Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

Hi!

I am going to buy an electric boost gauge for my car, and have narrowed it down (due to financial reasons) to either an Autogauge Shadow Boost Gauge 60mm, for $75.00 AUD, or an Autometer 3301 Gauge for $143.00 AUD.

I was wondering if anyone has used, or heard of the above mentioned brands/guages, in terms of reliability, accuracy etc., or if anyone can give me any other brands that are better, and around the same price?

Thanks for your help!

Pete

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/176543-which-boost-gauge-to-get/
Share on other sites

Performance Wise has Apexi EL 2 mechanical boost gauges for $160 delivered if you can stretch your budget a bit more.

I got one for my Legacy, it's a good looking accurate gauge. :laugh:

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...p;#entry2422174

I find generally stuff around $120-150 does the job for boost gauges.

1. They work well, and perform set task

2. They are a reasonable size

3. Is backlit for night use.

Much cheaper, unreliable and generally small

Much more expensive, only really gives you flashy lights, peak boost reading and that sorta thing. Nothing thats essential

APEXi EL is the go.

There accurate and well priced, and also look way better than any Autometer gauge.

If you go to nissansilvia.com, and into the for sale section, there are a few APEXi EL boost-gauges for sale at very reasonable prices.

Thanks,

Abu

I've used an autometer boost gauge in a celica GT-four. With the car off, it was at 2 psi. I've used autometer a couple other times, never was I impressed by their quality or convinced that the readings were correct.

I bought GReddy electronic meters.. and one peak hold warn meter. They hurt my wallet but I dont regret it... Looking at a quality set of gauges everyday is really pleasing... I love my greddy's and am fully impressed by their quality and accuracy.

I also like defi, apexi, blitz.. they all seem to be nice gauges, although I have never owned them personally.

I've had heaps of different ones. the Greddy electric meters with peak hold and warning are very good, but look a bit old school now. In my eyes since they play a big part in the interior it's worth spending a bit extra. and I would say Defi is the only way to go. very good quality, lightweight and so easy to wire up and use.

With how cheap the apexi el mechanical is from nengun.. it would be very hard to pass up.

Had one of those cheap ebay gauges, autogauge, was about 5psi low in its reading. nasty.

Edited by heller44

i'm going with a saber boost - was gonna get a defi bf while they're on special at nengun, but then add in the controller unit and delivery...looking at about $300 and that's 1 gauge! i'll wait til i win at the casino or races or something (cos i certainly won't be getting a tax return this year:( )

i've heard people say saber are exactly the same as autogauge blackfaces - do the autogauge's do the start up dance?

i'll let you know how the saber goes this weekend hopefully if it turns up in time - they just sent it today. shouldn't take me very long to hook up, i already have the wiring set up from trying to install a second hand apexi el....(another story - can't trust anybody these days)

My autogauge had the startup ramp.. Keep an eye on the needle position with the key on and the engine not running.

The gauge had drifted off and was reading ~5psi low.

Cheap crap. :)

james.

apexi el mech.. $118 delivered from nengun...

Edited by heller44
My autogauge had the startup ramp.. Keep an eye on the needle position with the key on and the engine not running.

The gauge had drifted off and was reading ~5psi low.

Cheap crap. :stupid:

james.

apexi el mech.. $118 delivered from nengun...

I'm glad i read this thread, was about to buy the Option Tuning boost gauge from ebay.

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but do i need some sort of holder to attach the Apexi gauge to my pillar or dash? Or does it come with a bracket? What's the postage time from Nengun for one of these?

Comes with a bracket, but I reused the one from the junker as I had mounted it nicely and it was the same size, just didn't have the little apexi logo on the base.

The option is where the one I had previously was from..

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • GCG is a good company, they're a major distributor for Garrett in Japan as well.
    • Nah, OEM washer bottle and brake fluid reservoirs are fine I don't know what it is with the plastic that Mazda used, some plastics, like the washer bottle and brake fluid res are fine, and still look new after 20 years use, where as the coolant expansion tank, and PS reservoir, that I replaced with new OEM items when I first got the car, turned yellow and started getting brittle a few years later If the dirty yellow stained plastics didn't trigger me there wouldn't be an issue, but they did, much like the battery bracket....... Meh As for going back to work full time to support car stuff, nope, why, because I own a Mazda NC MX5, not a Nissan R series Skyline 🤣
    • I've never heard of CJ-motor, so can't advise you on them. I'd just go straight to GCG for a GCG highflow though. Seems no point to use a middleman. I'm somewhat surprised that the price on the CJ site is lower than the GCG retail price. Even though CJ would get a discount of some sort, you would hardly expect them to give up so much margin. Maybe the price is out of date? Having said that "I'd go to GCG"...when I did my highflow, I went to Hypergear. I did this https://hypergearturbos.com/product/rb25dethighflow/#tab-dyno-results with the R34 OP6 450HP profile. With the BB centre (extra $400) and intially with the standard boost actuator, but I eventually got him to send me the high pressure one when I got to the point of being able to actually use it. Ends up costing the same sort of money as the GCG highflow, but this is, of course, the turbo that I KNOW has a shorter length core and so moves the comp cover rearwards. The GCG apparently doesn't do that. My mechanic also swears by the GCG highflow, given that we have another turbo rebuilder who does something essentialy the same as theirs, using Garrett wheels. He says it stands up at really low revs and makes good power. I haven't pushed my HG highflow past ~240-250rwkW yet (should have a little more in it, but unclear how much) and it does have a fairly gentle boost ramp. OK, it's much better now that I have gotten my boost controller tuned up on it.  A lot of my earlier unhappiness was because I couldn't keep the wastegate flap as closed as it needed to be (including some mechanical issues). I'd still prefer it to boost up nearly as quickly as the stocker, and it certainly a bit slower than that. So maybe the GCG one is worth the first look (for you).
    • Ok thanks 🙂 I will higly consider this. Any "known" company for a good reviews and experience to send that off? Is that CJ-motor good one? Or go straight to GCG site? I need to use VPN to even find some of those "shops" let alone access them 🙂 
    • You can literally put in as much WMI as it takes to quench the combustion totally (and then back it off a little, obviously), and it will keep making more and more power. The power comes from the cooling effect of the water (and the meth) and the extra fuel (the meth, which also has massive octane). It is effectively exactly like running E85. One might be slightly better than the other, but they are damn close. But with either you can lean on the boost or the timing (or both) waaaay more than with just petrol and the results are similar. Here's the first thing I googled for an anecdotal bit of evidence. Can't access the attachment without being a gold member, but it is there for the getting if able to, or searched up elsewise perhaps. https://www.hpacademy.com/forum/general-tuning-discussion/show/wmi-vs-e85/
×
×
  • Create New...