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I supported Toymods
On probation
Location:
Brisbane, Queensland
Registered:
January 2003
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mechanical vs electric gauges
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Fri, 13 February 2004 00:27
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Ok, i've tried searching but can't find anything specific to what i want to know. i bought a mechanical oil pressure gauge yesterday to put in when my 3TGTE is installed. What is the difference between a mechanical and electric gauge and can either be used on the 3T? After reading a few old posts it made me a bit worried that i won't be able to use the one i bought???? 
please explain
jake
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Australia
Registered:
November 2003
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Re: mechanical vs electric gauges
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Fri, 13 February 2004 00:49
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In regard to an Oil Pressure guage, a mechanical one has a hose running from the back of the guage to the block, which gets filled with pressurised oil. The guage directly reads this pressure.
With an electrical one, you have a oil pressure unit bolted to the side of the block, and an electrical connection between the unit, and the electrical guage.
Get me?
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I supported Toymods
On probation
Location:
Brisbane, Queensland
Registered:
January 2003
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Re: mechanical vs electric gauges
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Fri, 13 February 2004 00:58
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yep, understand that... so an eletrical one is better? is it ok to dash mount a mechanical one if it is filled with pressurised oil?
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Australia
Registered:
November 2003
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Re: mechanical vs electric gauges
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Fri, 13 February 2004 01:03
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Electrical is better IMO, as long as you have the correct sender unit.
Having a dash mount mechanical is ok, as long as the connections are tight. But you are left with a nasty pipe running all over the engine bay and through the firewall.
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I supported Toymods
On probation
Location:
Brisbane, Queensland
Registered:
January 2003
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Re: mechanical vs electric gauges
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Fri, 13 February 2004 01:04
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ok thanks, i guess i'll just try to hide the pipe as best i can... i take it that the pipe can be t-pieced in anywhere that there is oil?
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Location:
Melbourne
Registered:
October 2003
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Re: mechanical vs electric gauges
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Fri, 13 February 2004 01:05
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I thought that mechanical oil press gages were not allowed to be mounted in the car? Is this right?
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I supported Toymods
On probation
Location:
Brisbane, Queensland
Registered:
January 2003
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Re: mechanical vs electric gauges
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Fri, 13 February 2004 01:06
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the only gauge i have seen is the fuel pressure that say they cannot be mounted inside the car although i may be wrong?
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Australia
Registered:
November 2003
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Re: mechanical vs electric gauges
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Fri, 13 February 2004 01:09
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That is correct, you are not allowed fuel inside the cabin of a car.
And Minis and MGs come factory with mechanical oil guages, as do a lot of 60s and 70s Fords/Holdens/Chevs I would assume
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I supported Toymods
On probation
Location:
Brisbane, Queensland
Registered:
January 2003
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Re: mechanical vs electric gauges
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Fri, 13 February 2004 01:11
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Ok, so to sum it up i havn't made some silly newbie mistake and bought something completely and utterly crap that won't work and is unsafe? It will do the job fine in a budget non rice non 29834987324834 dollar car built on a student budget?
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Australia
Registered:
November 2003
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Re: mechanical vs electric gauges
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Fri, 13 February 2004 01:15
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Yes
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I supported Toymods
On probation
Location:
Brisbane, Queensland
Registered:
January 2003
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Re: mechanical vs electric gauges
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Fri, 13 February 2004 01:37
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thank you toymods 
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Location:
Lost in the K hole
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: mechanical vs electric gauges
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Fri, 13 February 2004 01:39
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i prefer mechanical... far better resolution, and more responsive imho.
and dont stress about whether itll fit your engine. as long as you have some threaded fitting into the oil gallery, it can be done. just make sure no lines come close to the exhaust 
cheers
ed
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Location:
Kita-Ku, Sapporo, Japan
Registered:
January 2003
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Re: mechanical vs electric gauges
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Fri, 13 February 2004 02:31
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yup, racers choice (so i hear) is mechanical.
reason being is that it has faster more acurate response (for the good gauges) wheras electric is slower....
if your oil pressure suddenly drops, you want to get off the throtle as fast as possible to limit damage to an expensive race prepped motor..
electric are easier, and can be mounted in cabin... i had thought oil coild not be mounted in cabin either?
