I've experimented the last two times I have filled up my Ex...mind you that I have only filled her up twice since September 17 and I likely won't add any petrol until January as long as the weather holds...

But in my sample of two I tried to correlate the reported PCM fuel level in % that is reported on my Aeroforce gauge to how many gallons I actually pumped to fill the Ex.

First time my gauge read that I had 40% fuel level. I calculated that to mean that 44 gallons * 0.60 (or % used fuel) meant I should pump ~26.4 gallons to fill the tank. I ended up pumping 26.7 gallons so I was pretty darn close!

This last time I ran her down pretty low since gas prices have been falling steady...although I jumped a little too quick...but heck you can never guess this market!

This time I ran her to 16% on the gauge (BTW...my low fuel light has come on in the past at 15% showing or roughly 6 gallons remaining). So with 16% that means that at 44 gallons * 0.84 (or % used fuel) I should have pumped 37 gallons. I ended up pumping 37.8 gallons...so again pretty darn close!

Looks like my gauge thru the PCM reports a very linear output of fuel level...which is really handy to know. Now take in mind that as the fuel sloshes around in the tank the readout does fluctutuate...so you need to wait for straight stretches of road and not real bumpy roads to get a good feel for the fuel level...but I had always wondered how accurate my OBD2 gauge was for fuel level...and now I know it is pretty darn accurate!...but each time it looks like the gauge reported very slightly high on how much was actually left in the tank (roughly 1/2 to 3/4 gallons)

For those of you with a ScanGaugeII or Aeroforce gauge or some other gauge...if you haven't already correlated the readout of (% fuel level) to gallons pumped...my experience is that is pretty accurate in my sample of 2 fill ups.

Therefore I now know that for 44 gallons...each 1% does infact equate to just under 1/2 a gallon (0.44 to be exact)...so at 10% on the gauge even with the low fuel light on...I would still have 4.4 gallons in the tank...I normally don't have the stones to go that low...but it is good to know for the future as I tend to haul our camper to some pretty remote locales...

Not sure how many can benefit from this experiment...but just thought I'd share what I have been toying around with as an FYI...

BTW...if you are wondering what gauge I have...here's pictures...these pictures don't show the display with %fuel but you can easily toggle to that parameter...

Joe.

 

joe, nice write up. i have a question on the gauge. do you know if all the perameters are going to be displayed on my 01 X as yours is being an 05?

 

racerx7775,

Thanks...

Actually not all the parameters work on mine either.

There is a long list of parameters you 'could' select in the setup menu as I believe most of these gauges are designed for a more 'generic' manufacture type setup...meaning it would be crazy to have a specific Excursion gauge that removed all the parameters that were not supported thru the OBD2 port...instead...supply a more generic Ford version and let the owner select or deselect the parameters that didn't work.

There are parameters on this gauge for boost and also numerous versions of the same parameter. I obvioulsy have no boost but a guy with a 7.3L or 6.0L or even a guy with a Lightening may use that parameter...so not all are supported for each Ford. Which to me is no big deal. I simply give it a try and if it works great. To be honest many of the ones that don't work are ones I'm not really interested in. However to others it may be a big deal to them.

While % fuel level works on my Ex. Fuel pressure does not...so if someone wanted to see if they had a bad fuel pump...or a pump going bad...this gauge wouldn't help. But if you threw a code for fuel pump (if there is one) this gauge would read that code.

In looking at the manual...there are potentially 64 parameters that the gauges our Ex's 'could' display.

