My truck is a 4th Gen but my question pretty much applies to any diesel. I'm contemplating getting gauges, but since I'm pretty much limited to 2-3 I want to make sure I'm spending money on the most important things to monitor. So...

1) What are the priorities when it comes to gauges? I'm assuming EGT is numero uno. What's next? Keep in mind that my truck has a factory transmission temp gauge so I don't need that. I'm assuming fuel pressure or turbo boost would be next?? What's important and why?

2) If I buy a gauge kit (EGT for example), will it come with everything I need or do you have to buy the gauge and then a bunch of other stuff to go along with it? Or does that depend on who you get it from? I ask because I've read about "banjo bolts" and "boost bolts" and similar items and I don't know what those things are or if I would need them.

Thanks!

 

As you have stated, if you do much towing the EGT gauge would be first.

If you will be running a pressure box then I would want a real oil pressure gauge, reason if an injector leaks fuel into the crankcase you would want to see the pressure drop. The fake in dash gauge would not show the change in oil pressure.

Boost, fuel pressure on lift pump and rail can show if there is a problem but these will not cause damage if not monitored.

If you buy any of the gauges designed for your truck you should get all parts needed to get it up and running. I like the gauges that look like the in dash gauges. I bought some of my gauges before the look-alike were avialable.

 

i have AutoMeter matched guages(3) EGT,TRANS and BOOST.Dashmount.they look great and work well.i added a boost elbow and the turbo spols quiker and holds power longer.boost bolt replaced one of the intake bolts,however when i added the boost elbow i replaced the intake bolt and ran the vacuum tube to the back of the elbow,works great looks better.

 

A factory transmission gauge?...holy c*** ...welcome Dodge to the 21st century,who would of ever thought Dodge would of done that.What about LEDs,half my dash lights are burned out now,all the ones inside the switches which dont have replaceable bulbs!! Grease fittings too,they were invented by cavemen ,but still Dodge does not use them!

 

What you stated is what I would get. Go to www.dieselmanor.com to search for gauge packages.

 

I don't know about LED's. Or grease fittings. I just know I have factory digital gauges for coolant temp, oil pressure, transmission temp and something else.

 

Boost bolt replaces a factory bolt on the intake and is hollow. Easy hookup for a boost gauge.

 

Thanks for the heads up on Diesel Manor. That makes getting all the parts and pieces a whole lot easier!

 

What's the difference between fuel pressure and rail pressure? Which one is more important?

 

Fuel pressure is the low pressure to the CP3 The rail is high pressure to the injectors.
I choose rail because if the lift pump quits the rail will show it too.

 

I would get rail pressure before fuel pressure too. But I'd actually like both. But I think the rail pressure gauges are crazy $$$$