What gauges for a track car?

[Karim E36]

I already have speedo, tach, fuel level, coolant temp, oil pressure.

What else do I realistically need/want? What is essential? What is useful?

I was thinking of an A/F ratio gauge to tune the carbs.
Do I need oil temp? Battery?

Thanks.

[Phil]

Oil temp is really important. Second only to coolant temp, in my opinion.

BTW, its best if you do not use any antifreeze in a dedicated track car. Its as greasy as black ice if you ever dump any. Some race groups ban it outright.

Try distilled water and Redline Water Wetter instead.

[blacksheep]

BTW, its best if you do not use any antifreeze in a dedicated track car. Its as greasy as black ice if you ever dump any. Some race groups ban it outright.no kidding! I experienced this last year when a car blew its motor ahead of me. It's slippery as hell

[Karim E36]

So oil temperature is good.

What about a low oil pressure warning light? overkill?

[yield]

I do not know wich car you are driving... Perhaps an E36....
If it is turbo I would go with an EGT if you are boosting at a High Boost rate.... Low presure Oil.... Hummm I don't think you would need that...
A/F is completly useless... except if you like to look a light to bounce from red to green.... ;) Again if you have a Turbo... instead of a A/F I would go with a Wide Band Oxygen sensor but that much more expsive

[Emre]

I was thinking of an A/F ratio gauge to tune the carbs.From what I've read over the years, typical air/fuel ratio gauges are pretty useless. You'd need to install a wide-band O2 sensor as close to the exhaust valves as possible in order to get good info on air/fuel.


Do I need oil temp?I would definitely want an oil temp gauge on a track car. It also one of the easiest gauges to install.

Emre

[Lee]

A/FR is perhaps useless for fine tuning an engine, but it is a very good indicator of the engine overall combustion. If the engine bugs down, it could be from running lean or rich. Even a cheap $30 O2 sensor and a $30 gauge can be helpfull. A wideband O2 sensor is THE tool for fine tuning though.

Oil temp is great too. If you run the motor and the oil temp goes up suddenly, it is time to stop the engine as you are having bearing starting to seaze. So, add an oil temp gauge and an A/F R gauge.

[Karim E36]

My impression is that, other than in a straight, I might not have much time to look at gauges.

Do you guys use warning lights (for water/oil temp) and shift lights?

[Lee]

Shift light is required only when racing. And you are right to mention that you only check the gauges in straight line...

BTW No warning light required.

[Karim E36]

Thanks for the advice guys!