1. IAT1- Intake Air temperature
2. IAT2- Intake air temperature mainly supported by 1996-2000 Ford
3. CHARGE TEMP – Post intercooler air temp, 2003/2004 Cobra/1999-2004 Lightning
3. COOLANT TEMP 1- Engine coolant temp.
4. COOLANT TEMP 2 – Engine coolant temp. (1996-2000)
5. CYL HED Temp – Cylinder head temperature deg. F.
5. TRANS TEMP- Transmission Temperature (gas powered automatics)
6. RPM1- engine Revolutions Per Minute
7. RPM2- engine Revolutions Per Minute 1996-2000
8. MAF SENSOR LB/M- Mass Air Flow (lbs/min)
9. MAF COUNTS 1- 1999-2004 4.6L raw Mass Air Flow sensor output (counts)
10. MAF COUNTS 2- 1998 4.6L raw MAF counts
11. MAF COUNTS 3- 1996-1997 4.6L raw MAF counts
12. MAF COUNTS 4- 2001-2004 Lightning MAF counts
13. MAF COUNTS 5- 1999-2000 Lightning MAF counts
14. MAF COUNTS 6- SVT Contour MAF counts
15. MAF COUNTS 7- 2001-2003 SVT Focus
16. MAF COUNTS 8 – 2003 F-150
17. MAF Volts
17. THRTL PCT1- Throttle Position percentage (0-100%)
19. THRTL PCT2- Throttle Position percentage (0-100%) (1996-2000 Ford)
20. THROTTLE VOLTS- Throttle Position sensor output (0-5 volts)
21. MPH 1 – mile per hour
22. MPH 2 – mile per hour (1996-2000 Ford)
21. KNOCK 1- Knock Retard (degrees) 4.6L 4v non-SC’ed
22. KNOCK 2- Knock Retard (degrees) 4.6L 4v non-SC’ed
23. IGNITION ADVANCE - ignition timing advance
24. PULSE WIDTH 1- 1999-2004 4.6L injector #1 pulse width in counts
25. PULSE WIDTH 2- 1998 4.6L injector #1 pulse width in counts
26. PULSE WIDTH 3- 1996-1997 4.6L injector #1 pulse width in counts
27. PULSE WIDTH 4- 2001-2004 Lightning injector #1 pulse width in counts
28. PULSE WIDTH 5- 1999-2000 Lightning injector #1 pulse width in counts
29. PULSE WIDTH 6- SVT Contour injector #1 pulse width in counts
30. PULSE WIDTH 7- SVT Focus injector #1 pulse width in counts
31. INJ. DUTY 1-7: percent of injector duty cycle, 0-100%. Same list as Pulse Width.
32. BOOST – Manifold air pressure displayed as in-Hg/PSI as a boost gauge would.
Corrected by the barometer. Requires factory MAP sensor.
33. MAP KPA - Manifold Air Pressure (kPa)
32. SHORT TRIM B1-short term fuel trim bank#1
33. SHORT TRIM B1% -short term fuel trim bank#1 (1996-2000 Ford)
34. SHORT TRIM B2-short term fuel trim bank#2
35. SHORT TRIM B2% -short term fuel trim bank#2 (1996-2000 Ford)
36. LONG TRIM B1-long term fuel trim bank#1
37. LONG TRIM B1% -long term fuel trim bank#1 (1996-2000 Ford)
38. LONG TRIM B2-long term fuel trim bank#2
39. LONG TRIM B2% -long term fuel trim bank#2 (1996-2000 Ford)
40. OXYGEN SENSOR B1 1-O2 bank 1 sensor in millivolts
41. OXYGEN SENSOR B2 1-O2 bank 2 sensor in millivolts
42. OXYGEN SENSOR B1 2-O2 bank 1 sensor in millivolts (1996-2000 Ford)
43. OXYGEN SENSOR B2 2-O2 bank 2 sensor in millivolts (1996-2000 Ford)
44. BATTERY VOLTAGE- Alternator/battery output voltage
45. ENGINE LOAD-calculated Engine Load (0-100%)
46. FUEL PRESSURE - returnless systems only
47. FUEL PUMP DUTY CYCLE- returnless systems only
48. FUEL LEVEL % - Fuel Tank Percent Full.
48. ENGINE TRQ 1 - (Auto trans) Calculated torque to trans 2003 F-150
49. ENGINE TRQ 2 – (Auto trans) Calculated torque to trans (general Ford)
49. TRANS SLIP 1 - (Auto trans) 2003 F-150
50. TRANS SLIP 2 – (Auto trans) 2001-2004 Lightning
50. Miles Per Gallon – instantaneous fuel economy
51. HP 1 – 2000-2004 Mustang/Cobra
52. HP 2 – F150 including Lightning
53. HP 3 – General Ford
54. HP 4 - Marauder
55. RPM PIP 1 – 1997 Cobra – displays RPM at a faster rate at WOT than standard RPM
parameters.
56. RPM PIP 2 – 1998 Cobra – displays RPM at a faster rate at WOT than standard RPM
parameters.
57. Analog 1 – analog input #1
58. Analog 2 – analog input #2
60. IGN ADV 1 – Ignition advance
62. IGN ADV 2 – Ignition advance (1996-2000)
64. BAROM – PCM calculated barometer.

