ScanGauge or other options? Android or DIY kits?

[ksa8907]

Originally Posted by jasonck08

What one on ebay did you buy, and what car are you using it in?

I read that some of the cheaper ebay ones don't work in all cars...

mine is a cheapo one, i highly suggest with this sort of thing on ebay you only buy from high volume, top rated sellers.

ELM327 OBDII OBD2 Can Bus V1 5 Bluetooth Auto Car Diagnostic Interface Scanner | eBay

[jasonck08]

Thanks guys I ended up going the android route with Bluetooth OBDII. I have 3 android phones and a tablet, so it should work out fine. Just hoping there are no compatibility issues. I see most of thee issues are with US cars for these OBD II Bluetooth scanners, so I wouldn't anticipate a problem from my Lexus.

[bestclimb]

MyMPGTracker.com

Don't know if it's any good, it looks like it is still in development.

[jasonck08]

Got the OBD II BT scanner from ebay, it seems to work fine. I did a test today drove about 15 highway and country miles at about 55mph highway 45mph country. According to Torque, I averaged 31.5 MPG on my trip. It would be great if it was true. Do you think this is accurate? The 4WD model is rated at like 22 MPG highway IIRC. Are the MPG readings supposed to be accurate right away, or does it take time?

[NachtRitter]

That's where the calibration comes in. The first tank's worth probably won't be accurate. When you fill up, there should be a way to tell the scanner how many gallons you put in. Assuming you started with a full tank at the same time that you installed the scanner, then the next tank will be closer (if not exactly right). If you didn't start with a full tank, then top off soon (and reset the scanner) so you don't have quite as long to go before you get a more accurate reading.

[jasonck08]

Ok, I'll fill up soon, then reset things...

Also when I programmed in my fuel tanks 17.2 gal capacity, how do they figure the capacity. Do they top it off, or is 17.2 gallons about when the fuel pump clicks? In the past when I filled up, I'd usually top off to the nearest 50 cents.

[ksa8907]

I think the tank size with torque is only used for dte and other such calculations, fuel flow rate is the big one for mpg. Mine was pessimistic by about 10-15%, after two tanks I have it within 1% error. When my factory gusts used to say 40mpg hwy now torque tells me 32.

[Arragonis]

I tried the Torque + ELM327 reader combination on my Aygo but I found it drained the Android battery very quickly and also the ELM device doesn't reconnect well on engine stops - e.g. in heavy traffic.

[jasonck08]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

I tried the Torque + ELM327 reader combination on my Aygo but I found it drained the Android battery very quickly and also the ELM device doesn't reconnect well on engine stops - e.g. in heavy traffic.

Do you mean you were frequently shutting off your engine? If so it can take maybe 15-20 seconds or so to reconnect. Secondly, why not plug your phone into the car charger?

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by jasonck08

Do you mean you were frequently shutting off your engine? If so it can take maybe 15-20 seconds or so to reconnect.

My SG2 does that but sadly the ELM / phone combination often would no longer talk to each other for the rest of the journey. TBH it could be the phone as it sometimes decides not to talk to the car handsfree thing and sometimes does.

Bluetooth is a dead technology that someone needs to kill and burn quickly, please - anyone. Surely low range Wifi is the way forward now and not this cr@p.

Originally Posted by jasonck08

Secondly, why not plug your phone into the car charger?

I do but my car power socket doesn't seem to supply enough "oomph" to charge the phone whilst it is doing "something" - anything, like the camera, GPS (Maps), or Blue(****ing)Tooth so it just drains.

The SG2 has worked reliably for 3-4 years now but I may move to an Ultragauge soon.