Scangauge II users guide

[Gadgetdad]

Now that a bunch of us are going to get a new Scanguage II soon (Danny says mine's on it's way!), what do you folks who are using the Scanguage like to monitor and why? Several readings can happen at once, so what is your favorite feature to use? O masters of the guage, shine forth your beams of understanding to us lowly wantabees!

[Rangerdavid]

I've done a search, but also a link to someone's install instructions or pictures would be nice as well. I've heard the install is relatively simple, but I've never done one.... thanks...

[Skwyre7]

Depending on what my lunch plans are, I might be able to take some pictures of how I have mine set up. Both what I monitor and how I have it installed.

But right now, I can't promise anything for this afternoon.

[JimboK]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rangerdavid @ Mar 14 2007, 08:34 AM) [snapback]405271[/snapback]</div>

I've done a search, but also a link to someone's install instructions or pictures would be nice as well. I've heard the install is relatively simple, but I've never done one.... thanks... [/b]

Sorry, I don't have pics. I've been meaning to take some, might get around to it this weekend. There really is no installation required per se, except to the extent you want the head secured or the cable hidden. I have mine secured to the dash with adhesive-backed Velcro to the left of the MFD. The OBDII jack that the cable plugs into is straight down from there, just behind the lower edge of the dash. I have the extra cable coiled around the windshield wiper control stalk to keep it out of the way.

I wanted the SG where I didn't have to shift my line of sight far from the road to see it. It was not a conscious decision to enable rapid visual shifting between the SG, speedometer, and MFD, but it turns out this location makes that ideal, while again, minimizing how far I take my eyes off the road. And that ability helps me monitor some of the rapid-fire changes occurring in the ICE and hybrid system, notably RPM on the SG and energy consumption on the MFD.

Which leads to...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Gadgetdad @ Mar 14 2007, 02:37 AM) [snapback]405225[/snapback]</div>

Now that a bunch of us are going to get a new Scanguage II soon (Danny says mine's on it's way!), what do you folks who are using the Scanguage like to monitor and why? Several readings can happen at once, so what is your favorite feature to use? O masters of the guage, shine forth your beams of understanding to us lowly wantabees! [/b]

The SG allows you to pick 4 engine parameters to display. Here's what I'm currently monitoring: RPM, coolant temp, throttle position (TPS), and engine loading (LOD). Of these, RPM is the most helpful. I use it to keep engine speed in efficient ranges. Much of what I've learned about these ranges, by the way, has been from Hobbit's work. Here are direct links to two of his papers:

http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/sweet/
http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/heat...results-03.html

These are a bit technical, so if you suffer from "delayed intelligence" like me, you might have to read them a few times to absorb it all.

I've been monitoring coolant temperature for two reasons. First, I have my front grill blocked to accelerate and maintain engine warmups. During some of this winter's more moderate temperatures I've been concerned about overheating. I can pull out one piece of the foam I use to block the grill if ICE temps start creeping too high. Second, I've used it to gauge when to run the heat. It's been a relevation to see how quickly the ICE cools in cold weather while running the heat and either sitting still or doing ICE-off glides. (You can lose 10 degrees or more sitting at a stoplight.) Of course the more it cools, the more it wants to run to stay warm when it doesn't have to for propulsion. So I try to avoid the heat unless coolant temps are at 170F or above (or my fiancee insists!). When spring arrives for good, the grill block will come off and I may switch the SG to something else.

TPS has a relationship to RPM, and I've been watching it to determine exactly what it is at various speeds. RPM changes constantly, whereas TPS is a little steadier. My hope is that I can find a range for TPS that will be easier to monitor than the always-fluctuating RPM.

As for LOD, Hobbit describes a low-RPM, low-load -- and low efficiency -- "loafing" state for the ICE that I'd like to get a better handle on, and avoid when possible. I've been watching that to determine its relationship to RPM, TPS, and vehicle speed. Admittedly I haven't monitored it closely. I'm not sure how much more it can help me beyond RPM and TPS, and it's one more quickly changing value to try to see.

Occasionally I'll spot check tank MPG to compare to the car's display; they're usually within a MPG or two. And I always check my trip and daily MPG values at the end of a trip and the end of the day.

Have fun with it. I have!

[Skwyre7]

Here we go.

For how I "installed" my Scan Gauge, look here.

Currently, I observe:
- engine load (LOD) or throttle position (TPS), depending on the day
- RPM
- coolant temperature (ºFWT)
- MPG

I like to have MPG up there because when I'm in stealth, it shows 9999 MPG, which I think is wonderful! Like JimboK, I also check my trip and daily info. It's nice to say, "I got 62.9 MPG on my way in to work this morning."

[Gadgetdad]

Thanks, JimboK and Skwyre7! Great comments and links. Can't wait to try it out.

Lee

[MPG > HP]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Skwyre7 @ Mar 14 2007, 11:07 AM) [snapback]405500[/snapback]</div>

... "I got 62.9 MPG on my way in to work this morning."


[/b]

Is your 62.9 estimated by SG or MFD or actual miles divided by gallons? I've logged every tank since taking delivery of my Sept06 Package 8 and after 12,800+ miles, the MFD estimates are consistently 1.5 MPG greater than actual (46.7 vs 45.2). Btw, my daily commutes are about 100 miles where I run between 70-80 MPH, when possible. However, last week when I got a flat and had to drive on the spare, going 50-65 MPH, I got 57.4 actual MPG.

[Allannde]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Gadgetdad @ Mar 13 2007, 10:37 PM) [snapback]405225[/snapback]</div>

Now that a bunch of us are going to get a new Scanguage II soon (Danny says mine's on it's way!), what do you folks who are using the Scanguage like to monitor and why? Several readings can happen at once, so what is your favorite feature to use? O masters of the guage, shine forth your beams of understanding to us lowly wantabees!
[/b]

I had the Coolant Temp in the upper left, The ICE RPMs in the upper right, the speed in the lower left and the 12v battery amps in the lower right.

I found that the speed was more accurate than the car's speedometer. I still have stock tires.

This is the way I mounted it. Now I have a CAN-VIEW V4

[Skwyre7]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MPG > HP @ Mar 15 2007, 01:52 AM) [snapback]405911[/snapback]</div>

Is your 62.9 estimated by SG or MFD or actual miles divided by gallons? I've logged every tank since taking delivery of my Sept06 Package 8 and after 12,800+ miles, the MFD estimates are consistently 1.5 MPG greater than actual (46.7 vs 45.2). Btw, my daily commutes are about 100 miles where I run between 70-80 MPH, when possible. However, last week when I got a flat and had to drive on the spare, going 50-65 MPH, I got 57.4 actual MPG.
[/b]

My daily trips are by SG. I do my tanks by MFD and calculated. My tank MPG have averaged out to about 1% higher on the MFD than calculated. I consider that to be within the margin of error for the car (darn bladder).

[Rangerdavid]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Allannde @ Mar 15 2007, 02:33 AM) [snapback]405924[/snapback]</div>

I had the Coolant Temp in the upper left, The ICE RPMs in the upper right, the speed in the lower left and the 12v battery amps in the lower right.

I found that the speed was more accurate than the car's speedometer. I still have stock tires.

This is the way I mounted it. Now I have a CAN-VIEW V4
[/b]

What is the "button" beside the gauge? Is that part of it?