Aboost gauge[1] is a pressure gauge that indicates manifold air pressure or turbochargerorsupercharger boost pressure[2] in an internal combustion engine. They are commonly mounted on the dashboard, on the driver's side pillar, or in a radio slot.[3]
Turbochargers and superchargers are both engine-driven air compressors (exhaust-driven or mechanically driven, respectively) and provide varying levels of boost according to engine rpm, load etc.[4] Quite often there is a power band within a given range of available boost pressure and it is an aid to performance driving to be aware of when that power band is being approached, in the same way a driver wants to be aware of engine rpm.[5]
A boost gauge is used to ensure excessive pressure is not being generated when boost pressure is being modified to levels higher than OEM standard on a production turbocharged car. Simple methods can be employed to increase factory boost levels, such as bleeding air off the wastegate diaphragm to 'fool' it into staying closed longer, or installing a boost controller.[6] To prevent the Air-fuel ratio from going lean (caused by increasing the boost beyond the fuel systems capacity) care must be taken to monitor boost pressure levels, along with oxygen levels in the exhaust gas, using an air-fuel ratio meter that monitors the oxygen sensor.[7]
A boost gauge will measure pressure in psi, barorkPa; many also measure manifold vacuum pressure in inches of mercury (in. Hg) or mm of mercury (mm Hg).[3]