How can we see accurate MPG?

[Swordsmith]

The built in MPG gauge didn't seem to be accurate when I bought the Sonic, I've deliberately left it un-reset so I have a running lifetime figure, even though I know it is probably wrong, it shows a trend.

My UG seemed pretty accurate at first, but with mods it has become worse than useless. With the ZZP intake's restriction tube removed, it reports MPG easily 10mpg over what I'm really using, sometimes as bad as 20mpg over.

Running varying levels of alcohol, it got even worse, I've seen it report 60 mpg when I actually got 23mpg.

Discussing this with Vince of Trifecta, he said

The real problem is the UG should take the AF_CALC data, not the MAF data

So, is there a way to force UG to read useful data? Or is there a gauge out there I could switch to that would give this info correctly? I was really having a good time experimenting with hypermiling techniques or watching my mpg plummet as I drove Indy style

 

[jeremiah.wells]

I was hoping the tach still reported accurate mpgs as long as you were tuned for whatever size diameter intake your running. This is dissapoint!

 

[Swordsmith]

I can't say the tach does not report relatively accurately. It didn't seem accurate during the first tank or two I ran after buying the vehicle, it was consistently high by a couple MPG compared to pen and paper calculations using gas receipts. It may well be only that inaccurate regardless of mods, I've never reset it, so I'd have to dig through all my receipts and do a total lifetime MPG calculation to compare to what the dash is reading now. Which believe it or not, is a plan... but I never seem to get around to doing it.

If it is accurate, though, it's still not nearly as useful as some of the gauges available in UG; UG let you look at lifetime mpg, instant mpg, trip mpg, and short trip mpg (the latter being mpg since you last started the car). The Dash gauge is solely a "trip mpg" one, meaning it shows you mpg since you last reset it.

 

[jeremiah.wells]

I do use the cheap elm327 and torque pro apk. I thought it could do everything UG can and more. I can agree with you that accurate MPG readings are somewhat important to those of us who commute In this vehicle

 

[sx sonic]

someone should be able to chime in on how exactly to do it.

but there is a way to set how the UG clalcs MPG. some where in settings is an option to set the UG up for i think 3 different measuring types. try checking around in settings, it actual says "force ****** enable"

 

[Eric Smit]

you're talking about fuel level sensor; options are smart, enabled, disabled.


-Eric Smit

 

[sx sonic]

its possible eric, but i thought i saw something else in their that had to do with how the UG did its air calculations and you could do sorta a ECP setup with the gauge.

 

[Eric Smit]

You're thinking setting it to read MAP.


-Eric Smit