MPG Computer for CAR

[jakethevape]

Have any of you petrol heads used this ScanGuageII with your cars?
www.amazon.co.uk/ScanGauge-II-Fuel-Computer-XGauge/dp/B000AAMY86/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361808648&sr=8-1

as I am having to drive like a granny to get the best MPGs whilst money is tight I was thinking this along with some new tyres and an engine block heater could improve my celica's range. (Thankfully ALL celica engine blocks are built with the port for the heater for the canadian markets )

[lazydog]

After the cost of all the addons / by how many ltrs saved to get your money back would it be worth it?

[jakethevape]

Feb 25, 2013 17:50:33 GMT lazydog said:

After the cost of all the addons / by how many ltrs saved to get your money back would it be worth it?

Depends. The thing is I LOVE my car so dont want to part with her but I need to get the stated 36mpg rather than the 20 I am getting now. Long term If I end up keeping her then it makes sense and I can always use it on another car because it has advanced features compared to your standard MPG in modern vehichles.

Anyone use this? or something similar?.

[Moggy]

Not me, I drive an Alfa Romeo and couldn't give 2 hoots about MPG. Not the most sensible answer but I put the heating on if its cold too.



Mono

[gillas]

£118 - have to do some poor driving to lose that amount of fuel, just drive carefully and you have a tank and a half of fuel instead of a gadget!

[brysoni23]

Change the oil, check spark plugs and air filter. check the tires are pumped up, plan ahead for roundabouts and lights.
Does it have Coil packs or a distributor? if it has coils check they are firing ok, if it has a distributor check that it is clean.
Also check the exhaust slightest leak will effect MPG. A car running 16mpg less than stated is not good. So check the usual things before you buy a gadget

[Moggy]

Just done some in-depth reading, the scanner is only a glorified trip computer.

You should always have decent tyres for your MOT requirements, properly inflated of course will give you the best MPG, and the correct size rims/rubber for your car. Low profiles are sexy to look at, but lower MPG. Keep it well serviced, use a petrol additive (unless warranties affected) to keep moisture levels down in your tank. Throw out the spare wheel and jack to reduce weight (and your co-pilot). Only carry enough fuel for your journey, but running too low will mean sucking up all the junk in the bottom which will lower MPG as its not burning clean.

There are dozens of driving techniques to increase your MPG, I remember Clarkson driving to Scotland and back on 1 tank in an older edition of TopGear.

Simple fact is that you can't really win, which is why I gave up trying.

[Moggy]

Just had a thought, have you considered a remap ? Most cars have a pretty standard ECU mapping, not always the best setup for local conditions.

[ant]

If you have an android device you could try this
Torque Pro £3 and an ODB II BTooth device from ebay £12
Purdy

I also love my Alfa but it's off the road for now

[andy01424]

did the car belong to a young un,maybe he has had it chipped before you got it,didnt notice on mine till just before i sold it,the remap ecu was hidden under the radio bay,went like sheeeet off a shovel but mpg was horrendous


this was on a celica like yours,pull ashtray out see if you can see a box like ecu about 8x4 inch,theres a connector to ecu under there thats where the super chip was on mine

[farzooks]

Feb 25, 2013 17:34:58 GMT jakethevape said:

Have any of you petrol heads used this ScanGuageII with your cars?
www.amazon.co.uk/ScanGauge-II-Fuel-Computer-XGauge/dp/B000AAMY86/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361808648&sr=8-1

as I am having to drive like a granny to get the best MPGs whilst money is tight I was thinking this along with some new tyres and an engine block heater could improve my celica's range. (Thankfully ALL celica engine blocks are built with the port for the heater for the canadian markets )

Nope. I don't do 'modern'. The only thing I had related to that was a vacuum gauge, back in carburettor days. It did work though; and really illustrated how much I could back off the throttle while maintaining the same forward speed, a habit that's stuck with me for years.
Block heaters are worthwhile, too. If your daily pattern involves really cold starts it can help, and will cost a minimal amount to run. I take it you'd be installing it yourself?
As for tyres; there's Michelin Eco, which claim to enhance mpg, but I'm not too sure how grippy they are. Might be a step backwards.

[kibbster]

I have a built in average MPG computer but with my car being a petrol V6 I don't bother looking at it.
Not much help sorry.
I wouldn't buy that gadget though, drive slower, change gear less often and avoid braking when you can and accelerate more gently.

Or just enjoy your car and put fuel in it when it needs it

[brysoni23]

Feb 25, 2013 23:36:48 GMT ant said:

If you have an android device you could try this
Torque Pro £3 and an ODB II BTooth device from ebay £12
Purdy

I also love my Alfa but it's off the road for now

How do you connect the OBD to the car?
This is such a great idea worth plugging it into a car when you buy second hand.

[ant]

Feb 26, 2013 10:21:22 GMT brysoni23 said:

Feb 25, 2013 23:36:48 GMT ant said:

If you have an android device you could try this
Torque Pro £3 and an ODB II BTooth device from ebay £12
Purdy

I also love my Alfa but it's off the road for now

How do you connect the OBD to the car?
This is such a great idea worth plugging it into a car when you buy second hand.

'connects through the onboard diagnostic port (OBDII / CAN) in cars made in 1996 to current.'
So it depends on the make/model, I have a Golf mk6 and my port is under the dash, close to the accelerator pedal

[izan]

Feb 26, 2013 10:21:22 GMT brysoni23 said:

Feb 25, 2013 23:36:48 GMT ant said:

If you have an android device you could try this
Torque Pro £3 and an ODB II BTooth device from ebay £12
Purdy

I also love my Alfa but it's off the road for now

How do you connect the OBD to the car?
This is such a great idea worth plugging it into a car when you buy second hand.

How do you connect the OBD to the car?

Google knows.


I