Are you getting into the modding craze and are thinking about buying some aftermarket gauges for your car? In this article, I will go into some detail as to what type of gauges make sense and where to mount them.

First off, and most importantly, on a stock, unmodified car, you do not need any gauges. If any gauges were necessary, the manufacturer would provide them. On a turbocharged car however, it makes sense to have a turbo boost gauge to monitor you boost levels, even if the car is stock. By doing this, you can ensure that the car is running stock factory-claimed boost levels, and see where you are hitting boost. While this is not absolutely necessary, most owners would indeed like to know they are getting the performance claimed by the manufacturer. This can also be used to spot any turbo problems.

Most people are content with just a boost gauge, however when you begin to undertake heavier modifications to your car, you will want to be able to monitor its vitals. Here is where the essential question arises: Which gauges should you buy? In most cases, the most popular mounting option is on the A-pillar or in the middle of the dash, where most mounting solutions provide space for three gauges. There is no "best" solution, however the most popular option is Boost, Exhaust Gas Temp (EGT), and Oil Pressure. Here is why:

Boost: Any ECU has a desired boost level, and as mentioned before, you want to know you are reaching that level.

EGT: This monitors the temperature of your exhaust gases. If set-up the right way, it can indicate when cease aggressive driving in order to ensure your engine's safety.
Oil Pressure: In general, this will monitor if you are losing any oil, which is a major cause of engine failure. However, this is not a replacement for checking your oil level.

Other gauges you might want to consider are a clock, oil temperature, fuel pressure, air/fuel ratio, and coolant temperature. While all of these are useful, A/F monitoring that uses a wideband sensor (not the factory oxygen sensor) provides the greatest benefit for tuning purposes for advanced users.

The most popular gauge manufacturers are Defi, Autometer, Prosport, Omori, and MadDad.

Good luck with your further research, and happy modding!