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Before I buy a Scan Gauge, I need to cost justify it. It sounds like if you share your estimated MPG improvement with me I'll probably have the info I need.
Thanks for your help.

Rich

Hi ILAveo:

___It really depends? I let a friend of mine use a spare SG-II in his Yaris and he went from (2) 39 mpg tanks in a row to 42 on the next without doing anything drastically different. I placed the review unit in the Ranger last fall and moved from (2) all-time bests of 41 to 45 and then 47 + the next two tanks. The Accord, from low 50’s to upper 50’s in the summer. “I wouldn’t leave home without it” ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

It's almost impossible to learn and use hypermiling techniques without an Average MPG display and, preferably, an Instantaneous MPG display visible at the same time. Mainly because, lacking the display(s), you have to wait until your fill the tank to see how you did, which is too long for most people.

After having both displays in the Insight, I got a Scangauge for the Subaru. I was getting 24mpg tanks in the Subaru without it. Now my best is 33.5 for a 130 mile trip with a rack on the roof and without increasing tire pressures. I'm not tracking tanks on the Subaru now plus I'm using it mostly for errands, so I'm NOT getting 33.5mpg tanks. I'd guess I'd be in the 30-32mpg range if I were driving it all the time.

The ScanGauge can display all sorts of interesting data, but once you've satisfied your curiosity I'd suggest setting it to show Instantaneous MPG so you can practice the different techniques described in this forum and see what effect they have.

Once your "toolbox" is ready, I'd suggest switching it to one of the Average MPG screens and concentrate on using your new methods to work on building the average.

Your mileage will vary.

After 1,800 miles, from 28MPG before to 35MPG after, I'm projecting payback for me by 7,000 miles. I drive 25,000 miles a year, premium fuel.

-mr. bill

You can see my results in the mileage logs. My best tank prior to the SG was 39.x. The first tank with the SG was a solid 43.x -- note that my lmpg is only 32.x over the course of 4.5 years with highs usually around 35-36. The next tank was also a 43.x, and the last one was a whopping 46.9!

Note also that my car was originally rated for 33mpg on the highway. :D

You can see some awesome gains with the feedback a SG can give you.

Good luck!

With the Accord I went from a personal best tank of 36mpg to a string of 40+mpg tanks including one over 42mpg. No doubt getting feedback from the ScanGauge was instrumental (ha) in that achievement.

I went from 65 before to 75 after. For me (since my gas consumption is already low) it will take 25k to get the money back. But for me it's not really about the money... If the jump was from 22 to 33 the you'd likely get the money back in 8k miles. My priorities are:

1) High score, Personal Best. Sounds silly, but I've spent days working on video games to get through a level, this has the same type of drive as that did for me...

2) Reduction of foreign oil. Also hate adding to the profiteering of oil execs on the back of the populous.

3) Promoting smaller cars and slower driving. I think that if the average car size and average speed where to both decrease by 20%, we'd probably see a reduction in roadway fatalities by 50%. I don't like people dying just to get from point A to B.

4) Save money (or at least not wasting it) while archiving the first 3 points.

11011011

It sounds like results vary, but on the limited data here it runs 10-25%. I'm spending about $30/week on fuel just on the Ranger. At 10% improvement and current prices payback should be about one year if I hog the unit, quicker if I share it with my wife's Aveo. Sounds like a no brainer.

Hi ILAveo:

___Something that might help in your situation … There are always SG-I’s for sale around the net either through E-Bay or automobile enthusiast forums. I picked up an SG-I for $60.00 shipped. Although I would never take it out on a media clinic (the much nicer looking SG-II’s are for that :)), it works and looks just fine in the Ranger whose bed is half filled with Landscape debris and whose cab contains enough dust and dirt to choke a horse ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Not much left to add.

If you have a daily commute with options, the SGII is a must. It's likely that at some point in your route, your brain has chosen a way that "feels best", but really is not.

Me? I had a 2 mile section that I was convinced was the way to go, but SGII said another way was 5-7mpg better consistently. Multiple that by 500 annual trips, and you've got yourself some serious savings.

