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Learn More about Gauges

Getting into a car full of aftermarket gauges feels like getting into an airplane cockpit.  Gauges are undeniably cool, but it's more than that.  In a cockpit, you know that every gauge is essential, and could mean life or death for the passengers and crew.  It's much like a car gauge setup in a performance vehicle.  And while car gauges may not mean the difference between life and death, they may mean the difference between victory and defeat.

Here's a few auto gauges that are indispensable in the performance arena:

Tachometer

Unless you're new to performance driving, you know that a tachometer monitors your RPMs.  In the old days, it was rare to find a car with a tachometer, even though most cars had manual transmissions.  Today, the coin has flipped, and though the majority of cars on the road are automatics, many come with tachometers.  Yet these stock tachs are designed for everyday driving, and aren't always as precise as they need to be for high performance driving.  Many aftermarket tachs can be equipped with a shift light for perfect shift timing.

Temperature Gauges

Almost every car on the road comes with a temperature gauge, but stock temperature gauges aren't specific enough for high-intensity driving.  In the performance arena, an overheated engine can be a major problem- one you'll want to catch as early as possible.  That's where a cylinder head temperature gauge comes in handy, letting you know how hot your engine is running at the heads, and not just in the block.

Oil Gauges

Your oil is the blood of your engine.  It lubricates and cools the various components of your engine, so a drop in oil pressure or a sudden change in oil temperature is definitely something you'll want to know about right away.  Aftermarket oil pressure gauges are more exact than the stock oil sensors on cars (most of which come in the form of an on/off indicator light).  Likewise, oil temperature gauges monitor how hot the slick stuff is running, which can affect its viscosity.

Electrical Gauges

A little indicator light in the shape of a battery is all most stock machines have in this area, but they won't always come on until a problem with your electrical system has advanced.  Volt meters and amp meters (often called ammeters) can help with this.  A spark problem can leave you stranded out of nowhere, and can obviously affect any electronic equipment you have on your dash, so catching it early is recommended. 

Like the gauges in an airplane cockpit, automotive gauges look cool.  But they look cool for the same reason- they're serious.  Adding gauges is about functionality and performance.  The cool factor is just a positive side effect.  Check out our full range of gauges and gauge accessories and clear the runway for takeoff.