Overhead Console MPG computer
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New User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Piedmont Region, N.C.
Overhead Console MPG computer
What's up with the MPG computer in the overhead console on my '03 FX4 SD 6.0 ?
When I first got the truck, my first trip (to NC coast) showed a reading of 19 mpg, highway. I was so proud. It has steadily dropped. Now, whenever I tow, the mpg reading drops, as expected, but never seems to go back up, for weeks later and no towing. It read 16.8 for about 2 months, recently towed my boat 2 weeks ago, got a reading of 16.1. Drive it everyday, have tried feather-footing, still reads 16.1. Anybody had this happen with theirs?
When I first got the truck, my first trip (to NC coast) showed a reading of 19 mpg, highway. I was so proud. It has steadily dropped. Now, whenever I tow, the mpg reading drops, as expected, but never seems to go back up, for weeks later and no towing. It read 16.8 for about 2 months, recently towed my boat 2 weeks ago, got a reading of 16.1. Drive it everyday, have tried feather-footing, still reads 16.1. Anybody had this happen with theirs?
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 394
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From: s.f. bay area
Sounds like you need to reset it (hold both buttons down at the same time and then release them). This starts it over. It reads an accumulated value from the last time it was reset. If you drive a lot towing, the average will be lower. If you then continue to drive solo without resetting it, the mileage displayed will take a long time to average higher. Make sense?
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,314
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But you DO know many of us call it the "Lie-O-meter"....
Very few of them are accurate... hand calculation is the only way to know your true mileage... and then you can calculate how far off your overhead is :-)
Very few of them are accurate... hand calculation is the only way to know your true mileage... and then you can calculate how far off your overhead is :-)
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 394
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From: s.f. bay area
They may have absolute value problems, but they are good for relative measurements. You can easily check the effect of speed against mileage, which tends to be handy when I am pulling my trailer. If I want maximum mileage under towing conditions, I can check a few speeds vs gears and determine real quick what speed and gear to use for a long tow. Your mileage may very (pun intended!) but my overhead seems to be within 1 MPG of hand calculated. My old Expedition was easily within 1/4 MPG from hand. If you do lots of short trips, it seems to throw it off more then a single longer trip from what I have seen.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 626
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From: Orange Park, FL
Really depends on how you use it. I agree with n6nfg, that are accurate for the most part. I reset mine with each fuel up and check by hand and it is always within .5, this is very acceptable. I know what it should read after resetting each time, if i get halfway through a tank and it isn't in the ballpark of 16-17 I will know there could be a problem.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 306
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From: NW Illinois
I just filled up yesterday for the first time and hand calculated I got 16.7 mpg's. The overhead console showed 16.5 mpg's. I was expecting it to be way off but it was good. I reset it and have been doing a lot less city driving and now it's showing 19.5mpg's Just curious to see where it ends up.
