Defective gauge? Or...

[PNW yota]

So I got my Sunpro boost gauge last night from amazon (Amazon.com: Sunpro CP8213 StyleLine Mechanical Vacuum/Boost Gauge - Black Dial: Automotive) and was stoked to open it up, and was planning to install tomorrow but...The gauge isn't zeroed.

From the clear packaging I could read it says about -5mmHg. I opened the package and immediately read through the instructions to see if I needed to somehow zero it or calibrate it, but there is no such info. So I'm assuming if I do install it, it will forever read 5mmHg off. In which case I'll promptly mail it back to amazon.

UNLESS, and here is my question, could the fact that I'm sitting at about 4,500 ft elevation right now be causing the gauge to read a vacuum when it's sitting on my table???

Yes I know it's a cheapo gauge and I shouldn't expect AEM results but the reviews seemed like it was a decent enough "gets the job done" gauge.

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

So I got my Sunpro boost gauge last night from amazon (Amazon.com: Sunpro CP8213 StyleLine Mechanical Vacuum/Boost Gauge - Black Dial: Automotive) and was stoked to open it up, and was planning to install tomorrow but...The gauge isn't zeroed.

From the clear packaging I could read it says about -5mmHg. I opened the package and immediately read through the instructions to see if I needed to somehow zero it or calibrate it, but there is no such info. So I'm assuming if I do install it, it will forever read 5mmHg off. In which case I'll promptly mail it back to amazon.

UNLESS, and here is my question, could the fact that I'm sitting at about 4,500 ft elevation right now be causing the gauge to read a vacuum when it's sitting on my table???

Yes I know it's a cheapo gauge and I shouldn't expect AEM results but the reviews seemed like it was a decent enough "gets the job done" gauge.

It's a Sunpro enough said. Maybe you could try bending the needle so it reads 0mmHg with no boost.

 

[shootmymime]

Can you blow or suck on it to change the value

 

[PNW yota]

Can you blow or suck on it to change the value

Yes the needle will move, it's not frozen.

 

[shootmymime]

Yes the needle will move, it's not frozen.

yes, read this
http://www.powerexinc.com/wp-conten...011/09/Vacuum-Sizing-for-Altitude-6.14.11.pdf

 

[PNW yota]

Straight from the mouth of Sunpro tech support

"Elevation will not affect the gauge for vacuum. It just sounds like the gauge was not zeroed or was damaged during shipping."

But this still makes no sense to me, a gauge designed to measure air pressure not being affected by elevation (which obviously affects air pressure). And something tells me that with the cheap price on this gauge they didn't engineer it to be altitude proof.

Problem is I went ahead and started the install this weekend, at least I'm only out $20.