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A boost gauge displays the pressure produced by a turbocharger or supercharger. Monitoring it is important to keep the engine components in the proper power range and avoid catastrophic engine failure. Aftermarket gauges are recommended for high performance applications.
A boost gauge is an instrument used to display the amount of pressure a turbocharger or supercharger produces. Typically, a turbo or super charger system is designed to give maximum benefit at a particular amount of boost pressure. By monitoring the boost gauge, the vehicle operator can keep the vehicle’s engine components in the proper power range to achieve the highest vehicle performance.
Many components affect the boost meter. Camshaft, fuel trim and ignition timing all have to do with instrument handling. Depending on the type of boost gauge that is installed on the vehicle, atmospheric pressure can also affect the gauge.
The importance of monitoring the boost gauge on a turbocharged or supercharged engine increases as the engine begins to produce power in excess of stock capabilities. The results of excessive boost in an engine can be catastrophic. Improper timing, as well as low octane fuel, can lead to knocking. This is a condition also called spark knock that can damage pistons, valves, and connecting rods. An excessive reading on the boost gauge would indicate a need to reduce pressure through throttle manipulation.
Although a vehicle may come equipped with a boost gauge, it may still be beneficial to fit an aftermarket gauge. On a stock vehicle, the boost gauge is actually operated by the vehicle’s on-board computer. The computer achieves boost determination by reading input from many engine sensors. This reading can be very different.
In a high performance application or when modifications have been completed to a vehicle equipped with a turbo or supercharger, an aftermarket gauge should be installed to monitor boost. This will ensure that ignition timing and fuel management are set correctly at the actual power level of the engine. Reliance on the original equipment gauge can result not only in a poorly tuned engine, but also in catastrophic engine failure.
In this era of high horsepower, small displacement engines, turbochargers, and superchargers are relied on to create the momentum needed to achieve high power levels. Properly monitoring critical engine components is a must and should not be left to cheap and inaccurate factory gauges. Installation of a performance gauge to monitor boost pressure should accompany any performance component upgrade.
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