odometer vs overhead console reading
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Senior User
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odometer vs overhead console reading
Should the overhead display which tells me "miles to empty" match the trip odometer? IE: as I'm driving and the "miles to empty" is counting down, should each mile that it counts down be equal to one mile on the trip odometer? The overhead display is counting off miles faster than the trip odometer is counting them up- and my "mpg" is staying the same through the whole trip indicating that the consumption is the same throughout the reading times- Is this normal?
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
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From: Central Florida
I would expect them to have the same data, unless you have reprogrammed the PCM for a different tire size. However, the resistance on the fuel gauge maybe changing from when it was new. Age and fuels cause the fuel level sender to glaze and not read as correctly.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
Likes: 4
From: Central Florida
The odo is only calculating total mileage off of the VSS, using the revolutions per mile programmed into the PCM. The overhead console is taking the information from the cluster, both miles and percentage of fuel or resistance. The resistance is probably the weak spot in the calculations, so I would guess the difference is in the fuel level sender and the odo is more accurate then the trip computer.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,955
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From: Eastern PA
My overhead computer only reads miles to empty and average MPG. How far back does the average MPG count? Also my Expedition calculated actual MPG at the moment, up a hill it would go down, down a hill it would go up. Why doesn't hte Excursion have this feature, or does it and mine isn't operating correctly? Also my compass more often displays "Cal" which i guess means calibrating, than it does actual direction. Is this common, or fixable?
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
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From: Central Florida
It calculates the average between the last time it was reset and current. I reset mine every time I get gas. It sounds like you don't have constant power going to the console or the electronics in it.
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
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From: Washington State
Seems to me the Distance to Empty would vary based on fuel consumption. (calculated MPG) The miles left should not be linked to the actual trip meter's distance displayed.
JaySVX, you need to calibrate your compass. The directions are in the manual. Find a big parking lot, you gotta drive in circles.
JaySVX, you need to calibrate your compass. The directions are in the manual. Find a big parking lot, you gotta drive in circles.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,684
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From: Phoenix, AZ
also, i've noticed the overhead console is grossly underestimating miles to empty when you get to about 100 miles.
Keep an eye on it, and gauge them - after 100 miles (even cruise control on the highway) your miles to empty will drop just under twice as fast as the miles will rack up on the odometer. I made a calculation based on my observations of 1 mile to empty being about 0.55-0.6 actual miles of travel on the odometer - for every (little more than) half mile on the odometer, the overhead console would say there's 1 less mile left... When it's full or pretty much anytime over 100 miles left in the tank (1/4 tank give or take), they're pretty dead on. Something is artificially made to give the driver a sense of emergency to pull over and fill up.
Keep an eye on it, and gauge them - after 100 miles (even cruise control on the highway) your miles to empty will drop just under twice as fast as the miles will rack up on the odometer. I made a calculation based on my observations of 1 mile to empty being about 0.55-0.6 actual miles of travel on the odometer - for every (little more than) half mile on the odometer, the overhead console would say there's 1 less mile left... When it's full or pretty much anytime over 100 miles left in the tank (1/4 tank give or take), they're pretty dead on. Something is artificially made to give the driver a sense of emergency to pull over and fill up.
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Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
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From: Central Florida
That's a lot of effort. Wouldn't it just be easier to get fuel every 250 miles or so on the interstate (so you have a sufficient margin incase the next station is a ways away), or as I do when around town, just get gassed up at 150-175miles?
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