1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Any advantage to putting a Scan Gauge in a Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by wcsp, Jun 7, 2008.

  1. wcsp

    wcsp New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2008
    4
    0
    0
    Location:
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Is it worth purchasing a Scan Gauge II for a Prius??
    There is a rudimentary mileage display built into the car!!
    Are the other features worth the $160.00 cost?
     
  2. rfruth

    rfruth Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2008
    394
    8
    24
    Location:
    Houston, Tx
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    its only worth it if you think so - just having a temp gauge does it for me (but I don't have one, yet)
     
  3. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    If you ever throw a code on any of the vehicles you own, the value of the device will immediately become obvious.

    .
     
  4. donee

    donee New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2005
    2,956
    197
    0
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    You can also get a RPM indication, and IGN (Ignition Timing) indication on a Scan Gauge which is helpful for super highway mode (45 to 55 mph continuous) . With those indicators you can stay in SHM more easily, and this will boost the mileage about 10 mpg at those speeds. (60 to 70 mpg).
     
  5. Rest

    Rest Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2005
    1,210
    51
    2
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    I don't use the SG2 mileage display, I use all the other gauges. Remember a Prius doesn't have water temp, voltage or rpm gauges, a SG2 allows you to see this information. So yes a SG2 is worth it.

    Not to mention the code reset ability. I purchased two cables, one is wired behind the dash in my Prius. I just unplug the SG2 head unit out of my Prius and use the other cable for my other car. The SG2 has already paid for itself in my other car, I had codes (turned out to be nothing) and was able to reset them. A stealership would have overcharged me for sure to check the codes and do the reset.
     
  6. alexmac56

    alexmac56 New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2008
    40
    1
    0
    Location:
    Long Island, ny
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Where did u mount the scan guage??
     
  7. JimboK

    JimboK One owner, low mileage

    Joined:
    May 1, 2006
    2,817
    187
    49
    Location:
    Chesterfield, VA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Agreed with the others. In addition to what they list, SG also shows current trip MPG, the day's MPG, the previous day's MPG, and tank MPG. And because it's plug & play with little configuration and no permanent installation required, it is easily moved between cars.
     
  8. JimboK

    JimboK One owner, low mileage

    Joined:
    May 1, 2006
    2,817
    187
    49
    Location:
    Chesterfield, VA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Pretty much wherever you like, assuming it's mounted at all. I had mine attached to the dash with velcro just to the left of the MFD. Others have mounted it more elegantly and in other places: on the far left end of the dash, by the rear view mirror, in the plastic tray below the radio, and atop the steering column. Search around and you'll find threads describing various options.

    (I speak in past tense regarding mine only because I swapped it out for CAN-View.)
     
  9. wcsp

    wcsp New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2008
    4
    0
    0
    Location:
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I'd like to thank all of you that responded.
    Based on your feedback I have purchased a ScanGauge II!!
     
  10. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2008
    3,033
    708
    75
    Location:
    Ballamer, Merlin
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    +1 on getting a better understanding of what's going on under the hood with
    the ScanGaauge.

    I think it was Doc Willie who recently said,
    "Better information = Better understanding = Better MPG.

    I attribute at least 5 MPG of my typical 50+ daily round trip MPG to having a
    ScanGauge. So roughly 10% of MPG... 10% of $4.00 US per gallon of gas is
    $0.40. Now that $0.40 can be looked at as either savings, or SG payoff. I
    could say that my SG was paid off at around 40 gal. of gas used.

    Just being able to check for "thrown codes" is worth something. But should
    there actually be thrown codes, being able to read them, and then in turn
    find out what they mean, and get really competent comment and advise
    here on PriusChat , is priceless. The SC would be paid off instantly.

    And all the while you'd be racking up fuel savings... Ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching!

    In short, there are many disadvantages to not putting a ScanGauge in a Prius.
     
  11. Rest

    Rest Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2005
    1,210
    51
    2
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    I mounted my SG2 in the tray below the radio. Take out the felt bottom, drill a hole in the back bottom of the tray big enough for the cable to fit. The SG2 head unit fits snug in the tray without further mounting and stays put just fine. By putting it in this place, you can close the tray cover to keep your SG2 hidden when not in use. If you ever totally remove your SG2 then you can put the felt bottom back in the tray, completely covering the hole and you wouldn't even know the hole was there.