ScangaugeE question
 

I installed my scangauge e this weekend in my 1999 Escort ZX2 5 sp. My previous three tanks of gas averaged 35 mpg. I adjusted the speed calibration +6% because I have 185 75 14 tires on her and they are 6.2% larger in circumference than stock. On my way home I'll try and calibrate it to my GPS. I also selected the 2.0 engine option. Does the "fill up" help as well? Is this thing really accurate or more like a vacuum gauge that helps you judge your consumption? Is there something that I might have missed? The reason I ask is because I just averaged a door to door commute of 41.5 miles. 1 mile through town. 8 miles on a traffic light infested Rt 1 North in central NJ and 12 miles on the GS parkway north. Traffic on the parkway was light and I hugged the right hand lane averaging between 50-55 mph. What is amazing is how much the economy drops when you lug the engine. Even a tiny bit. It is better to gradually let up on the pedal very slightly as I went up slight inclines letting the car slow down on the way up and then ever so gently getting the speed back on the way down. I wasn't doing this that well without the SG and I'm wondering if this is where the difference is. I doubt it though. I'll callibrate speed to the GPS and recalculate at fill up. It is a fun game but not for the anus holes riding up my bumper. I want to get a definite ave mpg before I delete the PS and AC and see if there is a difference.

Once you calibrate it with a fill up you should be pretty close. I'd imagine +/- 1 mpg or so unless your driving habits vary quite a bit.

You should never really lug an engine. However, during acceleration, mpgs will always be low on the instant readout. That being said, acceleration techniques vary from member to member. I prefer to accelerate at near best BSFC almost always. However, I know MetroMPG prefers to accelerate more slowly. We're both able to achieve 100%+ above the EPA rating in our cars, so we've come to the conclusion that acceleration technique really just isn't that important. All the other stuff like minimizing brake use and timing lights is way more important.

Yes, Thanks, The coasting, even with the engine running is huge. The scan gauge really helps you appreciate this as well. At 55 mph and coasting, engine idling at operating temp the readout is 187 mpg. You can actually see your ave going up the more you coast, even at slower speeds. I find myself doing that more as well with the SG.

Can somebody explain to me how the fill callibrates in any way? It says to fill up at 1/4 and then enter as a fill up. I just can't figure out how the SG knows how much fuel was added.

You first fill up and reset the scangauge. Then you run a tank of gas through. The scangauge will show you've used X gallons of gas, you correct that amount by what you've actually put in. The scangauge uses that new setting as a 'correction factor' of sorts. The longer you go between calibrations, the more accurate you'll get. Most people just do an entire tank full of gas.

"I see I see" said Mr. Ihatetoreaddirections.
Thank You

The Scangauge can be quite far out until you calibrate. My wife's Matrix is calibrated at +11.5%, meaning without calibration the Scangauge is 11.5% optimistic.

TIP -- do NOT enter the whole "percentage difference" as the manaul states; instead, enter only HALF of the value that the SG indicates. Do this for the first 2-3 times and you'll settle "into" the final adjustment MUCH faster and more precisely.

Do you mean for the speed (tires) or fuel usage?