Stewart Warner > Defi-D
Feb 16, 2006 | 11:59 PM
#32
Thread Starter
Evolved Member
iTrader: (41)
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 0
From: Toms River, NJ
Originally Posted by mdesi
anyone try the vdo gauges? they aint the greatest looking but im assuming they are pretty accurate or they wouldnt be the stock gauges used in porsche's
plus there about the same proce as autometers
plus there about the same proce as autometers
Feb 17, 2006 | 12:08 AM
#33
Originally Posted by Soon2BEVO
Ok, it's not like I just thought my gauge was reading too high from speculation. I was told so and it didnt add up how I was running such high boost on pump gas with 0 knock.
I dont think the method is screwed up at all. My tuner SAID it my gauge was inaccurate. He uses a MAP sensor when tuning, which tells him the actual boost.
Also, its very very rare that athe stock turbo and 93oct gets 0 knock at 24psi (with 25psi spikes!). Secondly, Defi's have been known to be faulty. I replaced the gauge and bam! EXACTLY what my tuner said, the Defi was reading 2psi too high.
I dont think the method is screwed up at all. My tuner SAID it my gauge was inaccurate. He uses a MAP sensor when tuning, which tells him the actual boost.
Also, its very very rare that athe stock turbo and 93oct gets 0 knock at 24psi (with 25psi spikes!). Secondly, Defi's have been known to be faulty. I replaced the gauge and bam! EXACTLY what my tuner said, the Defi was reading 2psi too high.
Just FYI Map sensors will have different readings then mechanical boost gauges.
Mechanical boost gauges zero themselves out with the atmosphere while map sensors do not. But I am sure Al knows this and knows about how much the difference is from his Map sensor to a normal boost gauge.
Also my defi d-series works perfectly. I have had people test defi gauges(with proper tools) and found them to be very accurate.
The one gauge I say stay away from is Autometer. I have seen to many of these things not even sit at zero when they car is off which will throw off your reading EVERYWHERE.
So wouldn't say SW>Defi d series. You bought a new gauge that worked better tehn the one you used. You may have seen the same results from buying a new defi or your stewart warner could be off in a couple months. It is all how they ship the gauge how you treat it and how you install it.
Ben
Feb 17, 2006 | 12:19 AM
#34
Thread Starter
Evolved Member
iTrader: (41)
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 0
From: Toms River, NJ
Originally Posted by bbbwrx
Also my defi d-series works perfectly. I have had people test defi gauges(with proper tools) and found them to be very accurate.
So wouldn't say SW>Defi d series. You bought a new gauge that worked better tehn the one you used. You may have seen the same results from buying a new defi or your stewart warner could be off in a couple months. It is all how they ship the gauge how you treat it and how you install it.
Ben
I didnt say all Defi-D gauges are inaccurate or anything of that sort, however, it seems like a descent amount of them are having this problem. A new Defi might result in the same inaccuracy also. I think its safe to say SW>Defi-D just in terms of reliability, and the fact they are cheaper! These cases are popping up everywhere.. Id say thats a real quality issue.
The purpose of a gauge is to relay information to the user. What good is it if its wrong?
Notice I say Defi-D, not just Defi. Their other lines (expensive ones) have not had these problems.
Feb 17, 2006 | 12:30 AM
#35
Evolving Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
I have in front of me, two SW boost gauges. One was shipped to me with the needle pointing at 4, the other won't read past 12 psi, and the lighting only lights half of the gauge. I have a SW fuel level gauge that hasn't worked since the day I bought it. I replaced them all with autometer gauges and I haven't looked back. It took SW 3 months to contact me when I called them about my gauges being defective. It took Autometer less than 24 hours to send me a replacement sender for my coolant temp gauge.
Feb 17, 2006 | 12:43 AM
#37
Thread Starter
Evolved Member
iTrader: (41)
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 0
From: Toms River, NJ
Originally Posted by nbpal4000
get defi bf series
Feb 17, 2006 | 08:09 AM
#41
Every company that makes gauges are going to have some that do not read correctly. Just because your's didnt read right does not mean the company is crap. I have had 2 autometer boost gauges, one read 3 psi low at full boost, so i bought another one and that one reads perfect.
Feb 17, 2006 | 08:11 AM
#42
my autometer is reading high as well....same story as tom's: al told me it was off cause my boost gauge was showing around 24 when his sensor said 21, i should get a more accurate one.
my sw is coming today, guess i'll see what happen when I put it in...
my sw is coming today, guess i'll see what happen when I put it in...
Feb 17, 2006 | 08:50 AM
#43
My auto meter was high vs the SW
What really impressed me about the SW gauge was how quick it reacted , now the needle oscillating very rapidly when the mbc is opening and closing to mantain boost the boost level under WOT . My autometer would just stay at fixed point and not move .
What really impressed me about the SW gauge was how quick it reacted , now the needle oscillating very rapidly when the mbc is opening and closing to mantain boost the boost level under WOT . My autometer would just stay at fixed point and not move .
Feb 17, 2006 | 11:02 AM
#44
Thread Starter
Evolved Member
iTrader: (41)
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 0
From: Toms River, NJ
Originally Posted by jkim2001
Answers anyone?
Also, whats with everyones attacks on the, "oh well just because yours didnt work doesnt mean everyones wont". Umm Im well aware of this, however, this isnt a secluded incident. There are tons of threads about these gauges reading inaccurately! Its not a fluke, if you think it is, your kidding yourself. I dont have an experience with Autometer so I cannot comment.
