Giant Gauge Test - Part 2

Last week we looked at pressure gauges. This issue in the second and final article, we look at tachometers and temp gauges.

Mechanical Temperature Gauges

VDO 40-120 degrees C Temperature Gauge

Side lit, black bezel, 2-inch, black faced gauge with white numbers incremented at 20 degrees, with 5 and 10 degree markings. Metal construction, good quality. All fittings. RRP: $101.95.

Conclusion: High priced gauge offering solid VDO appearance, but which has not acquitted itself well with by far the worst accuracy of the mechanical temperature gauges tested.

Gauge	Specification	Gauge temp	Reference temp	Error %
VDO 180077023	40-120 degrees C Temperature	40	33.6	-16.0
		60	52.4	-12.6
		100	100.0	0.0
		120	120	0.0
		Average Error: 7.2%

DiPricol 120-240 degrees F Water Temperature Gauge

Alloy chassis white faced gauge, 2 5/8-inch, side lit. Increment distance increases as figures rise, starting at 5 degree and then dropping to 2 degree increments. Supplied with quality line and fittings. RRP: $129.95.

Conclusion: Highest price in this group, the DiPricol looks great while offering excellent accuracy.

Gauge	Specification	Gauge temp	Reference temp	Error %
Di Pricol C302994	120-240 degrees F Water Temperature	60	60.5	0.8
		80	80	0.0
		100	99.4	-0.6
		Average Error: 0.5%

Specometer 40-120 degrees C Water Temperature Gauge

White faced, lightweight silver coated plastic construction, 2 5/8-inch gauge offered with coloured press-on bezels. Increments at 10 degrees C with numbers at 20 degree intervals. Side lit, comes with fittings and line. RRP: $65.00.

Conclusion: The least expensive in this bunch, Speco's 2 5/8-inch water temp gauge looks great while suffering a little with minor inaccuracy.

Gauge	Specification	Gauge temp	Reference temp	Error %
Speco 537-30	40-120 degrees C Water Temperature	60	57	-5.0
		80	75	-6.2
		100	100	0.0
		Average Error: 3.7%

Pricol 100-220 degrees F Water Temperature Gauge

Two inch black faced dial with 10 degree increments, and numbers every 40 degrees, white markings. Side lit, easy to read, good quality construction. All fittings and lines. RRP: $65.70.

Conclusion: Low priced gauge with acceptable appearance, the Pricol delivered excellent accuracy.

Gauge	Specification	Gauge temp	Reference temp	Error %
Pricol 400807	100-220 degrees F Water Temperature	60	60.5	0.8
		80	79.4	-0.7
		100	100.6	0.6
		Average Error: 0.7%

Electrical Temperature Gauges

Pricol 100-250 degrees F Water Temperature Gauge

Two inch black faced dial with 25 degree increments, and numbers at 50 degree increments, white markings. Side lit, easy to read, good quality construction. All fittings and lines. RRP: $56.20.

Conclusion: Medium priced and acceptable appearance, yet relatively poor accuracy in this small group.

Gauge	Specification	Gauge temp	Reference temp	Error %
Pricol 300545	100-250 degrees F Water Temperature	60	64	6.7
		100	104	4.0
		Average Error: 5.4%

DiPricol 140-280 degrees F Trans/Water Temperature Gauge

Alloy chassis, white faced gauge, 2 5/8-inch, side lit. Increment distance increases as figures rise, starting at 10 degrees, dropping to five then 2 degree increments. Supplied with quality line and fittings. RRP: $135.15.

Conclusion: Very different to the others here in that the high quality DiPricol gauge is specifically targeted at trans temperature use, hence a high price and excellent accuracy.

Gauge	Specification	Gauge temp	Reference temp	Error %
Di Pricol C302994	140-280 degrees F Water/Trans Temperature	60	60.5	0.8
		80	80	0.0
		100	99.4	-0.6
		Average Error: 0.5%

VDO 40-120 degrees C Water Temperature Gauge

Side lit, black bezel, 2-inch, black faced gauge with white numbers and graduated increments starting at 5 degrees, then 10 degrees. Numbers at 40 degree increments. Metal construction, good quality. No sender. RRP: $49.65.

Conclusion: Lowest priced electrical water temp gauge, and acceptable accuracy.

