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fuelly app or automatic device or something else?

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by w1n78, May 30, 2016.

  1. w1n78

    w1n78 Junior Member

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    i used fuelly app before but it was still manual to enter data (unless that's changed) - yes i'm lazy. i was considering purchasing the automatic device Automatic: Connect Your Car to Your Life. i just want to keep track of mpg and gas prices. i kinda love just seeing data (i'm a programmer/database guy). anyone use automatic device or use something else?
     
  2. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I don't know. My only question would be would you trust any automatic device to be as accurate as your own calculations at the pump?

    If you have confidence in the accuracy of any device you are deciding to use...go for it.
     
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  3. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    ^ +1
    It probably will report the same numbers on the dash.
     
  4. w1n78

    w1n78 Junior Member

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    i guess why i'm looking for an alternative is the dashboard only keeps track of the last # of trips to the gas station. i wanted to keep a longer span, perhaps the entire time i use the car. it's also automatically tracked. when i was using fuelly, i either forget or i feel bad i had to stay longer than i should at a pump while others waited for me to finish. i just get a "douche" feeling - but that's me. also, what's intriguing is the API to tap into the data. fuelly would be great if i can take a picture of the pump's screen and it can read the total cost and gallons pumped and calculate everything automatically and faster. i'd definitely pay for a "pro" version if it had that feature.
     
  5. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Can't you just get a receipt when you fill up?
    In Oregon, if you request a receipt it shows the amount paid, and the amount of the fill up. So all you would have to do is be aware of the miles driven between fill ups, and you could enter all this information in any data base you have or have created at your leisure.
     
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  6. w1n78

    w1n78 Junior Member

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    i usually pay cash when i fill up. that would require me to go back inside and ask for a receipt. sometimes the line is long. the pump printer is usually broken so i can't request a receipt at the pump or it won't print a receipt at all. right now the automatic device is on sale for $90. there's no monthly fee. i was hoping others have used it or use something similar to get feedback on their experience.

    i see a lot of fuelly app users and i've used it before. it was fine, when i remember to use. but ya it would great if that app made it quicker to enter data or more "automated".
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    ^ What he said.

    I'm not even sure how you'd do that, pay cash. You go into the station, hand over cash, they pre-authorize that amount on your pump? That in itself would make it very difficult to track tank-by-tank mpg.

    My 2 cents, assuming you've got plastic:

    Use your card, and always fill till it shuts off. If the printer at the pump is broken, just write down the displayed gallons pumped on a scrap of paper, and note the odometer reading also. Or start using a different station stays on top of maintenance more.
     
  8. w1n78

    w1n78 Junior Member

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    that's how i used the fuelly app. instead of the scratch paper, i used the app. i just wanted to be more considerate to others waiting and a more streamlined process.

    hmm, so far no favors for this device... interesting :)
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The weirdest 'States experience for me:

    Maui, no problems at gas stations, roll in, use a credit card as usual. But Oahu: it asks you to enter a zip code, and everybody out-of-state, go see the attendant. You have to surrender your card to the attendant, tell him(her) what pump you're on.
     
  10. w1n78

    w1n78 Junior Member

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    i think i'm just gonna stick to the fuelly app. it does what i need and nothing more. the automatic device seems great but does more than what i need. i saw some reviews on youtube and @The Electric Me posted about accuracy, it does have some issues with it. i just have to remember things better. maybe there's reminder i can set based on location (gas station) that tells me to log on to fuelly.
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Doesn't the Fuelly app require odo reading plus amount of gas? I don't understand how it's freeing you up from having to acquire those two stats.

    I mean, I use Fuelly, but just as an afterthought, mainly for the displayable icon, I start by entering the stats in my spreadsheet. But it could just be done with a calculator, or even pen and paper. The spreadsheet, or Fuelly, has the advantage of maintaining running totals.
     
