boost or water temp?

[Heath]

So I got an EGT gauge for my wagon (going to be fitted in a few weeks) but while I was at it I got another gauge to use for either water temp or boost (or oil pressure/temp). Problem is I still havent made up my mind which way to go.

I have a 96 Toyota Prado running a 1kz-te intercooled engine. What should I be monitoring more carefully? These gauges have an alarm feature which can set off a piezo alarm (which I will fit) and can be preset to what ever limits you like.

At the moment I am swinging towards the water temp so I can have a better control over any overheating issues (and I dont trust the factory gauge). Is boost pressure important to know all the time or just for tuning?


The gauges in question. Fitted them into a small blanking plate I made to fit above the 1.5 din factory radio I have. Yet to fit that, will do this weekend I guess (just to fill the hole).

Maybe I should get a third one for boost and be done with it

Link to gauges http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_ ... 73d2b75a85

Added Oil pressure for comparrison too (didnt think of that)

[smurf182]

I would go for water temp with the sensor mounted as high in the system as possible so you know that if the reading drops suddenly you're probably losing water.

Boost is only important for tuning and wank value - just set it and forget.

[sj408]

I would also do oil presure, Lets you know before you do major damage to an engine whilst climbing or on an angle.
set it to 15-20 psi

[tweake]

boost first. boost and EGT go hand in hand. boost is especially useful for fault finding.

2nd would be water temp and oil pressure. the prado is not as bad as the surf is for overheating.

[Heath]

In their new place of residence. And yes I do think they are wanky but I like them



The special little bracket I made (best bit is visible, the shite bit isnt). Complete with reference marks for when I do the third gauge (if I ever do it).

[Heath]

Bump.

No-one else got any advice on engine monitoring? What to watch and what not to bother with.

Hmmm. Guess I will have to make my own mind up then and afterwards everyone can tell me I made the wrong choice.

[rangimotors]

boost i wouldn't worry about if something changes you will see it in your egt gauge but i find it hard to choose between oil pressure and water temp, both are pretty important. Yes the factory water temp gauge is shit so its valid to have an aftermarket one to keep an eye on those temps for either overheating or putting a hole in your radiator or as is very common shitting the water pump and then the head.
Oil pressure I guess should be fine but it would be nice to have for either getting on good angles or getting low on oil or putting a hole in the sump or something.

Hard choice, maybe take the hit and buy thsat 3rd gauge

[Heath]

Going to go for water temp. This is my daily driver and on road readings are more important than off road at the moment. Point taken about oil pressure when offroad and I will make sure I keep that in mind when I decide to splurge on another gauge. To be honest the sender for oil press was twice the price of the temp sender. I'll also be keeping an eye on EGT's and will make sure I strip the manifold off at some stage for a clean up of the gunge from the EGR junk. Eventually that will be removed as well (its just deactivated for now).

I figure with EGT and water temps I will have better idea of what is going on then I did before, so its all good.

Just got to figure out where to fit the temp sender (top of the thermostat housing maybe).

[tweake]

boost i wouldn't worry about if something changes you will see it in your egt gauge

i don't usually find its all that noticeable. i find changes in fuel, weather will change boost at cruise a few lb's either way but no noticeable change in EGT's. (mind you EGT sensor is after turbo which could account for that)
the amount of boost at cruise is usually a good indicator of fuel economy which is important for a daily driver.