Fuel Saving Gauges

[ewizard]

Just skimming thru quick here so I might have missed something but you can get an OBD2 bluetooth for use with android phones for less than $15 (fleabay) and I've been finding used Motorola Droids for around $50 and I know some other andorid phones can be had for even less used. Anything Iphone or Apple related seems to always be more expensive. Lots of android OBD2 apps. I don't have my Droid activated but just use it on Wifi and as a mini-computer/palmtop computer.

[Madnate]

Hi Mike,

On the Ultragauge, does it give you an actual vacuum/pressure reading that is accurate? I saw on one site that the negative vacuum number needs to be multiplied by around 2 in order to have the real number. Do you know anything about that?

About 2inHG (inches of mercury) equals 1psi (pound per square inch). Maybe the negative vacuum unit of measure is being displayed as psi on the ultragauge?

[Aaron]

bluetooth and obdii

Just skimming thru quick here so I might have missed something but you can get an OBD2 bluetooth for use with android phones for less than $15 (fleabay) and I've been finding used Motorola Droids for around $50 and I know some other andorid phones can be had for even less used. Anything Iphone or Apple related seems to always be more expensive. Lots of android OBD2 apps. I don't have my Droid activated but just use it on Wifi and as a mini-computer/palmtop computer.

Hi, that may be a great low price option - getting a used Droid.

Iphones is not compatible with anything bluetooth other than a headset pretty much. The only way around this is to jailbreak the iphone and install a Cydia app to use bluetooth without limits. I did jailbreak my phone last night just to mess around and it was pretty easy. I did not install a bluetooth app through and haven't ordered that cheap $15-20 obdii adapter for bluetooth/droid.

[rmay635703]

Using the scanguage coupled with the 100+ fuel economy tips at ecomodder my Cobalt which is rated at 30/37mpg can top 50mpg on a tank to tank basis in the summer. Just depends on how slow and how much I am willing to coast.

[eternalightwithin]

Any option for an OBDI car? Unfortunatelly, my car (looks awesome) a 1995 540I BMW, is a year or two short of the switch over to OBDII.

David P.

[Aaron]

obdI

I've seen options that there are options for OBDI but I haven't looked into them.

If it is just for gas mileage, you could always use a simple vaccum/pressure gauge connected to your intake manifold and adjust your driving habits accordingly.

That is all these obdii gauges show as far as the MPG reading.

[Madnate]

Any option for an OBDI car? Unfortunatelly, my car (looks awesome) a 1995 540I BMW, is a year or two short of the switch over to OBDII.

David P.

I spent a few years tuning ECUs for OBD1 Nissans, they have a "consult" port from around 1990 up that allows interaction with the ECU.

BMW might have its own proprietary diagnostics port. If it exists you can probably find 3rd party hardware/software for it. You could also use piggy back engine management hardware if you want to tune your car for better gas mileage and performance without too much of a headache.

Being able to see the fuel injector duty cycle is also helpful if you are trying to improve your gas mileage.

[ashtweth]

Aaron dont know if these are any good
Innovate Motorsports OT-2 - Transform your iPhone or iPod into a wireless gauge, data logger, dyno, efficiency meter and OBDII scan tool.
Innovate Motorsports Wideband Air/Fuel Ratio Tuning

Ash

[Aaron]

iphone and obdii

Hi Ash,

The OT-2 is one of the recommended ones for sure. It is also compatible with other software for the iphone for obdii purposes - other than the software they are recommending.

I may get one of the cheap $20 bluetooth wireless adapters and just jailbreak my phone again and install bluetooth enabling software. If that doesn't work, then I'll get one of the iphone specific adapters and will probably purchase an iphone specific one but would be nice to have the capability for $20.

[QuarterPole]

Glad you mention the vacuum gauge. I think that it's really the best option. Even if it doesn't read correct or has no numbers on it, it gives feedback one can use to drive more economically. Instant MPG feedback is similarly useful, but comparing it to your actual miles/gallon based on your odo and fuel reciepts will likely show limited accuracy over time.