Torque for Android review

[kingsway]

I also have the Pro version of Torque and a very cheap 'Chinese Special' adapter. It isn't the best fit with my VW Golf Diesel, but the author is apparently working on making it work better with VW's in-house ( ie non OBD2) protocols.

It works very well in my and my wifes little Daihatsu cars - although they are also not quite compliant with the OBD standard in that power to the OBD socket is switched via the ignition key rather than being on all the time.

[modmonster]

there is a graphing feature in torque where you can plot any variable against another. has anyone used this yet?

I was thinking of using it to plot engine coolant temperature against miles.

[modmonster]

The MPG is very accurate on torque. it matched my tank to tank calculation to within 0.4mpg where as the MPG gauge on my ford focus was a whole 6MPG higher.

[vskid3]

Originally Posted by modmonster

there is a graphing feature in torque where you can plot any variable against another. has anyone used this yet?

I was thinking of using it to plot engine coolant temperature against miles.

I haven't used the graphing, but I have used the logging feature, which you can make graphs with in Excel. It works pretty well. The only thing I don't like is that the instant mpg is either 255MPG (moving) or 0MPG (stopped) in EV mode, so another reading like RPM or gal/hr is needed to tell if I was getting 0MPG in EV mode or with the engine running.

[modmonster]

i did a couple of graphs yesterday.

I calculated the potential savings from a grill block by plotting trip litres/mile against miles. subtracting the area under the curve of the warmed up section from the cold section gives you the fuel volume wasted warming up the engine. this seemed to be about 0.05 litres in the 6 miles it took to reach opperating temperature.

[sendler]

Too bad no one ever develops readers for the scan port of my Honda CBR250R. It has all the same information present to the Honda scan tool as a car but doesn't use an OBD style plug.

[Swordsmith]

I have an OBDII adapter and the torque pro app, but I don't use it much, because it is a pain to set up my phone for it and I like the "it's always there" nature of my permanently plugged in Ultragauge. Also, the displays are pretty tiny on the little screen of my phone. Nice looking, but I'd have to duck tape it to the steering wheel to be able to actually see much of anything.

I'm looking, therefore, for an alternative; something I can dedicate solely to running Torque, mount it in the car and leave it, permanently hooked up to a charger and everything.

I saw a 7" screen android tablet at Fry's electronic for $59, almost grabbed it, until I realized no bluetooth. Cheapest bluetooth one I've been able to find is $129. I may go ahead and get that, but I'm wondering if folks have found other options. The small tablets look like 7" which seems like overkill, is there a 5" option that would work? A large phone which would work without needing to pay for phone service (looks like someone earlier in the thread discovered that works) or a cheaper bluetooth ready tablet, or perhaps there is an OBDII adaptor that runs mini-USB out and a cheap tablet that will accept mini-USB in?

[P-hack]

there is a usb obdii adapter may be just a matter of having the right adapter or putting your own mini plug on it, and usb bluetooth adapters as well, don't know about compatibility w/android, but I don't think you will regret the 7" screen, especially if you add in GPS and rearview camera and etc.

[zjrog]

Sorry to bring up an oldish topic, but I have been using the Lite version for a while. I really do like it and hoope to buy the full version soon. I have been using a few others as well, just to see what they do. I bought one of the generic ELM327 Bluetooth adapters last year and so far its been one of the best things I've ever bought for ANY vehicle I've ever owned. I don't leave it plugged in all the time though, I hate anything I can't turn off. Besides, I use it in other vehicles as well. Including my work truck. There is a wifi adapter that is compatible with iPhones and such...

[Swordsmith]

A wifi OBDII adapter would be great, there are lots of cheap tablets that are wifi compatible, it's just Bluetooth that seems to triple the cost of the device. I'll look around for that adapter!