Sierra 1500 Gauges & Aftermarket Add-Ons: Essential Guide

Sure, the GMC Sierra 1500’s cabin interior has made a lot of improvements, even to its cluster panels, but it’s still limited. Like most vehicles, your Sierra features an analog fuel gauge, temperature gauge, speedometer, tachometer, oil pressure gauge, and voltmeter.

While these are suitable for daily drivers, they can't track the performance of any of your aftermarket mods. You’ll probably be pining for a boost gauge if you install a turbocharger or an exhaust temperature gauge.

Gauges are also prone to fail after a while, presenting a huge safety hazard for you and your truck. We offer top of the line gauges meant to last and add value and fun to your everyday driving experience.

Aftermarket gauges come in loads of customization options with multi-colored LEDs and bright bezels that make your interior pop. Aftermarket gauges can also be calibrated to your rig’s specifications to more accurately track valuable engine and component data.

For show trucks, you can purchase a new digital speedometer or aftermarket gauge set that match the color of your interior. For off-roaders and track riders, you can benefit from additional gauges that allow you to measure performance. Much of the inspiration behind aftermarket gauge add-ons actually come from drag racers or classic muscle car owners who used to have to install custom tachometers and speedometers to help with shifting.

More gauges equals more data, which allows you to customize and monitor performance to save money. An aftermarket digital gauge will display in larger font and be easier to read than an analog gauge. With WiFi enabled connectivity, you could read your air to fuel temperature ratio directly from an Android, iPhone, or any other smartphone.

Speedometer: There are two types of speedometer inputs to choose from: cable and electric. A cable speedometer typically fits directly to your square-end cable that’s powered by the driveshaft. Electric cables use electronic pulses from your transmission to measure speed and are programmable. Your aftermarket speedometer manufacturer should provide you with instructions on how to properly calibrate a new electric speedometer. Installation will require professional assistance.

Oil Temperature & Pressure: Oil is the lifeblood of your engine. Being able to monitor your oil pressure and temperature will indicate any problems with the oil volume in your engine. Contrary to popular belief, oil pressure gauges don't measure the amount of oil in your rig, but the pressure of oil in kilopascals. A new oil pressure gauge will tip you off to any potential issues before an oil indicator light comes on, allowing you to take proactive steps to rectify the issue.

Voltmeter: Common to most modern vehicles, the voltmeter provides a reading of your electrical charging system. A fully charged battery and healthy charging system will register your vehicle at anywhere between 14 to 15 volts. Any drop in this voltage below 12.5 volts could indicate you need a new battery or alternator.

Exhaust Temperature: An EGT is a critical upgrade for engines equipped with a supercharger or turbocharger. This provides a reading of exhaust temperatures to tell you whether you’re running your engine too lean or rich. Abnormally high exhaust temperatures could indicate not enough air is being used, creating the potential for detonation or extensive air intake damage.

Vacuum/Boost: A boost gauge provides a measurement of how much boost your turbocharger or supercharger is producing. This is also another important indicator of any air to fuel ratio abnormalities or problems. There are two types of gauges: analog and digital. Analog gauges connect to the engine bay using a hose, and digital gauges connect to the supercharger or turbocharger via a wire.

Water Temperature & Pressure: The water temperature in your engine is critical to maintain cooling.Generally, you want static water temperature to stay at the midpoint. If the gauge runs too high than you risk water potentially boiling over and steaming. Too low and you could risk overheating your engine. It’s important to note that water temperature will be very low at cold startups and should rise as the vehicle warms up.

Wideband Air Fuel Ratio Gauges: Your air to fuel ratio is an important indicator of your air intake mix. The ideal mixture should run at about 14.7:1, although this may be a little more lean or rich depending on your truck’s idle and acceleration. As previously stated, a lean or rich air to fuel ratio can be hazardous for your Sierra. A wideband air to fuel ratio provides a much longer air to fuel ratio range from 10:0:1 to 20:0:1.

Intake Temperature Gauge: This notorious gauge measures the temperature of your air intake. Too hot or in the red and your engine could be susceptible to long-term damage. This could indicate a coolant or lubrication issue.

So where can we fit all of these aftermarket gauges? This is really up to your choice and can be mounted anywhere from underneath the dash to the steering wheel.

Some people even use a wireless system that transmits data to their phone or a dash cluster kit that uses a single cable for data.

There are many choices to make when purchasing an aftermarket gauge that the options are overwhelming. Stick to preference and utility.

In terms of preference you have options for analog or digital gauges, full sweep or half sweep gauges, different LED displays, and tons of bezels to choose from.

Full sweep analog gauges provide 270 degrees of movement while half sweep gauges only complete 90 or 180 degrees of movement.

Installation is also another big consideration. Water pressure and oil pressure gauges will require a new sender to operate.

Fuel level gauges will also be specific to each vehicle and require you to look up the ohm reading for your vehicle and sender. Installing new aftermarket gauges require professional knowledge and should be taken to a mechanic.

The main difference between electrical and mechanical gauges comes from the information collection method. Mechanical gauges rely on a tube that connects to the engine bay or information source to provide a reading. For speedometers and tachometers, they rely on the physical movement of the part and its vibrations to move the needle.

Electrical gauges rely on electronic sensors attached to, or near, the component to register a reading. The electrical gauge connects to the part through the motor, and the needle or digital display is powered by a separate motor. Of course all gauges, even mechanical, require an electrical connection to operate and even register with your Sierra’s ECU.