MPG Gauge?
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, NV
MPG Gauge?
Ok, we've all seen them from time to time. All BMW's have them, but the only American cars I've seen them on are old ones, long before fuel injection. I'm not talking about a trip computer that tells you everything from how many miles to empty to when you should stop to use the bathroom, I just mean a gauge that swings back and forth and gives you a relative idea of the mileage you're getting.
Does anyone know of an aftermarket one? Or how to make one? Any ideas at all? With gas prices the way they are ($2.25 or so here in Vegas) it sure would be nice to have!
Does anyone know of an aftermarket one? Or how to make one? Any ideas at all? With gas prices the way they are ($2.25 or so here in Vegas) it sure would be nice to have!
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 616
Likes: 5
From: Missouri - Lake of the Oz
mpg / vacuum gauge
I believe what you may be referring to would be a gauge that displays manifold vacuum, which is proportional to fuel mileage. Manifold vacuum drops as the throttle is opened; remains high with it closed.
It is a great tool to help teach you to drive for maximum MPG. I had them in a couple of vehicles years ago. In fact, GM & Ford both offered [in the 1970s] what I think they called a mileage monitor, or something similar. The ones I remember were actually dash mounted lights with green indicating best mileage, amber fair mileage and red meaning "watch the sheik smile!".
Operator manuals for some manual transmission vehicles also recommended using them to indicate shift points.
dn.
It is a great tool to help teach you to drive for maximum MPG. I had them in a couple of vehicles years ago. In fact, GM & Ford both offered [in the 1970s] what I think they called a mileage monitor, or something similar. The ones I remember were actually dash mounted lights with green indicating best mileage, amber fair mileage and red meaning "watch the sheik smile!".
Operator manuals for some manual transmission vehicles also recommended using them to indicate shift points.
dn.
More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 566
Likes: 5
From: SC
MPG gauges are indeed just vacuum gauges with the face remarked in approximation of fule usage. Just get a vacuum gauge and keep half an eye on it as you drive and you'll get the idea pretty quickly. More vacuum=more mpg, basically. Once you've gotten in the habit of driving so to make maximum vacuum as much as possible you won't need the gauge anymore. I wouldn't even bother to mount it permanently.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 537
Likes: 2
From: Alabama
I used to run these in older VW's, but haven't actually had one lately. It's a good tool to use when you drive the way you normally do and see the range the gauge stays in. It will tell you if the way your driving is the most economical or not. If you can keep the needle in the green your definitely maximize your mpg.
