With great power comes great responsibility. The same can be said for big vehicles since they are usually more powerful than smaller ones. But why is that so? Is it because of a bigger engine or exhaust pipes? In fact, it's a little bit of both but the main factor is how they use all this power. Big vehicles usually have a 4x4 drivetrain. This type of drive train sends all the power generated from the engine to all 4 wheels. Usually, cars are 2WD and not 4WD with the two front wheels being the most common setup.
With more power at the ready, you not only get quicker acceleration but also better handling. With all 4 wheels turning you get better traction even when it comes to wet terrain. Of course, without proper tires, even a 4x4 vehicle wouldn't have good traction on a wet road but you still have more control over your vehicle. Because of the use of this kind of system, there are different types of 4X4 gauges.
4x4 Gauges
Voltage
Although 4x4 and 4WD practically mean the same thing, the gauges you get to install in a vehicle with such a system are not. Usually, vehicles with 4x4 capabilities have auxiliary batteries and knowing the exact voltage of one is quite useful. Proper 4x4 gauges that are able to tell you the exact voltage running through the battery are key to maintaining the charge of the battery. Voltage gauges help you identify issues in real-time. If the voltage drops, there can be an issue that you can notice straight away and prevent it from causing other more serious problems.
Oil Pressure
With an oil pressure gauge on the dashboard or near it, you will be able to know the pressure in the oil pump at any given time. Why is oil pressure so important? Well, for starters, having decent oil pressure means everything inside the engine is moving nicely as it gets enough lubrication. If there is constant oil pressure it means your engine is running well with the right amount of oil used to keep parts from wearing off as much.
Water Temperature
Just like you and me, our vehicles also need water. Water helps keep engine bay components as well as the engine cool. Too much heat can cause issues and long-term damage too. To avoid this consider installing a water temperature gauge. Although having a low water temperature is not a good thing either, having high water temperate is worse.
Boost
While a boost gauge isn't one of the most important 4WD gauges it can help immensely when it comes to turbocharged engines. A boost gauge tells you how much pressure there is coming from the turbocharger into the engine. You shouldn't have too much or too little boost provided by your turbo. Having less than usual means there is a mechanical fault. Having too much boost can lead to failure and serious damage to internal engine components.
Coolant
The temperature of your coolant is also important since this is a fluid that needs to prevent the engine bay temperature from rising. The cooler the coolant stays the better your 4x4 will perform. Knowing the temperature of your coolant at all times can help you keep you prevent any overheating as well as small increases in temperature that could otherwise be prevented.
Exhaust Gas
Temperature plays a big role for every fluid and component in your vehicle, gasses are not exempt from this. When it comes to exhaust gasses you should look for a pyrometer. This gauge can help you prevent any drastic increase in exhaust gas temperature causing a fried engine head.
Transmission
The temperature of your 4x4's transmission can be affected by many things, such as towing heavy loads or hard acceleration. Although you can avoid doing these things sometimes the oil in the automatic transmission box can start to break down from prolonged use or exposure to heat. Keeping an eye on it is never a bad thing and that's why you should get a transmission temperature gauge too.
Brake Pressure
Switching over to pressure, the one in your brakes should always be at a constant rate. Usually, the pressure level in the brakes sits at more than 130 bar. Although if any change occurs you will feel it when you press on the pedal, why find out about it in a more dangerous way when you can do so in a safer way.
Air-Fuel Ratio
The air-fuel ratio is the mixture that makes the pistons in the engine move. This is how your vehicle starts generating power that turns the wheels. Having a gauge that tells you the exact ratio of this mixture is crucial when you want to get eh most out of a tune-up. But not all 4WD gauges are performance-oriented, some show you how your engine is performing in real-time.
Tachometer
Meet the tachometer, a gauge that is becoming more commonly implemented by car manufacturers. Although some vehicles still don't have a tachometer they are not that many. A tachometer shows you the RPM you're engine is working at. The higher the RPM the noisier the engine is which is what happens when you press on the accelerator pedal.
