How to measure engine RPM with MAC multimeter? | FerrariChat
Buy

How to measure engine RPM with MAC multimeter?

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Alden, May 15, 2025 at 7:12 AM.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Alden

    Alden F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 25, 2010
    3,389
    Central Florida
    #1 Alden, May 15, 2025 at 7:12 AM
    I have a 1988 Mondial 3.2, can someone tell me how to hook up this multimeter to measure my engine RPMs? Google search did not give me any satisfactory answers. It also could be that I'm missing the inductive lead for this meter??
    Alden
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  2. JoeCab

    JoeCab Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    May 27, 2014
    375
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Joe C
    #2 JoeCab, May 15, 2025 at 10:05 AM
    You need the inductive pickup attachment, which you would clamp around a spark plug wire. Then you set the multimeter to 8 cylinders on the tach setting and start the engine.
     
  3. Alden

    Alden F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 25, 2010
    3,389
    Central Florida
    #3 Alden, May 15, 2025 at 12:41 PM
    So I guess the inductive lead goes in the red input and the black one goes to ground on the engine?
    Alden
     
  4. RayJohns

    RayJohns F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    May 21, 2006
    7,839
    West Coast
    Full Name:
    Ray
    #4 RayJohns, May 15, 2025 at 3:24 PM
  5. RayJohns

    RayJohns F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    May 21, 2006
    7,839
    West Coast
    Full Name:
    Ray
    #5 RayJohns, May 15, 2025 at 3:28 PM
    That's an oldie.

    My Dad died some years ago and I inherited his 1970's engine analyzer. Super handy for setting dwell angles :)

    Ray
     
  6. Ferrari Tech

    Ferrari Tech Formula 3

    Mar 5, 2010
    1,207
    Georgia
    Full Name:
    Wade Williams
    #6 Ferrari Tech, May 16, 2025 at 4:56 AM
    FYI, on a 3.2 Mondial you will set it to 4 cylinder as it has two 4 cylinder ignition systems.
     
  7. wmuno

    wmuno Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 24, 2007
    518
    Wilmette, Illinois
    Full Name:
    Bill Muno
    #7 wmuno, May 16, 2025 at 8:23 AM
    Actually, here is the inductive probe that is designed to work with a multimeter:

    https://www.amazon.com/ALLOSUN-EA103-Signal-Pick-Up/dp/B015PDXBUW/ref=sr_1_9?crid=1YM60DP8VAC6N&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.5QwY0qHz9WUWyD1RfCKqqpClhiOIzREyXewZSZfq68fVdoKKode8HoG_6fjSIT_orLghlt0s4kaaRhCgxq2jKvO2N7yfznUFpMAKGMVlwSnvXzY0SnSSA3u4jTxFRX19n8sLFd4d05jyu6YTaR4JnWmTCn_v5PBA-UvZALJLIq8QtQKClCo47QdaYzsOJzBdRBfWUHLxAVURTbuoJ07WV0zCHU0HQ6ue6HzXZaJwi9I_wOUh3NRgonimv2JPwfv8jnNcx4vFjyXZsM2Lmp8lTFTp8kDxbsw_D1PrqUyWMrk.a9Vumq6KZWo_y4PlVs-T6C9GOdI5NVvOfOmR5LOir4o&dib_tag=se&keywords=inductive+probe&qid=1747401697&s=automotive&sprefix=inductive+probe%2Cautomotive%2C2474&sr=1-9
     
    Alden likes this.
  8. Alden

    Alden F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 25, 2010
    3,389
    Central Florida
    #8 Alden, May 16, 2025 at 11:12 AM
    Thanks @wmuno! That's exactly what I needed to know! Got to keep this old technology working right?
    Aldrn
     
    wmuno likes this.
  9. wmuno

    wmuno Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 24, 2007
    518
    Wilmette, Illinois
    Full Name:
    Bill Muno
    #9 wmuno, May 16, 2025 at 11:49 AM
    Correct. On all the new cars there aren’t any spark plug wires. They have been replaced with individual coils which are triggered by the engine computer (ECU).
     

Share This Page