another 4x4 guy - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

tacomajason · 03-09-2008, 03:07 PM

i come from the same boat as chris d and 95tojo, customtacos.com. just thought i would swing in and see what kind of different driving techniques there are to improve my mpg. i tend to be a little lead footed, and my truck seems to get about the same mpg no matter how i drive it.

SVOboy · 03-09-2008, 03:08 PM

Welcome to the site! Do you have any FE instrumentation yet?

tacomajason · 03-09-2008, 03:12 PM

not yet. i have been looking into a scanguageII for a while, but it has been my experience that they aren't very accurate.

Red · 03-09-2008, 03:52 PM

Welcome to the site. What kind of inaccuracies have you found?

H4MM3R · 03-09-2008, 04:17 PM

Welcome to the community!

DifferentPointofView · 03-09-2008, 09:05 PM

Welcome!

Quote:

not yet. i have been looking into a scanguageII for a while, but it has been my experience that they aren't very accurate.

If that's true, then I'd consider getting your truck's computer system checked out, cause the info off of the scangauge is coming directly from your truck. (atleast that's what I've thought)

tacomajason · 03-10-2008, 11:43 AM

the ecu doesn't figure mileage, the scanguage takes into account fuel gph, miles traveled ect, ect. and i am not talking scanguages in particular, i am talking about cars equipped with gauges that figure such things from the factory. they just seem to vary from what i get using a pen and paper. i have never used a scanguage before, but i just assume they cannot be 100 percent. i know the distance to empty can be waaaaaay off too.

MetroMPG · 03-10-2008, 12:38 PM

The ScanGauge probably won't be 100% accurate out of the box, but it can be fine-tuned. There are values you can change to offset speed and fuel used (which you adjust at fill-up time).

After a few tanks, you can get it dialled in very accurately.

DifferentPointofView · 03-11-2008, 12:06 AM

Oh, yea factory ones seem to be wrong a lot... They can say you have 100 miles left on the tank, and next thing you know your out of gas.

Scan gauges though you tune yourself by putting in the amount of gallons your tank has, etc. etc. and you can use them as a speedo if yours ever goes out! too bad it's 96' and up

tacomajason · 03-13-2008, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DifferentPointofView

Oh, yea factory ones seem to be wrong a lot... They can say you have 100 miles left on the tank, and next thing you know your out of gas.

Scan gauges though you tune yourself by putting in the amount of gallons your tank has, etc. etc. and you can use them as a speedo if yours ever goes out! too bad it's 96' and up

wow i didn't know they were adjustable like that, and given that my truck is only about 6 months old, i sure hope the speedo doesn't go out anytime soon.

elhigh · 03-13-2008, 11:49 AM

I'd like a ScanGauge for Josie! *looks for computer port* Hmm...
*looks again* Nertz.

Welcome! Yes, the lead foot is your biggest enemy. The ScanGauge, even if it isn't pinpoint accurate, will tell you from moment-to-moment whether you're doing well or not.

It's been my experience that the onboard displays are really close - within .25mpg - for agreeing with me on average fuel economy. I've taken a few trips in GM cars that had them installed, and checked their results vs. my calculations, and they're pretty good. It's impossible to say exactly where the discepancy lies, either: this fill-up doesn't stop at exactly the same level as the previous fill-up.