Finally Have Engine Gauges With MPG

[JimD]

My Greyhawk's Ford chassis didn't have the nice information center that many new vehicles have these days. I would have really liked to have displays for miles per gallon, remaining miles until empty, etc. I was thinking about installing a dedicated mpg gauge but after researching, I went in a different direction.

With all the information in the world available at that nice little OBD2 port I decided to connect to that for the information I wanted. After a lot of research I ended up purchasing, from Amazon of course, an OBDLink LX OBD2 Bluetooth Scanner for Android and Windows so I could display everything on my android phone. There were many other units available but this one came with its own Android app that exactly fit my bill.

I haven't road tested it yet but will be doing so next week. So far I have just sat in my driveway with the engine running and playing with it. There are so many options you can select and screens you can customize that will keep me busy "playing".

My initial display will show:
Fuel remaining (unfortunately will not account for generator usage)
Total mpg
Instant mpg
Fuel rate (at idle I could see the fuel rate with & without air conditioning-neat)
Vehicle speed (so my wife can see how fast I am driving and criticize me)
Coolant temp (may remove this)
Trip distance
Trip duration

I purchased a cell phone cup holder that holds the phone perfectly where I want it. I'm sure I will be making changes to the display during my first camping trip once I see what info I actually need. Now I have my information center that Ford did not provide.

[JFlightRisk]

Nice features! Technology is pretty amazing these days. I'm still wondering just exactly when I'm going to need the inclinometer feature on the dash of our F150. I don't think I'm doing any serious off-roading in a 2x4 pickup!

[RetiredOne]

Originally Posted by JimD

Total mpg
Instant mpg
Fuel rate (at idle I could see the fuel rate with & without air conditioning-neat)

Ha.... you bought a Ford V-10.... do you really want to know those numbers???

Just watch the analog fuel gauge, it moves quite quickly, and will give you plenty of "entertainment"....

[JimD]

Fortunately I am easily entertained.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by JFlightRisk

I'm still wondering just exactly when I'm going to need the inclinometer feature on the dash of our F150. I don't think I'm doing any serious off-roading in a 2x4 pickup!

I've got that on our Traverse and don't understand why either.

[JimD]

They were just inclined to install it.

[Jagiven]

I use Torque Pro, it works nice. Only limitations, are the available sensors on your vehicle.

[Rustynuts]

I just set up my Seneca using the Bluefire Bluetooth J1939 data port module. I set mine up on a Mini IPad mounted above the drivers seat.

[JFlightRisk]

Originally Posted by JimD

They were just inclined to install it.

That's one angle!!

[JFlightRisk]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

I've got that on our Traverse and don't understand why either.

If every campsite had a perfectly smooth surface, we could use that to find out how much to level the camper! How 'bout that?

[norty1]

What happens when the phone rings?

We have a 2017 Terrain and my wife complains all the time about all the bells and whistles going off and all the options. Way more than we wanted. The GM GPS is so complicated that we have given up on using it.

[Jagiven]

Originally Posted by norty1

What happens when the phone rings?

We have a 2017 Terrain and my wife complains all the time about all the bells and whistles going off and all the options. Way more than we wanted. The GM GPS is so complicated that we have given up on using it.

My truck, only bell and whistle it has is the electric windows, and driver's power seat. If I had my way, I would have rubber floor covering instead of carpet.

With my phone (Android) , if the phone rings, I can answer it, but I can show what ever app I want, so Google maps, or torque pro. I get a little green ribbon across the top for the phone, that I can swipe and get full telephone function if needed.

My DW's new Chevy Cruze has every bell and whistle known to man. As for navigation, we use Google maps for the Navigation through the phone, way better than the integrated GM navigation.

[CAG]

What happens when the phone rings?

That is where I put the previous smart phone to work after upgrading. I kept the Iphone that was replaced. I can still add apps to it if necessary and run the old apps that were on it previously. It is out of service as far as Verizon is concerned.

[Captain Morgan]

@JimD - Nice thread. I did this same thing with a 10" ASUS tablet in my Ford Expedition a few years back. I still have all the ODBII and Torque Pro etc and today I was thinking of rigging up something in my 29MV.

I'd still like to have something more granular to go on in order to gauge MPG city and HWY etc. I'd like to observe that data a while before buying a tuner and doing any tweaking.

Please keep us informed on your experience with configurations and findings.




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[Cavie]

How was I ever able to drive my 1962 VW bug I will never know. LOL

[bababooey]

I didn't think Hypermiling an RV was a thing. I just plan on 7 MPG and forget it.

[Fourkids&abeagle]

Another great option is Scan Guage II, it displays four lines of text and is hard wired to the OBDII port, but it fits nicely on top of the steering column of my Ford Expedition. Shows me just what I need - coolant temp, trans temp, instantaneous mpg and average mpg. Can display all kinds of other data too, super configurable.

[Groveite]

Originally Posted by Cavie

How was I ever able to drive my 1962 VW bug I will never know. LOL

And probably without a gas gauge....Remember the lever on the floor up under the dash!!!

[JCM]

Why not just buy a Scanguage. It just plugs in the port and shows 4 parameters at once.

[hamerjk]

That is what I have for My Greyhawk. Love it so far. Would recommend it in a heartbeat. It is all that I need to have. Scangauge II THE BEST.