs to breath well. The intake side and exhaust side pressures need to be correct. With a remap, the combustion is more and hence air requirements are more. You need to modify the intake and exhaust for longer life of the turbo.

You will get bored of looking at so many gauges in no time.

I would recommend:
1. Boost
2. Wideband
3. Oil pressure (not hooked to the stock sender)
4. Water temp in F (not hooked to the stock sender)

Please don't buy the cheaper ones.

Unless you put a boost controller, you wont need a boost gauge. Usually no tuner fiddles with boost in a petrol car
What you need essentialy is a AFR gauge, too lean afr will result in higher egt