Autometer Boost Gauge question

SubiePrice88 · Post by **SubiePrice88** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 7:49 pm

Wasnt sure where to post this, but since it has to do with a Turbo I figured it should work.

Anyways... Just wondering on what you guys have to say about the Autometer boost gauge? Is it a good gauge, worth the money(I can get it for $40), etc.?

skid542 · Post by **skid542** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 7:54 pm

Autometer isn't the best out there, but it's solid. Some people have had problems with them. Some people have problems with just about any meter.

It's basically your mid-shelf meter.

I'm running one and have been happy with it.

Bdub · Post by **Bdub** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:10 pm

You should really look into getting a vac/boost gauge. That way you can see the reaction of the car prior to boost level.
There's no need for a gauge which goes to 35 psi, try a 30-0-30 or 30-0-20 gauge, that way you can see the how the throttle reaction.

n2x4 · Post by **n2x4** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:13 pm

Bdub wrote:You should really look into getting a vac/boost gauge. That way you can see the reaction of the car prior to boost level.
There's no need for a gauge which goes to 35 psi, try a 30-0-30 or 30-0-20 gauge, that way you can see the how the throttle reaction.

+1. There's 2 kinds of gauges. Boost and Turbo. Turbo reads vac. Boost does not and is usually installed with a supercharger.

skid542 · Post by **skid542** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:37 pm

+1, I can't see the pic (work has it blocked) but a 30-0-20 or 30-0-30 is the way to go. Vac makes a big difference when you're trying to diagnose a problem.

SubiePrice88 · Post by **SubiePrice88** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:04 pm

How does the Boost/vac work? Is it like having 2 gauges in 1?

I was reading this: http://legacycentral.org/library/boost.htm

n2x4 · Post by **n2x4** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:39 pm

skid542 wrote:+1

I was +1, you'd be +2, Lee...

The boost vac gauge shows your engine vac when out of boost (non turbo cars always have vac, it's just nice on a turbo car because you can see how close you are to positive manifold pressure (boost) at any time. Like you said, it's pretty much 2 gauges in one that work in sync.

That and it's more fun to always see a needle bouncing around.

SubiePrice88 · Post by **SubiePrice88** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:21 pm

Alright so the boost/vac is just nice to have over a plain boost.

Ill look for a boost/vac instead

SubiePrice88 · Post by **SubiePrice88** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:32 pm

Any suggestions on which boost/vac and where to get one?

Primeza · Post by **Primeza** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:02 am

I recently installed an Autometer in a 30-0-20 range. I tee'd off of the vacuum line on the driver's side intake manifold that connects to the bypass valve. For illumination I spliced into the wires for the ashtray light.

It's not clear to me what car and what turbo this is going into. The 20 psi range worked for me because with my turbo legacy wagon and stock vf11 and stock boost control, the stock max boost is ~10 psi.

I like the Autometer, it's a good value for the money. At WOT the needle bounces quite a bit unlike the Lamco that came in my WRX. The Lamco seems to have more "dampening" to make it smoother. But I actually prefer the response of the Autometer because the Lamco seems to have "lag".

SubiePrice88 · Post by **SubiePrice88** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 3:52 am

It'll be going on a 92 SS. Id like to get the boost gauge on before I do a tdo4/intercooler upgrade.

So I could get a fairly good boost/vac gauge for under $100?

skid542 · Post by **skid542** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 4:23 am

That's a 30-0-30 that I got for about $50. It's an Autometer and has worked great. For me atleast, it does hold steady at WOT and seems very responsive. It reads within .5psi of what the ECU reads.

SubiePrice88 · Post by **SubiePrice88** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 4:39 am

Nice! alright sweet I think I have it figured out.
Thanks Guys!

SLODRIVE · Post by **SLODRIVE** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 4:40 am

Auto Meter's plenty good as long as you don't get their cheap stuff. The Sport-Comp, Pro-Comp and Ultra-Lite lines are standard fare in most race cars.

SubiePrice88 · Post by **SubiePrice88** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 4:48 am

yeah thats what I was wondering, thanks Ill keep that in mind

n2x4 · Post by **n2x4** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:19 pm

I've got VDO in my car. Ordered it from Summit Racing.

SubiePrice88 · Post by **SubiePrice88** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:08 pm

I think Im going with this one from summit racing

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetai ... toview=sku

ultrasonic · Post by **ultrasonic** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 1:02 am

That's the one. Black face matches the stock Legacy instrumentation, black bezel = no bling, no distracting shiny-ness.

I've got the same thing in my SS, set up just like Primeza as far as the manifold connection and ashtray illumination. It's worked just great for over 50k miles. If you tap into both wires of the ashtray light your gauge will dim along with the rest of your dash lights.

SubiePrice88 · Post by **SubiePrice88** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 2:15 am

ultrasonic, I totaly agree, black face and black bezel. I dont want any distracting shiny-ness and I think it makes it look cleaner.

BXSS · Post by **BXSS** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:10 pm

n2x4 wrote:I've got VDO in my car. Ordered it from Summit Racing.

+1
I'm another happy VDO user.
Got the 30vac - 25psi Turbo gauge in 2 of my cars & they have worked perfectly for years now.

I'm one of the folks who had problems with recently manufactured (2004+) Autometer boost gauges not zeroing out - basically getting stuck on 1-2 psi when the car was off.
I had this happen to 2-3 Autometer gauges which made me convert to the lower cost VDO Turbo gauge which works flawlessly & costs just $27 from Summit racing.

Funny thing is I never had issues with OLD Autometer Boost gauges - ? if they are made in China now...

SubiePrice88 · Post by **SubiePrice88** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 1:35 am

alright thats something to think about

Post by **Legacy777** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 5:46 pm

Here's my autometer

http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/s ... oostgauge/

Subaru_Nation555 · Post by **Subaru_Nation555** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 6:00 pm

I have an Autometer Phantom boost gauge (Paid around $50). I've had it for a couple of years and have never had a problem.

SubiePrice88 · Post by **SubiePrice88** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:15 pm

Alright sweet. Well I have a Greddy EBC and it tells real time vac and boost. But I still want to run a boost gauge, Ill just need to choose one now. haha

Thanks guys.

SubiePrice88 · Post by **SubiePrice88** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:53 am

Just ordered the boost/vac gauge and cup from summit racing. Should have it by tuesday or wednesday.

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Autometer Boost Gauge question

Autometer Boost Gauge question