Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) gauge blues

[CrazieAbe]

Finally got some gauges, autometer pro comp ultra light. Pyro, boost, trans. temp. and guess what. autometer says the damn fuel press. gauge won't work with diesels... Do I gotta get a fp gauge that won't match or ??? :{

Anyone have an idea?

 

[rmrc]

Can you exchange the gauges for another make??



IMHO, the fuel pressure gauge is the most important! Maybe some other members might know of a fuel gauge that looks close to your auto meters.

 

[lsenus]

My Autometer electric FP guage has been in since June 2002 with nor problems. Part number 4361. No problems at all. It's installed on the post filter port on the filter canister with 18" of grease gun hose between it and the filter canister.

 

[CrazieAbe]

so did you use an isolator?

 

[lsenus]

I think the isolator is only used on mechanical gauges. It provides a break between the fuel and the non-hazardous liquid used in the line from the isolator to the gauge. The 18" piece of grease gun hose was suggested by many members as a way of dampening any pulses in the line to protect the elec. sender. I also changed the bulbs from the std. white 194 bulb with a colored cover, to a 194A (amber) to give me the redish color. It seems less distracting that way on the A pillar mount.

 

[CrazieAbe]

so just use a grease hose between the sending unit and the fuel port, and everything will be fine? What happens if pressure is above fifteen, does it just read pegged? no damage???

 

[lsenus]

That's all you need for the snubber. Use the post filter port so you can monitor your filter. As for pegging the guage, the one I have is the full sweep variety, meaning no post to peg on at either end of the scale.



Full Sweep Elec. gauges

 

[CrazieAbe]

well, now that we got that squared away, where does your gauge sit at idle and driving, full throttle? also, where is the cheepest place to get my hands on one of these? a local place want's 180 for the darned thing...

 

[OTRPU]

Guess I better get on in the cab, last pump only lasted 3 months and the filter mounted guage was reading <3 lbs, who has the steering column mount I've seen around? Running outta places for these guages, may have to start hanging them from my shelf-it.



Cheers,

Steve J

 

[lsenus]

The FP guage does cost around $180. That seems like alot. But, that's what they go for, and it's cheaper that a VP-44. I put mine in right after I had to have the FP and VP replaced in my ride at 87k mi. under warranty. Thank heavens for the warranty. I didn't want to pay that bill out of pocket later, so the $180 is cheap insurance. I have the FP and boost gauges mounted on the A pillar.



I see 14. 6-15. 3 at idle, 12 or so at 70 mph with 4. 10 gearss and the 5 speed. and I can suck it down to 10. 8-11 or so under WOT. I see 18 psi boost at WOT.

 

[CrazieAbe]

thanks for the info, found a vdo gauge for 70 on ebay, might do that, hundred bucks is a hundred bucks... think I'll put it on the column by itself, stick the other three on a pillar or dash mount. thanks for all the help though...

 

[wtfd6]

Guess I better get on in the cab, last pump only lasted 3 months and the filter mounted guage was reading <3 lbs, who has the steering column mount I've seen around? Running outta places for these guages, may have to start hanging them from my shelf-it.



Cheers,

Steve J

ive heard genos has a mount that takes place of the little cubby to the right of the radio. i am going to check into this myself. i plan on adding a fuel pressure gauge very soon. mark

 

[CrazieAbe]

i think that mount from genos is just a piece of black lexan plastic that you have to costom fit. They will give it to you for free with a guage purchase if requested...

 

[CrazieAbe]

well, here is the link to ebay...

vdo gauge

says it is mechanical gauge and doesn't come with isolator? Any recommendations? Good gauge? Should I get an isolator?

 

[CStewart]

Autometer Gauges

My first Autometer transducer went out on me after about 5000 miles. I called the Autometer tech. line thinking that maybe the transducer wasn't compatible with diesel fuel. The tech. I talked to was named cory and he said that the transducers were failing on diesel applications because of pressure spikes. I put a new transducer in with a chemiquip snubber and have had no problems since then( 8000 mile?) The pressure reading is 15-16psi at idle and doesn't seem to bother it any. I like the Autometer stuff but they should supply a snubber from the factory.



Chris

 

[lsenus]

The reason for the isolator on mechanical gauges is so that there is not a line with fuel coming into the passenger compartment. If you were to have a line leak, there would be fuel all over the cab and you. I've had good luck with the transducer on the 18" grease gun tapped at the post filter port of the filter housing. I think that between the hose, and the area of the filter, that seems to be enough to eat up the spikes from the VP44. I've had the gauage in for almost 3 years and 54k+ miles. No problems so far. Until now that I just typed that, I'm sure Mr. Murphy and his law will be paying a visit! :-laf

 

[CrazieAbe]

alright my understanding is the elec. gauge is the 4361. the mechanical gauge 4313 is over 100 bucks cheeper. anyone running this gauge with out probs? is a mech. gauge any better or worse than elec. one? The 4313 comes with isolator...

 

[RMcNee]

I just installed autometer Utlralite gauges in my 99 all mechanical. including fp and put them on the 3 gauge pillar... do a search on my name and look at the post i did on the install very sweet... . have pics to... . email me at -- email address removed -- if ya want to see what I did with the FP... . Russ

 

[RMcNee]

I just installed the autolites in my 99... . do a search of my name and check out the post of my install... . very sweet... . go with the mech. and a shut off valve, and the grease gun hose. . only need the 12" though... if ya want some pics email me at -- email address removed -- Russ