I have been looking at some guages (oil pressure and coolant temp)- but i'm not sure which to purchase. i remember my dad had some mechanical gauges in his truck and the oil pressure blew the line and dumped oil inside the cab- thats not something i am really looking forward to. I like the idea that the mechanical gauges are cheaper-but you have to run all the lines to them. and the electrical gauges are nice because you just have to run the wire- but those are like 2-3xs as expensive. so can ya'll give me your input on any problems you've had if any with either type of gauge? thanks.

 

Mechanical gauges are the best bet, while if you know for certain that you have no electrical problems with the truck, you can go with the more expensive digital ones. Autometer, cyberdyne, and few other's I cannot remember are good ones, though I have heard a few people had problems with cyberdyne dig. gauges, but I haven't. I have 3; Volt, Water and Oil temp gauges. The designs and colors are great at night, and yet it does help with keeping a check on certain aspects of the vehicle.

The oil pressure gauge with the nylon tubing isn't the best, but if you had problems with negotiable oil pressure, always handy to have mounted somewhere under the hood to check at certain times, yet you can also use copper, just don't kink it. My dad had the nylon, and it blew all oil under the dash, so I know what you mean there. He just replaced it with a copper line, and is quite happy. I have the el' cheapo nylon on mine, but I don't have it near any heat sources, so I've been rather happy with it's longevity.

Well, I hope some others on here can help chime in suggestions, if not do a search on here for digital and/or mechanical gauges.

 

thanks timbersteel.

 

personally i would go with mechanical. Thats what im doing.

I think the electrical gauges are good. But i have heard and believe that the sending units can alter readings after time. Because of contentious heat and cool cycles it changes the resistance of the elements.

Good Luck

 

i just picked up a 2" oil pressure guage today for $18 at advanced. its a sunpro but it works just like an autometer. i like looking down and seeing a number insted of my needle pointing in the red. its a good feeling.