I bought the SG in the midst of a gradual change in driving habits and, with the change, a progressive improvement in FE. I can't attribute any particular portion of my FE improvement to it, but it's been money well spent. Between the features others have mentioned; the ability to monitor my coolant temp (important on warm days with the grill blocked); the convenience of monitoring various per-trip, per-day, previous-day, and tank results; the ability to read trouble codes ... the package is worth it.

Well, I got back from my first two trips with it. It's not calibrated aside from telling it that my engine displaces only two litres, but on one leg I drove as I normally do and got 21.3mpg. Coming back home, I really monitored the MPG readout and made 30.5mpg. That's a 25% improvement.

Combine that with the ability to monitor so much stuff and pull and clear codes, and this is really a worthwhile option.

...on one leg I drove as I normally do and got 21.3mpg. Coming back home, I really monitored the MPG readout and made 30.5mpg. That's a 25% improvement.

That's a 43% improvement. Downhill?

-mr. bill

That's a 43% improvement. Downhill?

-mr. bill


Ah, good catch. I was able to better gauge my throttle input on our rolling hills, and found a speed (54mph) that seems to be a bit of a sweet spot for my car (gets 38-42mpg in a solid state cruise). I also found that because my car lacks DFCO, it's more economical for me to cruise in neutral up to stoplights.

Although it helps, too, that I didn't run a/c on the way home. That accounts for a good bit of it.

Definitely worth it - before hypermiling and ScanGauge, blue 96 Ranger typical was 19-21, current tank is at 31.6. Will pay for itself in about 2000 miles I think. Red 98 typical was 16-18, now I can manage low to mid 20s pretty easy, even my youngest son is getting 22 most of the time. Payback on this one will be in about 5000 I think. I went and bought the second Scangauge after about 3 weeks.

I've increased my mileage by roughly 25%, thanks to a route change and SGII.

Still keeping up with the gains. Have 212 miles on my tank and haven't made the 1/4 tank mark quite yet; usually I'm at the 1/4 mark after only 190 miles or so. Keep in mind, too, that there's two races and a 110mph blast on this tank as well. SGII's really helping me out.

Really an amazing gizmo. On my first half tank using the SGII with my 2004 AT Camry LE, the SGII reported 36 mpg: At the pump using my odometer, I got 31 mpg (but again, the first half tank was non-hypermiling [hypomiling?] as I am new at this).

On my current tank, SGII is reporting (after slight calibration adjustment using my GPS etc.) 37 mpg. Since I normally get ~27 mpg, this would represent a 37% improvement if it holds up.

So the math is: ~30 gal/month (pre-SGII)
Current pace is ~22 gal/month (post-SGII)

Potential savings~8 gal/month, or at today's gas prices, ~$24. $159/24=6.6 months break even (SGII pays for itself).

I confess that the most satisfying aspect is the real-time quantitative feedback. It makes driving plain fun.

Gary

Hi Gary:

___Welcome to the club ;)

___I cannot wait to see where you can take the Camry LE as I do not know of any other Camry hypermilers other then a few TCH’s! By the looks of things, you might be giving them a run for their money in short order as well ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Thanks for convincing me to get a scan gauge. My wife and I just got back from a road trip and I am convinced it helped us improve our MPG by about 15%. The validation of the techniques helped reduce my spouse's sighing and eyerolling by about 25%.

Rich

Hi ILAveo:

___Way to go and your ScanGauge II will pay for itself quickly.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Me too, Wayne. Running 39 mpg on the current tank. It did strike me as curious with so many Camry's out there that this model is so poorly represented here.

I've already told my wife that my next car has two requirements:
1) Must have exceptional "stock" (read: EPA) mpg
2) Must be able to FAS!

(You know you are a hypermiler when...)

Gary

Hmm, just filled up today, I'm a little disappointed. 26.41mpg (300.1mi/11.359 gal)...I was hoping for 30. Then again, as mentioned, I did have two races and a 110mph blast in there, along with quite a bit of a/c use for the benefit of passengers...

My guess-- I don't have one (yet) is that it is like biofeedback for cars. You know how if you had the info that you can change heart rate, blood pressure, heat of your hands, brain wave, IF you have the info about them available.

Right now it is a guess. I would guess that IF I do such and such it might improve gas mileage, but what do I really know. If I had the info I might know.

