I commend your resourcefulness! Checking the barrel will show you the pressure in the keg at the time of checking but there are several variables including the precise temperature of the liquid upon checking. Any change in temperature or disturbance in the liquid may cause some CO2 to become removed from the liquid thereby giving you a false sense of what should be in there. I don't have my chart in front of me but I would say that you should probably leave the gauge at about 14lbs (Pilsners are a little more carbonated then say English beers) at most. If you leave it at 18 it may pour ok for a few days but will eventually become over carbonated. Hope this helps.
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