Fuel Economy instrumentation - do you use it?

[RH77]

I Started out with an SG-I and upgraded to an SG-II after I wore it out

Basically, it's instant feedback on how you perceive the way you can drive the most efficiently. I can't quantify it, but mods + technique yield ~34% ^EPA. Feedback is a big part of that percentage.

Without the SG in other vehicles, the instant FE display is a good approximation too...

RH77

[trebuchet03]

What I've learned from this poll.... Most people that buy some form of instrumentation... don't use it.... seems off, but okay.

Maybe people without instrumentation voted too - as not be be left out?

[RH77]

Correction: Can't edit right now

The %^EPA is closer to 25%...

RH77

[cfg83]

Hello -

I use an SG I and it has made all the difference. If my car was pre-1996, I would definitely use a vacuum gauge. I do a ton of highway, but I don't have a breakdown of the %. My combined over (new) EPA is 41 / 27 = 1.5185 => 52% over EPA.

CarloSW2

[brucepick]

I have no instrumentation beyond the oem tach I installed last March.
I'm told that a SuperMid would work but I'm not keen on tapping into the injector and speedo wiring to set it up.

If/when I replace this car I intend to insist on '96 and later so I can use a ScanGauge.

Current 90 day average (winter and mostly short hops) is 26% over EPA combined.
Lifetime average is 47% over EPA combined but it includes mostly highway.
Lifetime averate is 27% over EPA highway.

[basjoos]

Originally Posted by AndrewJ

For example, I don't P&G on the highway. My much lower Cd should really help me out in that area, and make P&G a very viable technique on the highway. But every time I try it, my next fillup sucks. I'm sure that there is a way for me to P&G on the highway and reap big gains, but I currently have no way of knowing about the finer points of my technique.

I've never been able to improve my mileage via P&G. I've tried it at various speed ranges and accelleration rates and have never been able to get mileage over what I get with my usual driving-with-load'ish driving technique (and usually it is worse with P&G). I suspect this is because the Honda engine is designed to run very efficiently at low power levels. The closest I get to P&G in my usual driving is on rolling terrain with too much elevation change for DWL to be practical, so I pulse the uphills and glide the downhills.

[Daox]

In order to make pulse and glide efficient IMO you need a way of indicating weather your in open/closed loop mode. If your AFR is dropping down too low your loosing everything you just gained by pulsing. So, put up another point for instrumentation.

IMO, pulse and glide is where I've gained nearly all my mileage since my route is almost all highway. FYI, my previous percentages were per the old EPA, not even the new ones. The 2008 ratings would put me at 52% right now, and 72% come summer.

[AndrewJ]

Originally Posted by basjoos

I've never been able to improve my mileage via P&G. I've tried it at various speed ranges and accelleration rates and have never been able to get mileage over what I get with my usual driving-with-load'ish driving technique (and usually it is worse with P&G). I suspect this is because the Honda engine is designed to run very efficiently at low power levels. The closest I get to P&G in my usual driving is on rolling terrain with too much elevation change for DWL to be practical, so I pulse the uphills and glide the downhills.

Interesting. I've just assumed that I was doing it wrong. Oh well, I won't be assuming anything for much longer. I'll have a SuperMID here in a week or so.

[Whoops]

Currently I'm not using anything. I have an 89 Honda wagon. I used a vacum gauge for quite a while and I had a voltmeter hooked up to the oxygen sensor. It was instructive, up to a point, but it wasn't as helpful as I'd like.

I'd like to get a way to monitor instant mileage, average mileage and timing, but with what I am getting, I can't see enough of a potential savings to justify, plus I need to keep every nickel as I can.

[LUVMY02CREW]

Currently do not, but am planning on getting either a scangaugeII or the "mid" thing as soon as I do some more researching on them(and when the IRS gives me back some of my money)