My guess is also that the gauges on hybrids have also done some of that. People work to get the gauges to look a certain way and it serves as a reinforcer. My guess, therefore, is that some people are more reinforced by this than others but that the new EPA nos. might end up being too low.

And gosh that is sure a techy sort of explanation.


--des

My guess-- I don't have one (yet) is that it is like biofeedback for cars. You know how if you had the info that you can change heart rate, blood pressure, heat of your hands, brain wave, IF you have the info about them available.

You pretty much nailed it. At HF'07, Ron DeLong ("Mr. Scangauge") described it as a bathroom scale - it doesn't tell you what to do so much as tell you if what you're doing is working or not.

A bathroom scale is a much more common and easy to understand analogy (but probably less accurate).

--des
You pretty much nailed it. At HF'07, Ron DeLong ("Mr. Scangauge") described it as a bathroom scale - it doesn't tell you what to do so much as tell you if what you're doing is working or not.

Hi Replicator:

___Excellent work on that Camry! JCP123, we have to work on that 100 + mph stuff. A quick blast up to those speeds can certainly ruin a tank for many of us :( At least the Scangauge is telling you what you did is not so good for your tank’s FE average ;) Desdemona, it will teach you how to become a better driver without question. It is tough to lose weight overnight let alone the sacrifice over many weeks and months but it is relatively easy to improve your FE overnight with one attached to your automobile ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I just tried out the Scangauge today. We left the Clarion in Madison this morning and drove to Mall of America in Minneapolis. I estimated between the 4 people in Pri, luggage for 3 females, 2 laptops, etc that we had a net load around 1000 lbs.

On the trip up from Southern Illinois, we averaged 47.6 for the tank. I did a driving clinic with Diamond Larry Sunday and installed the Scangauge. He gave me a few tips about the Prius' system that I didn't know.
We just landed at the hotel in Minn, MN and the scangauge and the fcd both showed 55.9 for the trip. I found that the ability to watch the rpm's and the TP seemed to help. The fwt wil be useful as well.
I wished that I had bought it long ago. "Dr. Scangauge did say that SOON they will be adding some additional gauges available to it and it will be a FREE upgrade. It was great being able to talk to him in person. It was evident that he is still enthused about making a great instrument even better.

It was an added benefit for attending Hybridfest. You could actually talk face to face with the the developers of the innovative products.

I'm already in the black on the ScanGauge II.
Recent rolling average is up to 37.5 MPG. From 28 prior.

Without "dynamic" FAS. (Only "static" FAS.)
And with air "only" at AutoX pressures.

-mr. bill

Yeah, I'm planning on buying one and hoping I can figure out where the heck to plug the thing in.

--des

Hi Replicator:
Desdemona, it will teach you how to become a better driver without question. It is tough to lose weight overnight let alone the sacrifice over many weeks and months but it is relatively easy to improve your FE overnight with one attached to your automobile ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

The SG's are OBDII port plug ins - check just under the dash valence nearly straight down above your left leg . Not *real* sure on Toyotas location - but for most cars/trucks it will be around there .

I've now gone back and done the math. I was already doing all-out hypermiling before the Scangauge. FAS and everything.

41.1 before, 7 tanks.
48.1 since, 7 tanks.
17% improvement.

Hi Andrew:

___That is very interesting. The best I could do driving the Ranger from day 1 was (2) 41.9 mpg tanks on the way to Florida and back a few years ago. The second tank after SG-II, 47.1.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I purchased a scangauge from the PC website several weeks ago and put on my 2000 tundra 4.7LV8. I have owneed the truck since it had 1.4 miles on it and the first 95000 miles I got 16.5 mpg when driving unloaded and 12-14 when towing. At about 95000 miles I put a camper shell on it. The type that steps up and is higher at the back.i.e the least aerodynamic model. Very shortly I noticed I took a 0.5 mpg hit on day to day driving. My towing mpg went up .5 mpg though. Over the 140000 miles or so that I drove the truck without scangauge the best tank I got was 18.5 mpg. After getting the HCH2 I started hypermiling techniques with the tundra and started getting 16-16.5 mpg while towing 17 when driving empty. I set a goal to get over 20 mpg in the truck so I ordered the scangauge and installed it After the first couple of tanks and getting the calibration about right I started cranking out tanks of 19.0,19.1,19.0,19.0 mpg. Almost 19 even on every tank. I was getting worried that maybe 20 mpg is unattainable in my area. It is hilly. But the current tank I'm on appears to be getting close to 21 mpg if the scangauge is measuring my fuel consumption correctly. I'll find out tommorow when I fill up. Overall I'm really happy with it and think the 10- 15 percent or so increase in FE in my tundra is good but I'm still learning how to utilize all the scangauge functions effectively.

