Mpg Meter/Sensor?
04-06-2008, 12:00 PM
#1
Mpg Meter/Sensor?
Is there any such thing as an after market MPG meter that i could buy that tells me what im getting as i drive? J/w because my friends bmw has one in his gauge setup and i really like them
04-06-2008, 08:12 PM
#6
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Posts: 11
I use an Excel sheet to track mine, Just take note of the gallons of gas you buy, and miles on the Odometer and you should be able to work it out. I don't think its an easy thing to do without that, Because you'd need to use a modified fuel flow sensor, Maybe someone sells one especially for this purpose? But I've never seen one. It'd probably be an easy thing to do on an In-Car computer thats hooked up to your sensors if you had some programming know-how.
04-07-2008, 06:12 AM
#10
The nice thing about them is that you can get fairly instant feedback on your car's performance *while* you're driving and not have to wait from empty to fill up to calculate. I could go down the highway and reset to see what I was getting at 65 MPH vs 75 MPH, could average what I was getting in the city and reset when when I headed out on the highway to see any difference. Came in handy when choosing what gas stations were the best as well when topping one tank to the next. They're far from useless.
04-07-2008, 06:20 AM
#11
The nice thing about them is that you can get fairly instant feedback on your car's performance *while* you're driving and not have to wait from empty to fill up to calculate. I could go down the highway and reset to see what I was getting at 65 MPH vs 75 MPH, could average what I was getting in the city and reset when when I headed out on the highway to see any difference. Came in handy when choosing what gas stations were the best as well when topping one tank to the next. They're far from useless.
04-07-2008, 06:27 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: MASS
Posts: 856
I'll agree with you on this. It would be nice to have one and it could be very useful. It's hard to tell what makes the difference between 20 and 23 mpg when you only measure every 350 miles or so. Lots of variables in 350 miles. That's only a week for me...but may be a several for some people.
04-07-2008, 06:33 AM
#13
^^lmao at michael shumacher 
I know what you mean, but I live in the country so do alot of mixed driving and it varies day to day. So it can be hard to tell whether a certain mod (or my foot) made the difference, or just the type of driving and amount of traffic/getting stuck behind tractors.
but in general, yes, you can get a good idea by doing what you proposed.
I know what you mean, but I live in the country so do alot of mixed driving and it varies day to day. So it can be hard to tell whether a certain mod (or my foot) made the difference, or just the type of driving and amount of traffic/getting stuck behind tractors.
but in general, yes, you can get a good idea by doing what you proposed.
04-07-2008, 10:35 AM
#16
I am fairly certain there are a ton of OBD II scanners out there that you can hook up to and it will tell you things like instant speed, RPMs, instant gas mileage, how far you are pressing down on the throttle etc. They make USB ones as well that plug into a laptop and you can chart all sorts of things as you drive with the right program if you really want to get into it... Just Google it or search on eBay
04-07-2008, 10:45 AM
#17
Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hamden CT
Posts: 62
MPG gauge
Scan Gauge II sells for about $89 on line. (Google Scan Gauge II). Instalation is 1 minute or less. It plugs in under the dash on the driver's side for 4th gen. and uses the built-in sensors. After an easy calibration of distance and fuel consumption it gives instataneous MPG and all othe data that you can think of regarding fuel useage. Also reads out all the sensors on the motor. It's a neet toy for not much money.
04-07-2008, 11:15 AM
#18
Yeah that's exactly the item I was thinking of. I had looked into it a couple of years ago but never bothered figuring that 100 bucks could go to something better. But for being what it is, if that's what you are looking for, its a good value for the money and they seem pretty reputable and reliable.
04-08-2008, 11:58 AM
#21
Scan Gauge II sells for about $89 on line. (Google Scan Gauge II). Instalation is 1 minute or less. It plugs in under the dash on the driver's side for 4th gen. and uses the built-in sensors. After an easy calibration of distance and fuel consumption it gives instataneous MPG and all othe data that you can think of regarding fuel useage. Also reads out all the sensors on the motor. It's a neet toy for not much money.
