Why have a tachometer

[Geep]

Wish they would put more gauges in cars now, load it up like a semi truck, I want to monitor everything.

With digital dash boards you should have the ability to customize how much info you want to see, how you see it and what it looks like…bring it on. Thats what so nice about Torq app

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[Jakb]

With digital dash boards you should have the ability to customize how much info you want to see, how you see it and what it looks like…bring it on. Thats what so nice about Torq app

I have torque and I love it. With all the digital stuff you think they would let you customize.

On my project car I had a tablet with torque that had all the proper gauges. I was out for a drive and was able to see a non-standard gauge go into the red. Dropped speed till i got home and saved the transmission.

While i hope my Mav won't have any problems (or projects) for a while, it still would be nice

 

[TyPope]

In a relatively quiet vehicle, in the snow, it is helpful to see if the engine (and thus wheels) is speeding up unwarranted. nobody wants to be stranded in the snow or stuck on an incline because of ice. But, we DO want to know if we are sitting there spinning our wheels.

 

[jsus]

Bizarre question.

Obvious answer: because it provides helpful, relevant information that gets used.

On a daily basis, it provides guidance as to how hard you're pushing the engine. Many drivers will have a target RPM range, or limit. Even those who only ever drive automatics.

Then you might run into an instance when you're coming around a nice wide bend on a limited/controlled access highway, no steep grades or anything. Cruise control set at ~60 mph. Suddenly, you notice the engine grow louder. Look down, the speedometer is slowly decreasing. Weird, cruise control is still set. You also notice the tachometer is doing the opposite - increasing. You immediately know you have a disconnect between power output by the engine and power getting to the wheels. You might then determine the best course of action is to coast down to an exit, if available, else pull off the shoulder and call a tow truck. Your transmission is broken.

Why take away useful information?

 

[MLA62563]

Seems a reasonable question to me. When I'm driving a car that has a tach, I will occasionally glance at it out of curiosity, but that's about it. I've had a numerous cars both manual and automatic over the years that didn't have a tach and I never found myself missing it. But as has been mentioned, it looks like those digital dashboard apps cover all the bases if gauges are your thing.

 

[LM42]

Good points! My experience driving ( only 57 years ) is that the sweet spot for max speed and efficiency on virtually every car I’ve driven, is at 2000 rpm’s on the highway. If you have the ability to drop the transmission into a (L)ow gear, you better keep an eye on the tach

Except that for a significant number of newer engines they are more efficient at slightly higher RPM

 

[gte105u]

My wife's Altima had a failing battery. She doesn't drive a lot, and we had just been on vacation so it was hard to tell if it was a low charge or battery going bad. Having a voltmeter would have been nice.

One time when I was driving to S TX, I was running against high head winds, and my fuel dropped faster than expected. I was very nervous making it to the next town to get fuel. Having the tach and being sure I kept it below 2k RPM to maximize efficiency was crucial (down hill vs. flat vs. up, more or less wind effecting, etc). Coasted in on fumes and glad I had it.

As to the digital displays, my Edge has one, and you can change what vehicle data shows up on it. Wish there were more options, but I can drop temperature off and on, tire pressure, fuel efficiency, etc.

 

[marpolsdofer]

Except that for a significant number of newer engines they are more efficient at slightly higher RPM

I remember there was a argument over MPG on the fourms for Toyota Camry. What I found and others have going faster on the interstate helped MPG. The reasons was the 8 speed transmission. If you stayed at 70-72 you would be at the shift point from 7-8 or you may be at 8th but would shift to 7 with head winds or hills. If you stayed 73-74 you would be at the low end of 8th and for the most part stay there. Result was 40 MPG with some dips to 37-38 going going 74. Going 70 it was lower then that.

 

[Shawshi]

I see that you all are passionate for the tachometers
Most of the reasons given to keep it imo are dated and unnecessary. In the dash menu you can have your speed digitally displayed right in the center, why not the engine speed; why not the gear that the transmission is in; why not the trans temp etc.?

I do plan on using an old cell phone and Torque app to display additional parameters, I do like the "more information is better" but over 2/3 rds of the dash is kinda wasted for the tach and spedo.

 

[dalola]

I see that you all are passionate for the tachometers
Most of the reasons given to keep it imo are dated and unnecessary. In the dash menu you can have your speed digitally displayed right in the center, why not the engine speed; why not the gear that the transmission is in; why not the trans temp etc.?

I do plan on using an old cell phone and Torque app to display additional parameters, I do like the "more information is better" but over 2/3 rds of the dash is kinda wasted for the tach and spedo.

That was a feature I loved in my F150.....the gear display along with select-shift. The biggest Ford fail omission in the 8AT Mav, IMO.

 

[gte105u]

I see that you all are passionate for the tachometers
Most of the reasons given to keep it imo are dated and unnecessary. In the dash menu you can have your speed digitally displayed right in the center, why not the engine speed; why not the gear that the transmission is in; why not the trans temp etc.?

I do plan on using an old cell phone and Torque app to display additional parameters, I do like the "more information is better" but over 2/3 rds of the dash is kinda wasted for the tach and spedo.

Two different things you are saying here. The vehicle should have a tachometer. But it would be great for it to be digital. Not seeing many (any?) saying it needs to be a full time gauge. A digital one would work. But there is a use for one there would be push back for it to be eliminated. I wish I had access to more data not less.

 

[kcamp317]

I'll take all the gauges I can get. I like having a tach.

 

[Kaytu]

Its also an expected gauge drivers are used to seeing that's relatively inexpensive compared to adding more digital screen real estate, I'd assume. Sure they could add more screen and thus increase the information provided at once - and they did that elsewhere on the C2 platform, the Escape that's why we've got folks doing full digital cluster swaps.

But by and large we're driving cost-conscious vehicles built during a chip shortage that saw the infamous screenside cubby appear. I have a feeling if nothing else, the tach is there because it is a useful monitor for potential engine issues and helps customers communicate usefully with service techs ("the big left gauge kept jumping up and down while I was parked") while being inexpensive to produce and accessible to the manufacturer.

Do I think it's absolutely needed? I don't know man, I see enough people not even paying attention to their speedometer nowadays, LOL. I just don't know that it's yet time to #SackTheTach

 

[Criss944]

Eye Macho candy.

 

[wax87]

Keeping an eye on the tachometer can help gauge how you are driving for fuel economy. Also good for when towing to keep an eye on how hard you are pushing it. But ultimately they don't have a lot of use outside of towing and sports cars.

and if anything is slipping like the CVT or your tires on Ice or mud.

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