JD

Congrats on getting the ScanGauge and applying it to that big beast. Look at your percentage gains for encouragement and recognition that you are doing the right things. 20-21 from a vehicle that normally would get 16 is grade A in my book. One of our vehicles - The Guzzler - is a full size E150 conversion van, too old for a ScanGauge unfortunately, and I have gotten as high as 20.1 with it on a highway trip fully loaded with college student and all her crap err stuff.
So keep up the good work. You might get interested in doing some aero mods, I am looking into as well, with some inspiration from basjoos Civic and Brucepick's Volvo and there is also a couple of pickup trucks over on gassavers that are getting good results too.

ok guys. is the scangauge something that a driver would use in addition to the display in their car, or mainly something for cars without the readout that my honda has. would it help increase my FE at all, or can i get the same information from my car?

just curious.

I got my ScanGauge after the fourth tank shown below. Any questions?
http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/cha407.png

My justification for getting the SG was that it would pay for itself in a year if it saved me 2mpg. Now it looks like it will take half that time.

ok guys. is the scangauge something that a driver would use in addition to the display in their car, or mainly something for cars without the readout that my honda has. would it help increase my FE at all, or can i get the same information from my car?

just curious.

Laurie, from my understanding it is still useful for someone with a built in display -- possibly even more useful depending on what gauges you already have available. Can the HCHI display current trip and instantaneous mpg at the same time? The SG can't, but if the car has one you can show the other on the SG. Also, I'm pretty sure the car can't show you TPS or LOD (Engine Load). That doesn't take into account the ability to read and clear codes, either.

I'd definitely say it would be useful to you. There are plenty of Prius drivers here using the SG in tandem with their built in displays.

Hey, it might even convince you to try some FASing! ;)

thanks, sean. i have done some FAS and don't like it that much. i don't remember how much of a bump i got from it, but i guess i just quit doing it.

right now my HCH shows me the current FE, along with a gauge showing instant MPG (the one that runs up to 120 and down to 0). it has 2 trip meters, but nothing else.

i may look into one when i'm not so broke.....not enough OT in the summer, which is good and bad at the same time.

I hear you on the broke thing! We should try to meet up sometime -- you could try out my SG1 if you like.

alrighty.... Just put in an order for a new SG for my insight. Here's hoping its worth it :D

I don't know if this was mentioned before, but the Scangauge didn't help my mileage (since the Insight already has an awesome FCD) but it saved me a lot in helping diagnose a broken EBH that was subsequently replaced at no cost.

I did just read that the mileage parts of the scan gauge will not work with the MT insight because of the lean burn mode...

Thats alright because of what you mentioned with the awesome FCD.


I'm mainly purchased it for the intake air temp gauge, coolant temp gauge, and average speed gauge (so I can accurately figure numbers in a spreadsheet I'm working on)


I'm wondering which gauge I will use for the 4th slot... Suggestions?

I just filled up with my first tank with the scan gauge. I got 44 MPG. the previous tanks were more in the 38 MPG range. It's teaching me a lot about how to drive my car.

If I order one of them off Amazon.com ....Will it have the "new" programing
that Ron talks about? or do I need to order it straight from Mesa,Az?

I'm wondering which gauge I will use for the 4th slot... Suggestions?

I also use Coolant Temp, Intake Air, then rotate between LOD (engine load), TPS (Throttle Position-especially for highway cruising or P&G), and IGN (Ignition-just to get a relative idea of how it varies under different load circumstances) I'm sure You'll have fun playing with it and finding out what you like. Usually once the car is fully warmed up, I'll switch FWT (Coolant Temp) for something else fun. Lately I've been trying to teach myself how to tell speed in Km/H by setting the Insight's speedometer to Km/H and putting up the MPH gauge on the SG2.