Gauge	Specification	Gauge temp	Reference temp	Error %
VDO 310010014	40-120 degrees C Water Temperature	40	42	5.0
		120	122	1.7
		Average Error: 3.4%

Tachometers

Splitfire 11,000 rpm Tacho

Five inch black faced memory recall tacho with shift light, great feel and appearance, complete with all wiring. Alloy chassis, one hundred rpm increments and 1000 rpm numbers. RRP: $399.00.

Conclusion: Fairly heavy on the hip pocket nerve, the new Splitfire tacho looks simply sensational and proved to be extremely accurate, taking second in this group.

Gauge	Specification	Gauge rpm	Reference temp	Error %
Splitfire	0-11,000 rpm Tachometer	1000	1000	0.0
		4000	4000	0.0
		7000	6900	-1.4
		Average Error: 0.5%

Specometer 8000 rpm Tacho

Similar to all other Specometer gauges, the larger 3 ¾-inch tacho offers the appearance of a complete gauge requiring no additional covers and is complete with a mounting bracket, is programmable and has an integral shift light. RRP: $197.70.

Conclusion: Medium priced tacho offers good accuracy and lots of features at an affordable price.

Gauge	Specification	Gauge rpm	Reference temp	Error %
Speco	0-8000 rpm Tachometer 8 cylinder	1000	1050	5.0
		4000	4050	1.25
		7000	6900	-1.4
		Average Error: 2.5%

Pricol 8000 rpm Tacho

Metal chassis with chrome bezel, 2 5/8-inch black faced tacho, side lit with easy to read facia, 1000rpm numbers and 500rpm increments. Complete with necessary fittings. RRP: $154.00.

Conclusion: Medium priced tacho won't win many friends for its aesthetics, accuracy was acceptable however the price, size and lack of features see this down the bottom of the tree.

Gauge	Specification	Gauge rpm	Reference temp	Error %
Pricol 400807	0-8000 rpm Tachometer 4 cylinder 6 cylinder 8 cylinder	1000	1100	10.0
		4000	4100	2.5
		7000	7100	1.4
		1000	1100	10.0
		4000	4100	2.5
		7000	6900	1.4
		1000	1050	5.0
		4000	4100	2.5
		7000	6950	0.7
		Average Error: 4.0%

VDO 7000 rpm Tachometer

Black face, black bezel metal chassis tachometer is a no fuss item with 200 rpm increments and figures every 1000 rpm. Side lit and comes with necessary fittings. RRP: $177.10.

Conclusion: Medium priced VDO tacho offers good readability, very good quality and accuracy.

Gauge	Specification	Gauge rpm	Reference temp	Error %
VDO 333015032	0-7000 rpm Tachometer 4 cylinder 6 cylinder 8 cylinder	1000	1020	2.0
		4000	4020	0.5
		7000	7050	0.7
		1000	1020	2.0
		4000	4080	2.0
		7000	7020	0.3
		1000	1020	2.0
		4000	3980	-0.5
		7000	6900	-1.4
		Average Error: 1.3%

VDO 8000 rpm Tacho

Black face, black bezel metal chassis tachometer is a no fuss item with 500 rpm increments and figures every 1000 rpm. Side it and comes with necessary fittings and is cheaper than the 7000rpm version RRP: $161.00.

Conclusion: Medium priced and with wonderful accuracy making this one hard to pass up - if it wasn't for the bland appearance.

Gauge	Specification	Gauge rpm	Reference temp	Error %
VDO 333015031	0-8000 rpm Tachometer 4 cylinder 6 cylinder >8 cylinder	1000	1000	0.0
		4000	4020	0.5
		7000	7000	0.0
		1000	1000	0.0
		4000	4000	0.0
		7000	6950	-0.7
		1000	1000	0.0
		4000	4000	0.0
		7000	6800	-2.9
		Average Error: 0.5%

A'PEXi 10,000 rpm Tacho

Five inch programmable tacho has backlit black facia, with grey bezel and white lettering. 100 rpm increments and 1000 rpm numbers make it easy to read thanks to a full 360 degree scale. Programmable for maximum rpm, has memory recall and integral warning light. Complete with Japanese instructions and all fittings. RRP: $600.00

Conclusion: Super high priced tacho with simply sensational appearance, quality construction and incredible accuracy. A wonderful gauge for those who can afford it.

Gauge	Specification	Gauge rpm	Reference temp	Error %
A'PEXi A-052	0-10,000 rpm Tachometer 8 cylinder	1000	1000	0.0
		4000	4000	0.0
		7000	7000	0.0
		Average Error: 0.0%

Conclusion

Testing any product or service is often seen as subjective, particularly by suppliers, however all we can do is use qualified technicians to perform unbiased testing and publish the results achieved. It is not our intention to promote any single product or brand; rather we have supplied only that information we feel is pertinent in helping you make an informed buying decision.

