MPG Accuracy
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More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 535
Likes: 13
From: California High Desert
MPG Accuracy
I posting this here instead of the V10 forum as I figured this kind of thing is independent of the engine type in our trucks. I recently changed the plugs in my V10 and in trying to figure out a rough idle I bought a Bluetooth OBDII adapter and installed the Torque app on my Android phone. Before I did a bunch of work on my truck I was getting about 10 mpg, and that was calculated by hand as I keep a fuel log in my truck. On my first drive to town while running torque I saw that although my instantaneous MPG was horrific while accelerating (usually less than 4 mpg, and as little as 1.5 at WOT), once I got up to speed and kicked on the cruise control I was surprised to see 13-14 mpg. On my trip to town and back (around 20 miles) torque told me I had averaged 12 mpg.
So now for my question...how accurate is this? I know I could wait until I put a few tanks through it, but at the rate I drive my truck that could take months. I'm hoping it is accurate and my new plugs, cleaning the MAF sensor, and airing my tires up from 50 psi to 70 psi made that much of a difference.
So now for my question...how accurate is this? I know I could wait until I put a few tanks through it, but at the rate I drive my truck that could take months. I'm hoping it is accurate and my new plugs, cleaning the MAF sensor, and airing my tires up from 50 psi to 70 psi made that much of a difference.
Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,337
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From: Breckenridge, TX
My Edge tells me I get 20mpg in a truck that wouldn't get 15mpg if I let it idle and pushed it over a cliff. Factory lie-o-meter is about as bad, and a ScanGuage is so far off it's laughable. I put absolutely zero faith in digital MPG calcs; pen and paper is the only way to know for sure.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
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I have had my truck down to 1-2 miles left on the display when I fill up a few different times. I always do the math based on the gallons I put in my tank and it normally adds up to make sense. One time I had been driving on 1 and it clicked down to 0 as I pulled around the corner into the station. I was in a hurry and left the key in the accessory position when I filled up. After I got driving and realized it was still on 0 I thought back and realized what I had done. After pulling over and removing the key completely and inserting it again it reset.
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More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 535
Likes: 13
From: California High Desert
Thanks for your input everyone, I guess I'll stick to calculating by hand. I knew the factory lie-o-meters were inaccurate (I've never had an accurate one on any car I've owned, so it didn't bother me much that my 350 didn't have one). I was just hoping that devices like the ScanGauge and this Torque App/BT OBDII adapter would be more accurate, but since they all get their information from the same place I guess that's not really possible.
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fossilX
Excursion - King of SUVs
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May 19, 2010 05:24 PM