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I supported Toymods
On probation
Location:
Brisbane, Queensland
Registered:
January 2003
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Re: mechanical vs electric gauges
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Fri, 13 February 2004 02:48
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As per Pressure & Vacuum section of autometer installation instructions....
Gauge can be mounted in-dash in a 2 5/8" diameter hole or in Auto Meter gauge mounting cups 3201 or 3202.
As per Fuel Pressure section of autometer installation instructions
I M P O R TA N T: These Fuel Pressure gauges must be mounted outside of the vehicle's interior, such as on the cowling in front of the windshield. This is required to prevent the possibility of a dangerous explosion of gas fumes in the vehicle's interior, which could result from a leaky connection between the pressure line and the gauge.
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Location:
sunny coast, qld
Registered:
October 2002
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Re: mechanical vs electric gauges
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Fri, 13 February 2004 02:54
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I made the opposite mistake to you Boris. Bought electrical guages, and don't have enough room to fit the sensors in. Now have to get some mechanical ones.
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Location:
Brisvegas
Registered:
June 2003
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Re: mechanical vs electric gauges
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Fri, 13 February 2004 02:56
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i think the cops can still defect you for having a mech oil gauge...whats to stop oil spraying in your face if a prob develops with the gauge? i think thats the reason why oil & fuel stay outside if they are mechanical
can anyone be 100% sure of their legality?
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I supported Toymods
On probation
Location:
Brisbane, Queensland
Registered:
January 2003
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Re: mechanical vs electric gauges
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Fri, 13 February 2004 04:59
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ok... does anybody know definately whether a mechanical oil pressure gauge can be placed inside the car?
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
February 2003
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Re: mechanical vs electric gauges
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Fri, 13 February 2004 13:40
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yes they can be inside the vehicle - an oil drip from a dodgy connection isn't going to catch fire without serious assistance.
it's the rice-guages on the bonnet that are illegal (imagine being hooked up on one if you're a pedestrian hit by the alleged car - then there's the visibility issues)
plus fuel-related stuff that come into the cabin (unless part of a factory fitment which is very unlikely) is a definate no. And any self-respecting engineer won't let you run long lengths of flexible EFI line under the vehicle either.
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I supported Toymods
Location:
melbourne.victoria.austra...
Registered:
June 2002
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Re: mechanical vs electric gauges
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Sat, 14 February 2004 00:06
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your mechanical gauges will come with nylon hose and olives. oof this idea.
get some braided hose and make sure you run it thru grommets in the firewall.
personally i don't like the idea of hot oil spraying inside my car in the event of a fault - kinda like my skin.
or mount it externally?
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
February 2003
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Re: mechanical vs electric gauges
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Sat, 14 February 2004 07:23
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even the nylon pipe with brass olive-compression fittings will not suddenly fail - unless you suddenly get massive oil pressures (e.g. double the scale on the gauge). the gauge would have to explode for you to get a face full of oil.
they'll leak eventually - but by then so will have other things under/outside the bonnet.
if you're worrying about leaking:
use teflon tape on the brass threads
rubber grommets on thru-holes and any clamps
the heat will make the nylon brittle after many years so if that worries you, get h/duty or braided hose.
externally mounted is so ghey...
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Location:
Castlemaine Vic
Registered:
November 2002
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Re: mechanical vs electric gauges
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Sat, 14 February 2004 07:38
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one of the T.O.Gs gave me a canary for a mech oil gauge (and a few other things) in side the cabin, cos it wasnt a braided oil line, if it was there woulda been no probs.
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