Mechanical Gauge
There are two types of gauges, electrical and mechanical.
An electrical will have a sending unit.
For example an electrical fuel pressure gauge will have a sending unit that connects to the fuel pressure and sends voltages through a wire. A mechanical gauge will have a tube that sends fuel to the gauge.
hope this helps.
An electrical will have a sending unit.
For example an electrical fuel pressure gauge will have a sending unit that connects to the fuel pressure and sends voltages through a wire. A mechanical gauge will have a tube that sends fuel to the gauge.
hope this helps.
Mechanical gauges are usually fluid tubes - direct oil,
a bulb-and-vapor (temperature), fuel. For fuel you
want to also have an isolator in case of failure, a
gasoline bath is unpleasant at best and can go downhill
in a flash
Similarly I would not have a direct oil
pressure gauge in -my- pimpy clean interior.
The only benefit of mechanical gauges is cheapness.
Thing is if you break the pressure tube on a temperature
gauge the whole assembly is trash. Nick a wire on an
electrical, piece of electrical tape and you're back on
line. Threading the tubes through the firewall can suck
especially when they are needing a lot of bends etc.
a bulb-and-vapor (temperature), fuel. For fuel you
want to also have an isolator in case of failure, a
gasoline bath is unpleasant at best and can go downhill
in a flash
Similarly I would not have a direct oilpressure gauge in -my- pimpy clean interior.
The only benefit of mechanical gauges is cheapness.
Thing is if you break the pressure tube on a temperature
gauge the whole assembly is trash. Nick a wire on an
electrical, piece of electrical tape and you're back on
line. Threading the tubes through the firewall can suck
especially when they are needing a lot of bends etc.
Ok man so tell me this guys. I bought my car used and on the temp gauge sensor there is a tube instead of a wire coming from the sensor like my buddies z28. I bought a gauge (not knowing any of this yet) and the gauge light would only come on and the temp gauge would not work. My stock one dosent work either. So I would have to buy a mechanical water temp gauge in order for it to work?
Last edited by The93z; Aug 28, 2007 at 05:41 PM.
You must have bought an electrical gauge and the sending unit is mechanical. I would just change the sending unit to an electrical one. I used to have a mechanical oil pressure gauge in my first 3rd gen and one day after awhile it starting leaking (unknown to me) and when I got home after driving all day the floor and my pants were covered in oil.
A couple of questions first though. How easy is it to convert back to electrical type gauge. Also how do you install a mechanical. I looked at my capillary tube and at the end of it the tube was pinched close. How do i open it? or do i use a capillary tube that comes with the mehcanical gauge?
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