SilverKnight

if your just gonna stay at average boost is it needed?

John_Z

Not really, but it's nice to know what you're boosting and when.

xviper

The need for a boost gauge is not necessarily related to how much boost you are imposing upon the engine, although it's a nice touch. What you have a boost gauge for is to determine those occasions when you might not be boosting your normal boost. Then you know to look for a leak or to tighten or replace the belt. It will also serve to tell you if anything is not working right with the system like if the BOV or relief valve is stuck. Unless you understand the real reasons why you have a boost gauge, don't bother getting one. It then just becomes an ornament.

Harpoon

Can you get a simple boost gauge for install in the engine bay as a cheap and easy way to see if you're at normal boost? No bling factor, just some useful info?

slimjim8201

How often will you be in boost and have the hood open at the same time? This may adversely affect aerodynamics.

Harpoon

I thought I read that you could install a boost gauge under the hood that would capture historical data.

In reality, I thought I'd remove the hood, blast down the highway at 120 and have the passenger climb over the windshield to get a reading!

Sideways

I wouldn't want to be your passenger.

The gauges with memory tend to be more expensive. Mine was about $300.

xviper

Like Sideways just said, you won't find one that's "cheap". The cheapest boost gauge will be one that you mount inside the cabin and can see as it functions. Best to get one that also reads vacuum, as most of the time, that's what the intake sees. With a data logger, how often will you download the information? I'd like to know what the boost/vacuum is doing whenever I want. Most of the time, nothing unusual happens, so I just like to see the little needle go up and down.

CaptKirk

I just have a gauge-tech unit that I use to monitor a bunch of stuff...boost is one of the major ones. I'm not boosting much at all (12 psi) but I regularly keep an eye on boost...

As xviper said, its more of a diagnostic tool that can help you figure out if anything is amiss.

John_Z

I love the avatar CaptKirk