04-08-2008, 12:03 PM
#22
04-09-2008, 08:50 AM
#25
Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hamden CT
Posts: 62
Coachholland,
My bad. My memory was that it was pretty cheap about a year ago. It's now 169.95 on line from Scan Gauge. The new ones can give you even more info than the one I bought. It really helps me maximize my milage by giving instantanious mpg readings.
My bad. My memory was that it was pretty cheap about a year ago. It's now 169.95 on line from Scan Gauge. The new ones can give you even more info than the one I bought. It really helps me maximize my milage by giving instantanious mpg readings.
04-10-2008, 04:01 AM
#26
That's cool Bassman. Thanks for the update. 
I was looking at all the info that the new ones can put out and I'm very seriously considering getting one of these, not only for the MPG info, but the HP and torque info, injector readings, etc. Looks like with the new added features on the SGII, this would be a good investment.
And you guys must all be young pups. Back when I was in high school before the first war in Iraq, I remember gas being $.89 a gallon. My town even had a gas war going on over the course of several months and one station went down to $.25 a gallon. That was my senior year after the US invaded. It was nuts.
I graduated in '92 btw.
I was looking at all the info that the new ones can put out and I'm very seriously considering getting one of these, not only for the MPG info, but the HP and torque info, injector readings, etc. Looks like with the new added features on the SGII, this would be a good investment.
And you guys must all be young pups. Back when I was in high school before the first war in Iraq, I remember gas being $.89 a gallon. My town even had a gas war going on over the course of several months and one station went down to $.25 a gallon. That was my senior year after the US invaded. It was nuts.
I graduated in '92 btw.
Last edited by coachholland; 04-10-2008 at 04:03 AM.
04-10-2008, 11:16 AM
#27
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: NW Burbs Chicago IL
Posts: 54
In high school during Desert Storm!!! I must be really old then because I was In the first Conflict with Iraq and I was 24 then..
That device does look very cool .. I think its a little pricey though
That device does look very cool .. I think its a little pricey though
04-11-2008, 06:34 AM
#29
Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hamden CT
Posts: 62
And you guys must all be young pups. Back when I was in high school before the first war in Iraq, I remember gas being $.89 a gallon. My town even had a gas war going on over the course of several months and one station went down to $.25 a gallon. That was my senior year after the US invaded. It was nuts.
04-11-2008, 11:06 AM
#31
It was 0.96$ g/ when I graduated (99).
As for the OP. Most cars use a number of different items (sensors) already incorporated into the car. But use it as a rough MPG calculator. The 02/3 uses STFT's & LTFT's and FLS to 'average' the distance left / tank and current MPG.
I've done some modifying of my fuel delivery system and get some pretty wacky readings on the in-dash readout due to this.
As for the OP. Most cars use a number of different items (sensors) already incorporated into the car. But use it as a rough MPG calculator. The 02/3 uses STFT's & LTFT's and FLS to 'average' the distance left / tank and current MPG.
I've done some modifying of my fuel delivery system and get some pretty wacky readings on the in-dash readout due to this.
Last edited by NmexMAX; 04-11-2008 at 11:06 PM.
04-11-2008, 01:31 PM
#32
Licensed to Spell
iTrader: (12)
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Murrieta (southern California)
Posts: 4,521
Scan Gauge II sells for about $89 on line. (Google Scan Gauge II). Instalation is 1 minute or less. It plugs in under the dash on the driver's side for 4th gen. and uses the built-in sensors. After an easy calibration of distance and fuel consumption it gives instataneous MPG and all othe data that you can think of regarding fuel useage. Also reads out all the sensors on the motor. It's a neet toy for not much money.
Link/pic.?
I turn 33 pretty soon. So I will finally have driven for more than half my life.
At 16 when I got my license there were still a few places that had gas at $0.999
04-11-2008, 11:05 PM
#34
Then 
was this:
was this:
Originally Posted by Me
As for the OP. Most cars use a number of different items (sensors) already incorporated into the car. But use it as a rough MPG calculator. The 02/3 uses STFT's & LTFT's and FLS to 'average' the distance left / tank and current MPG.
I've done some modifying of my fuel delivery system and get some pretty wacky readings on the in-dash readout due to this.
I've done some modifying of my fuel delivery system and get some pretty wacky readings on the in-dash readout due to this.
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