gauges

June 28, 2005, 09:10:25 AM

when they say mechanical or electric gauges for the pods whats do they mean
whats the difference between them

Re: gauges

Reply #1 – June 28, 2005, 09:45:07 AM

Mechanical gauges measure directly, like a compression or air pressure gauge. This means that a mechanical connection must be made between the gauge and the engine - for example, the oil pressure gauge requires that you tap into the oil pressure sender location and run a plastic tube inside the car to the gauge. Electrical gauges use a sender outside the engine that converts a pressure reading into a resistance value, then a wire carries the resistance value back to the gauge, and the gauge converts this value into a reading that you can see.

Mechanical gauges are generally more accurate, but they can be dangerous - the oil pressure tube could rupture and spray hot engine oil at high pressure all over your interior, for instance. At best you could end up with a ruined interior, at worst you could end up with some burns. If the tube ruptured in the engine compartment you could end up with a fire. Also, it's technically illegal to install them, since you are not allowed to bring engine fluids (other than coolant in the heater core) in past the firewall into the passenger compartment. Of course nobody is gonna arrest you, but it is a liability to think about - if that tube ruptured and burned a passenger you could be sued, or if it burned your car you could be denied insurance coverage because of illegal equipment