During the testing it became abundantly clear that price does not necessarily relate to quality, nor does appearance. In fact, for the most part, all of the gauges performed well.

Finally, when looking to purchase a gauge, we recommend you take a very close look at each product. Appearance is important these days as is warranty and back up. Ask your supplier about these things. Furthermore, there may be little snippets of information we haven 't covered and which are worth knowing about. An example is the high tech circuitry used in Splitfire instruments. We're advised they're equipped with 'mis-wiring protection' meaning it's impossible to blow the internals if wired incorrectly. In other words, check the fine print when looking to purchase.

Contacts: (Contact the following distributors for local supply details)

VDO
VDO Australia
1800 335 282.

Specometer
Speco Thomas
03 9555 7244.

A'PEXi
Access
03 9873 0133.

Splitfire
Lynx Corporation
0500 80 20 30.

DiPricol
Performance Wholesale
07 3808 1986.

Pricol
Hardiman Auto Supplies
02 9771 5877

Brand-by-Brand Analysis Pricol Distributed in Australia by Hardiman Auto Supplies, the Indian manufactured Pricol gauge has been around since 1974. Along the way it has gained a reputation for its good quality and reliability and is fitted OEM in 15 countries. Pricol's no-frills approach results in keen pricing for two ranges of product known as Street 'N' Strip Series 1 and 2. Components include fuel level, oil pressure (electrical and mechanical), water temperature (E&M), amps, volts, fuel pressure, vacuum, and boost gauges, plus there's an 8000-rpm tachometer. The product has integrity, but is not a front runner if aesthetics are taken into account. Well made and purposeful, the Pricol gauge appears to be targeted at buyers keen for performance at a good price and without frills. Di Pricol Available from most quality speed shops, the Di Pricol product is completely removed from the Pricol brand, and is certainly a more upmarket product. Designed for the performance enthusiast, Di Pricol offers high quality and good reliability at a medium to high price. Construction feels right, gauges are meaty and the appearance is extraordinarily close to AutoMeter. A'pexi The Japanese A'PEXi brand is, at least as far as appearance and construction is concerned, the crème of the crop. Performance certainly isn't an issue, in fact, it would be hard to go past A'PEXi if it wasn't for the Japanese fitting instructions! Add to this pricing that puts them out of the ballpark for most of us and, well, only the well heeled will purchase them. Also in their favour is the most luxurious packaging of any brand we looked at, together with ancillaries that are simply the best. Unfortunate is a range that only includes (white and black with neat backlighting) boost, temperature, exhaust temperature and fuel pressure gauges along with three tachometers. Specometer An Australian aftermarket stalwart, Speco Thomas released their own brand of gauges a couple of years ago and have only recently debuted the revised Specometer range. The product is well presented - taking price into account as they are quite inexpensive - and offers very good electrical performance (the mechanical versions aren't quite so good). A range of push-on bezels similar to that used on the Splitfire range are also on offer making them quite an attractive proposition. An ever increasing range currently includes two tacho styles, 2-inch and 2 5/8-inch vac/boost, fuel level, fuel pressure, oil pressure, volts, water temperature, and ammeter gauges, plus there are hour meters and clocks, all of which are offered with either black or white faces. Speco offer a strong warranty package and the product can be found at any Autobarn store and most speed shops. Splitfire A newcomer to the market, Splitfire has personality and panache. Mind you, a large slice of this comes with push-on bezels and covers. The 2 5/8-inch range is restricted to black and silver faced boost, fuel pressure, oil pressure, water temperature, trans temperature, volts and ammeter gauges, plus three tachos ranging in size up to five inches. Pricing is competitive and it is fair to suggest they're a fresh addition in a competitive arena. VDO A genuine stalwart in the automotive gauge market with significant worldwide sales in the OEM arena, VDO has gained a genuine reputation for quality and reliability. Mind you, some brands offer similar quality at a lower cost, as opposed to the best marketed brands which are generally more expensive. Indeed, VDO offer good value for money while perhaps lacking the frills and panache of some. Accuracy is up there, and thanks to the German company establishing a manufacturing facility here in Australia, warranty isn't a problem. VDO gauges are available from most outlets and the range of hardware is extensive. In fact, they arguably offer the widest range of any brand on the market.