What to do when the ScanGauge shows your SUV gets horrible MPG? Ditch the ScanGauge!

[MetroMPG]

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forum...essing-me.html

This is a really interesting thread at a Toyota forum (which I found because they linked to the thread about basjoos' Aerocivic):

The thread title: My scanguage II is depressing me

The OP:

I never realized that I average 10 mpg. even if I barely touch the gas to get up to speed slowly It drops to around 4 to 6 mpg. cruise control will hold me steady at 12 on a flat road at 60mph. I always thought it was at least around 16. Building taller, flatter, wider, and heavier really takes a toll.

My favourite response:

Dude the hubby got the onboard computer on his '08 Titan (actually I got him the onboard computer and the '08 Titan... the man HATES change). He had to turn the thing off because that big 5.6 V8 is just crazy bad on gas. He was not even getting 10 mpg around town and he was MAD!!! He hated the small V8 that he had in his F150 but now he hates the gas mileage. Advice from the spouse, turn that thing off man. You cannot change it so don't get so bummed!!

(Disclaimer: I picked the most extreme response - they're not all saying this. Some even offer useful tips to drive more efficiently.)

I should have been an anthropologist - observing threads like this fascinating.

Other nuggets from the participants:

• "My Walletgauge is depressing too."

• "It's not about mileage, it's about smileage"

• "The FJ sweet spot on mine seems to be right around 70mph for best MPG."

O rly?

[TomO]

I think those people see things that way^^^

Funny find though, lol.

[Lazarus]

Interesting mind set.

I am happy to get double digits on the freeway. If I go over 65, that's when I start hitting the high nines. However a friend with an F-350 tells me he is AVERAGING six.!! We are far from the worst out there.

[Who]

In the course of way too much snow and cold weather in the confines, mixed with all urban driving, short trips and some ongoing discussion on a Santa Fe board about AWD, TCS, ESC (which one of my 8 year olds more rightfully yet unintentionally called disability control) leading to some over-enthusiastic driving/testing in poor conditions I managed by far my worst tank ever. I must admit it is an exceptional extreme weather vehicle even with just the all seasons pumped up into the 50s.

Anyway, I knew it was going to be a bad tank from the start so I got the playing around out of my system. Final result as I got sick of watching the low fuel light on the past few days was around 68 litres for a bit under 400 KMs, not quite the 10 LHK I try very hard to avg, in fact about 70% worse! I think it was actually in the high 13s... will know for sure when I stop procrastinating on my log.

Anyway, our Accord's finally gone into the shop for the timing belt, all the fluids and an emissions test (first stuff done other than oil changes in 6½ years) so my dearly beloved had to borrow my FSP last night when she went out. She knew it was a new tank and that I wanted to get the fuel economy back on track, yet when I peeked at the Prev Day trip on the SG out of curiosity I saw MAX RPM 4129 ... MAX KPH 125. Ouch! Then I get the full scowl because I looked and worse yet commented. Must be Valentine's Day!

It seemed pretty clear that the OP's FJ wasn't calibrated, but those guys are on crack hoping that their FE sweet spots are in the 70 and 70 plus like they were talking about. The FJ is one of the few vehicles out there that makes my vehicle look really sleek!

Thanks for the link Metro, interesting read.

[Daox]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

"It's not about mileage, it's about smileage"

Uhhh I hate that saying with a passion.

[Peakster]

However a friend with an F-350 tells me he is AVERAGING six.!!

How do these people survive?! Do they just have large sums of cash to throw around and bathe in? 6 MPG is utterly insane. That would be spending a dollar in fuel every 8,000 feet travelled! *faints*

[malibuguy]

my mothers '00 3.3 grand caravan drinks gas, but she does TONs of running around in it, shes not exactly the most effecient driver

according to the factory FE read outs, it averages around 16-18mpg, refresh it on the highway or use the real-time display, its around 24mpg

my old '94 3.3 grand caravan i used to beat the crap out of her, i was always racing people & just driving fast, it would still average 21-23mpg per tank

tho i think the goodyear assurance triple-tred tires aren't helping her van either...they are quite a bit heavier then usual tires

[Ryland]

I was driving the work truck (2005 Dodge 1500 extra cab, short box) the other day and noticed that the check engine light was on (moisture problem with one of the sensors) so I played around with it a bit and found the on board mpg read out, it only keeps track of the average on trips so I had to keep resetting it, got it up to 15.6mpg going 60mph, at 55mph the tranny wouldn't lock up so it was getting closer to 13mpg, pulling the trailer the mileage droped like a rock... 7.5-8mpg, that was when was picking up my citicar, and the trailer is tandum axle deal that is big enough that I could have fit two citicars on it, normaly we carry around 1,000-2,000 of shinny slabs of granite, so it's hard to downsize.

[MetroMPG]

Who: "ditch the ScanGauge - save your marriage" - that's funny.

The interweb is a small place. I read Treehugger fairly regularly, and just saw a post there... about this thread.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008...d_computer.php

[trebuchet03]

That's pretty damned funny...

I hoped someone told him that if he's not going to change vehicles, having the SG is really important. 1mpg saved is an incredible jump in FE...