Why is it so hard to find a boost gauge that only goes up to ~15 PSIG?

[kylemorg]

I wasn't sure if I should put this into the forced induction or flame / rant categories. Mods -- feel free to move it if you think it's in the wrong section.

I can't believe the amount of cac / boost gauges I see on Ebay that go up to 25, 25 or 60 psig.

I understand that you turbo guys might see 20 psi of boost, but I would imagine that for most stock and mild aftermarket turbos, you're looking at a peak of 15 psi or less, right?

I know the 60 psig boost gauges are often for rigs (tractor-trailers) that may see boost levels that high.

The problem is that if I get a boost gauge that reads 30-0 vacuum and 0-25
(or 35) psi, the needle would hardly move into the boost range for my typical measly 4-6 psi of boost, MAYBE 8-9 at WOT or high RPM. The needle would move all of 2-5° of the sweep -- barely noticable.

THEN, combine that with trying to either find or retrofit a gauge to match the weird dark blue / slightly purple GT gauge lighting color, and it's almost impossible to find anything that will work. The closest thing I found are gauges from AWE racing designed for the Volkswagon / Audi blue dashboards, but they're typically $130+.

The glowshift 7-color blue/purple gauge color is close, but not quite right, and once again they go all the way to 25 psig.

Aargh! Maybe I'll just not run with a boost gauge at all. :(

[hyunelan2]

Ever thought about digital?

http://autometer.com/cat_gaugedetail.aspx?gid=3811&sid=69

[CRAZIECRACKER]

yea man. custom make your own. wrap it with carbon fiber so its lightweight to have in your car. cf zip tie it to your rear view mirror and your golden.

ive only seen the high range ones too though, the one u were talking about that was 130, that comes stock in those cars? get to a junk yard! that digital one looks cool too!

[hyunelan2]

Autometer Ultra-Lite series comes in 15PSI gauges. I would be willing to be their other looks do to:

http://autometer.com/cat_gaugedetail.aspx?gid=3125&sid=11

[KeWLKaT]

Autometer cobalt looks pretty good and damn close to the GT color.

[CRAZIECRACKER]

wow, yea it is close to that color. that looks like ur best bet.

[kylemorg]

I've driven a car with a digital speedo, and it's annoying to see a number flash / change in your peripheral vision. It was probably worse with the speedo that it would be with a boost gauge, because on the highway it would fluctuate back and forth from 64...65...64...65...66...64... whereas the boost-only digital gauge would only change number under boost (of course). I prefer analog, though.

Yep, I had seen the Autometer cobalt gauges for ~$60, and the 6107 only goes to 20 psi, which is better. I've been kicking that idea around.

For some reason I didn't think to check the junkyard for boosted Audi and Volkswagons (like the 1.8T versions) and see if I can find a stock stand-alone boost gauge (mechanical) in one of them.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[larryinkc]

Speedhut has a boost vacuum gauge that reads to 20 lbs of boost if you can't find a 15 lb one. I have their A/F and boost gauges and they are nice. You have several options on color and font with them.