However thru trial and error I have eliminated many of these. Also I have found that the MPG parameter has to be DISPLAYED in order for him to calculate AVERAGE MPG which is not a selectable display parameter but one within the menu system. I have not left MPG displayed long enough to verify whether his calculations are accurate or not...I tend to want to monitor tempertures...which this gauge does very nicely. In fact thru this gauge this summer is how I was able to correlate WHEN the cooling fan kicks into higher speed. At 208°F on engine temp is when the fan kicks in and it will return to lower speed (i.e. non audible in the cabin) at 198°F...and it will cycle thru that loud/not loud (hehe) as the temps go up and down...if is very repeatable. And believe me...when the fan kicks in...cooling is amazing!

I really like having a lot more information about my truck as I tow fairly heavy thru some pretty remote and challenging areas...knowing the condition of vital systems on the truck is great information over the simplistic analog idiot gauges from the factory. Most of the factory gauges don't even respond to the temps I'm seeing on the digital readout...but this gauge does come with a price...$$$...for me it was worth it for the clean integrated look...but the ScanGaugeII is a very nice alternative for less $$$ as well...all depends on what is important to you...for me...I wanted the single round A-Pillar pod mount.

If someone wanted to know if a specific parameter worked...I could easily try it for them.

Looks like he has added some specific 6.4L diesel parameters to his newer gauges

RPM
MPH
Intake Air Temperature
Intake Air Temperature 2 (charge air temp)
Mass Air Flow Sensor Counts
Mass Air Flow Sensor (lb/min.)
Engine Coolant Temperature
Long Term Fuel Trim (bank 1 and 2 if supported)
Short Term Fuel Trim (bank 1 and 2 if supported)
O2 Sensor Voltage (bank 1 and 2 if supported)
Manifold Pressure in PSI (Boost pressure for factory turbo/supercharger applications)
Ignition Advance
Cylinder head temperature
Engine Run Time
Battery Voltage
Throttle Position Percentage
Throttle Position Voltage
Engine Load
Calculated Horsepower*
Instantaneous and average fuel economy*
2 user configurable analog inputs**
Injector Pulse Width
Injector Duty Cycle
Fuel Pump Duty Cycle (returnless systems)
Fuel Pressure (returnless systems)
Transmission Temperature (Automatics)
Transmission slip
Calculated Engine Torque
Injector Control Pressure (diesel)
Injector Timing (diesel)
Engine oil temp (diesel)
EGT1,2,3 (2008+ diesel)
DPF delta pressure (2008+ diesel)
Regen status (2008+ diesel)

Hope this helps someone. I was just glad to see that the % fuel was indeed very accurate as the analog needle is far from knowing precisely how much fuel was left in the tank and I have been in the middle of no where Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, South Dakota, etc pondering just that question as to whether I should stop or not!

Joe.

 

But how many of those 4.4 gallons is useable? The pickup isn't touching the bottom of the tank, so it can't pick up every last drop. How much will be left when it sucks air? 0.1 gallons? 1.0 gallons? 2.0 gallons? Every tank is a bit different. You would have to run it out to know for sure.

 

Thanks a million joe. I think I'm gonna get one but now I need to find where to put it because I already have 4 on the pillar. Maybe on the column.

 

Mark,

You are 100% correct...and my stones are not large enough to actually try and get enough data to say for sure on here!

I could simply carry around a 5 gallon tank...but...

Really my point is in knowing how much would be more in the 20 gallon range knowing that I could go ~120 miles before at least hitting the low fuel light for when I am towing. Simply looking at the fuel gauge...it always seems to 'appear' lower than I really have left and I tend to be conservative and stop...maybe when I didn't really need to...but with 3 ladies in the truck...there is always an excuse for a potty break...right!


There are column mounts here Mounting Options for Ford Trucks

Or even an instrument cluster pod here Instrument Cluster Bezels: Ford Super Duty - egauges.com

Many options actually.

But don't discount the ScanGaugeII either with the blend mount over the rear view mirror...since you already have the A-Pillar full...that may be a good option for you...just a thought...

Good luck!
joe.

 

FWIW and assuming the diesel fuel pump at the Mobil station was accurate I had 12 miles to empty left on the readout and I put in 44.1 gallons of diesel. Think the tank holds more than 44 gallons.

 

you are braver than I Mr. BMenzel!

 

......er.. not braver. We just could not find fuel until we got to the campground and they directed us to the Mobil station.
After setting up the trailer and filling up we did laundry that night.