has anyone tried a scangauge or dashdaq

[vshah]

i'm thinking about getting one of these as i really would like to see instant MPG, which my car doesn't have. has anyone owned either of these?

thanks,
Vivan

 

[Dman877]

Instant mpg is pretty useless. When you're on the gas it's very low, when you're off the gas it's very high.

 

[vshah]

well, they show averages too. right now i can only calculate it at the pump. makes it hard for me to get a rough idea of my MPG at a given moment or for a given trip

 

[gpgofast]

I've got a scanguage in my Duramax powered motorhome. I think it is worth the money. Also gives me accurate Transmission temp, manifold pressure and other useful indicators of performance.

 

[thomsbrain]

I have the Scangauge II and I love it. It's a lot of fun to hypermile when you're in the mood. The instant feedback for MPG makes a huge difference.

Dman is right that small changes in throttle make big differences in instant MPG, but if you watch it long enough, you start to find patterns. For instance, I now know that I can get better mileage in 4th with the torque converter locked than in 5th with it unlocked. I also now know that driving faster can net BETTER mileage if it means that the torque converter can lock in 5th gear, especially if you are climbing a long hill. I use the instant MPG and the throttle position readouts to precisely manage throttle and prevent the torque converter from unlocking. I know I can push the throttle to 28% at 60 MPH without it unlocking, but at 55, I may have to throttle back to 25%. So as I climb a steep hill, I am constantly riding the edge of the locked-converter envelope to maximize MPG and momentum. The difference between locked and unlocked can be nearly 10 MPG, so this makes a big difference. The instant MPG readout can also train you to maximize in-gear coasting because you can see when the fuel flow cutoff engages. You can also learn about the benefits of drafting.