  12. w1n78

    w1n78 Junior Member

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    i usually reset my trip counter on every fill up and use the distance off that, then i take the price of the gas per gallon, and how much gallons i pumped. i think that's what i did. i stopped using it over a year ago because i wanted a more automated process.
     
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah I reset trip meter at fill up too. It's good for feedback, how far you've gone, and (somewhat exaggerated) mpg. Only thing, it's prone to accidental reset, so I use the odometer reading, that's pretty much bulletproof. But again, it's different strokes for different folks, I'm the first to admit I'm obsessive, been tracking mpg tank-by-tank virtually since we bought the car, skipped maybe a 1000 km's at the start. :)
     
  14. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    I haven't used Fuelly - only heard out it when I joined PriusChat - but when I change cars, will go that way.

    Since 1992, I've made up an Excel spreadsheet which I've kept track of fuel use for all my cars. It's quite handy now, I can go back and check on any of the cars I've had since then.

    Initially, I had a small note pad in the car which I'd jot down the odometer, fuel price and $/litre, tear it off and enter. But now, I pay all fuel by credit card and get a receipt which shows quantities, and I write odometer on the back, then enter it on computer. I reset the trip, the l/100km and average speed when I fill.
    BJ4WXSMF3y0JTyW0MN0J5Deb.jpg
     
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  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Looks a lot my mine, just I don't include cost, don't want to think about. We're really low usage too, the $'s are trivial, maybe $30 per month, even up here in Canada.
     
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  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i do mine on paper too, then enter into the spreadsheet. it gives you a chance to compare tanks.
     
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  17. marlinsmobile

    marlinsmobile Active Member

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    I also use fuelly, but I get a receipt at the pump. I quickly reset my trip meter and write the mileage on the receipt for entry later, so I don't tie up the pump.

    I'm interested to see if anyone chimes in about the Automatic device. I've always been jealous of my coworkers with Nissan Leafs, as they have a Nissan app that automatically logs their trips (basic info such as time, distance, energy usage). I haven't purchased the Automatic myself because I prefer to log more details (such as instantaneous voltage and resistance on all of the battery blocks) than it provides. Right now, I'm using an OBD2 wireless dongle + the EngineLink app, but it is NOT automated - I have to email the log to myself at the end of every trip.
     
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  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    One PriusChatter recalled here:

    He filled up, then pulled over, just away from the pumps, to do some calculation. He sat with his head down for while, and someone came over to check on him, see if he was ok. :ROFLMAO:
     
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  19. christinec7

    christinec7 New Member

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    I've had the Automatic dongle (both generations) for a few years now. I had it on my Hyundai Elantra before I lost it in an accident and now in my Prius c Four.

    I did have some connection issues with the device with my Elantra in the past, but it has been much better with my Prius. The connection is through Bluetooth and it's fairly quick most of the time, though sometimes it does have issues connecting but I think that is because Apple can't get Bluetooth 100% most of the time.

    I like that it's pretty much automated and keeps track of how many miles I drive on each trip, and it also beeps when I do a hard brake, hard acceleration, and reminds me when I go over 70 mph. Sometimes it gets annoying, but it does help me be more mindful about my driving habits. You also get a score each day depending on how you do on your drives, so the gamification is fun, IMO.

    If you drive for business, the app now lets you tag trips as "Business" so it's easier to keep track of. They also do monthly reports that they send to your email so it's fun to look back at the previous month and see how you did on your drives.

    I don't think the Automatic is for everyone. I tend to think of it more as a Fitbit for your car, and I've actually enjoyed having the data available for my trips, no matter how long or short they may be. And I love the fact that I don't have to really do anything, since it automatically connects when I start my car.

    Just my thoughts on the Automatic device. Hope it helps.

    EDIT: Forgot to add that it also has a feature where you can add some emergency contacts and if the dongle detects that you're in a crash, it will automatically let those people know.
     
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  20. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    AT&T(I think) has been running radio ads for their Hum, which sounds a lot like the Automatic.