[jumpsoffrock]

Mechanical gauge:

Pro: Few parts needed; gauge, oil line, and a couple fittings that are cheap to procure but almost always included with gauge kits. Do not need to have any knowledge of wiring or spend time running wires, just one oil line. The oil fitting to the block is small and rarely is an issue to mount.
Very simple, as long as gauge works and oil line is plumed, you have a reading.

Con: Some folks don't like the threat of oil inside their interior; didn't seem to be much of a threat for hundreds of thousands of 67-72 with factory mech oil gauges.




Electric gauge:

Pro: no oily mess with oil lines.


Cons: #1: some gauge sets do not come with the sender so you must purchase seperately.

#2: you have more points for failure than a mechanical gauge; senders don't last forever(but a good long while), wiring(often people have poor grounds), gauge obviously must work

#3: Some folks claim to be "electrically illiterate" or that they absolutely despise touching wiring. Well you must run a wire for illumination if needed, a positive wire for voltage, a negative wire for ground, and a fourth wire to go to the sender. If you're afraid of wiring, elec gauges are NOT your friend.

#4: Electric oil senders are typically large and bulky and often times are difficult to install or mount, and sometimes need special fitting adapters to allow them to clear engine parts and firewalls.




I am not an electric gauge fan because I love vintage gauges, and rarely if ever do vintage gauges come coupled to a corresponding and working sender. And finding the correct sender for an obscure gauge from 40-70 years ago can be difficult and costly.