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A Different Boost Gauge Question

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Old Oct 26, 2005 | 03:34 PM
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Default A Different Boost Gauge Question

I have the Autometer mechanical gauge . . . and I noticed that when the car is just sitting not running, the gauge is pretty well reading 1psi. Does that mean that when I'm reading 10psi on the gauge it's actually 9? Is there a better way to verify my actual boost, like tapping into a line off the manifold with an accurate gauge?

- Dug
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Old Oct 26, 2005 | 08:50 PM
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The gauge reads Boost (pressure above atmospheric). With the engine off, it's reading actual atmospheric pressure (normally baro 29.97 or 14.7 psi = 0). If the gauge is reading some boost, then the baro is high, 30.xx or so.

Also, if the gauge is referenced (run off a double-sided diaphragm), then the reference is off by the amount you read. If that's the case you can recal by just moving the pointer to 0. It's referenced if it has some sort of tube going to atmosphere with no tube connection. This is all from memory, not from knowing each gauge's construction. HTH

BTW, most mechanical gauges have some "0 error", it's more noticible the smaller the gauge face. It usually doesn't materially effect full reading enough to worry.

Last edited by TeeKay; Oct 26, 2005 at 09:01 PM.
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Old Oct 26, 2005 | 09:06 PM
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somethings wrong if your reading one pound with the car shut off. what are you tapped into?
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Old Oct 27, 2005 | 09:59 AM
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I'm tapped into a distribution block coming off the manifold . . . not sure if it's double referenced or not.

- Dug
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Old Oct 27, 2005 | 02:06 PM
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should maybe try and tap off the brake boster line with a t-fitting.
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Old Oct 27, 2005 | 02:16 PM
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Is it a water filled mech gauge????
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Old Oct 27, 2005 | 02:56 PM
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Dug, your gauge just sucks. Get an electric one, much more accurate. It is tapped in just fine, that isn't the problem.
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Old Oct 28, 2005 | 02:28 AM
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send it back to autometer, they'll send you a new one, the gauge is broke, I had the same problem w/ my first one and tried to fix it..... cost me 50bucks cause I cracked the ****...
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Old Oct 28, 2005 | 09:57 AM
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It is a bad Gauge!!
It should be reading no more and no less than the area in the large white block (0). That is the reason for this large block to compensate for different static altitudes for which the gauge is at, IE elevation.
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Old Oct 28, 2005 | 11:24 AM
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A little off?

At idle shouldn't the gauge be reading vacume, all the turbo cars I've owned read vacume at idle. Then when you give it gas the boost starts coming in.
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Old Oct 28, 2005 | 11:48 AM
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This is not when it's idling . . . when the car is shut off. It's not water filled either . . . just the regular autometer mechanical.
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