Shoping tonight for my guage setup. While looking I found a set I like and the price is right. I like the glowshift type guages. First question I have is on the boost guage. The only type they show is the boost guage that goes up to 30psi. It also shows the vacumn reading too. So first dumb question is this.. Do you even get a vacumn reading on a diesel? And second is it needed or will it even work on the diesel. Has anyone used this set on a diesel and what are your thoughts.
The other setup I am looking for is the DiPricol Optix guage setup. But now we are talking $150.00 more.

Thoughts?

Steve

 

Nope.

Sure it will work, you just won't ever use half of the gauge sweep.

 

A 30 psi gauge is enough for a stock or even chipped 7.3L. If you start modding beyond that, 30 psi won't be enough anymore.

 

priv8pilot,

Work yes, something you need no. You need a 30 PSI and a 35 isn't a bad thing either. The Dipricol's are more because they are 100% LED lighted, the pyro is a stepper motor movement (much more accurate and reacts faster) and they come with an inconel thermocouple vs plain stainless. You have a high cost motor and are getting gauges to protect it, get ones that are diesel designed and such as well. if you haved any questions we stock all the Auto Meter, DiPricol and Isspro gauges andvall the little extra stuff you need to install them too, just call if you want.

Mark @ DPPI

 

I have the Dipricol Optix gauges and wouldn't trade them for any other. The black faced with green backlight matches the factory gauges.

 

I too have the Dipricol Optix setup. Was really skeptical about the $$ but now am more than happy I have them.

Your question does give me some question though as far as vacuum goes. I have had supercharged and turbocharged Ford gassers in the past. All of those vehicles came with a gauge that included a vacuum reading on the low end. This on vehicles costing 1/2 the price of my truck, go figure Ford. I'm not entirely sure that we are not pulling vacuum on our rigs until we begin to make boost. I think we are and that reading is a good indicator of the health of an engine as anyone who has turned wrenches for any period of time knows. A vacuum leak at idle has always resulted in poor idle.

Unless someone can explain to me how these engines don't pull a vacuum before building boost, ( those with gauges know what I am talking about), you should be able to see a vacuum reading on a gauge. Of course too high of a vacuum is an indicator of a flow restriction.

Edit: After posting this, I gave it some more thought. Sorry Cookie but the laws of physics dictate that there must be a vacuum until a positive boost is developed. There is no way to avoid this. This will occur until thermal energy resulting from demand on the engine provides a positive reading also known as boost. On my other gassers, the boost/vacuum gauge was a good indicator of my fuel economy. Kinda like the gauge Rampage has as his avatar. No BS, I always had a good time watching that gauge on the interstate cruising with a slight vacuum and then nailing it. It would move very quickly.