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Need for RPM and engine coolant temperature display on a Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by hendji, Oct 22, 2014.

  1. hendji

    hendji New Member

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    As a Prius driver, I have driven my 2012 Prius more than 110,000 miles. I love the car and have a suggestion on improvement - Create new software to allow the driver to monitor engine coolant temperature and RPM from either the dash display or touch screen display.

    I like knowing if my car engine is up to temperature before punching it on the freeway ramp or about to overheat before an idiot light goes on.

    I am posting this to see if other Prius drivers feel the same need.

    Jim
     
  2. situationalawareness

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    I went with the Prius so I could stop worrying about that stuff :)
     
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  3. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    A Scangauge solves that problem without having to do anything to the car. Mine mounts with velcro on top of the steering "shaft". Plus you can reset codes if you leave a gas cap loose or such. And you can read codes, and you can watch esoteric stuff such as battery current.
     
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  4. jfschultz

    jfschultz Active Member

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    This has been addressed in other threads. What you need is an ELM327 ODB II to WiFi interface and a suitable smartphone and app.

    With this you will have ICE, MG1, and MG2 RPMs, coolant temperature, and many other bits of data that can even be exported to a spreadsheet. I haven't tried it but it supposedly will allow you to change several "dealer only" parameters, such as the reverse beep.
     
    #4 jfschultz, Oct 22, 2014
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2014
  5. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    My Scangauge II routinely monitors RPM, DC Voltage, Engine water temp, and Engine air temp. There are over 100 gauges possible, you can display 4 at a time.
    ScanGauge II ODB Scan Tool + Digital Gauges + Trip Computers - PriusChat Shop
    Toyota/Lexus/Scion Specific : Linear Logic : Home of the ScanGauge

    (My Gen2 Prius had issues when the Outside air temp was over 100, Engine air temp climbed alarmingly. I have not been able to reproduce this in my v. My Gen2 charged at 13.8volts while the v charges at 14.4volts)

    In other threads, folks worry about 'hackers' taking over the OBDII bus and altering the operation of their Prius. One of the reasons it is not a concern is that engine management and infotainment are separate systems. I hope that on further thought, you want the engine management bus to NOT have bluetooth, 4G wireless or wifi interfaces. One reason I prefer the wired scangauge is that it is NOT wireless.
     
    #5 JimboPalmer, Oct 22, 2014
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2014
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  6. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I' curious why you think you need this? Modern cars don't have to wory about these old-school tech issues anymore. :)
     
  7. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    The answer is simple:

    Knowledge = Power

    - Wil
     
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  8. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Or just more crap to think about.... :)
     
  9. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    Well, I forgot to add "…plus the experience to be able to differentiate the useful from the useless!" ;)
     
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  10. jadziasman

    jadziasman Prius owner emeritus

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    Cheap Android smartphone, ELM327 OBD2 bluetooth adapter from ebay, and the Torque app from Google Play is all that you will need.
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    A few years back, I was driving my daughter-in-law's Pontiac Sunfire up to Costco for a road hazard tire repair, caught myself muttering: "even this piece of crap has tach and coolant temp".

    Yeah: plus one on ScanGuageII. RPM is kinda nice, primarily to know for sure the engine is on or not. Coolant temp is invaluable.
     
  12. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    In hindsight I agree with the coolant temp gauge. Not for the reason listed originally but for fuel efficiency reasons. Helps to know what stage you are in. :)
     
  13. Kennewick Man

    Kennewick Man Junior Member

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  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    my dodge dakota has a tach. why?
     
  15. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    So you can ask the question?.................
     
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  16. Oskar

    Oskar Member

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    I could never understand why a car with automatic transmission is outfitted with a tac. :confused:
     
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  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    exactly. if the prius had a tach, it would be interesting for a few days to see where it's operating at, then i'd never look at it again. same with a temp gauge.
     
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  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The "tach" on my ScanGaugeII continues to hold my interest, when I've got it on. Interesting to see when the engine's actually off, versus sitting around 900 (idling?) when driving EV at highway speeds. Funny though, both the dash and ScanGuage agree the car's not consuming any gas in the latter case.

    Apart from that RPM does seem to be "idle" interest, haha. And with ScanGuageII "gauges" being limited, RPM got bumped recently when I decided to monitor hybrid battery temps via an XGauge (programmable additional gauges on the ScanGuage).
     
  19. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    (I drive a level highway* at constant speed, the variances in MPG are wind direction and speed, outside temperature, and wet roadways. If your commute is not as smooth, my results will not be your results)

    When my v is going 62 MPH and the RPM is under 1700 I am getting 55 MPG
    Under 1800 is better than 50 MPG
    Over 2200 is under 45 MPG
    For me, MPG while cruising is very related to RPM

    992 is the idle when no spark is added

    Even after 50 miles, RPMs tend to be getting lower and MPGs tend to be going up, both very slowly by then.

    * It gains 100 feet in 156 miles, there are surface bumps but it is really very flat with long straights that allow me time to look at gauges. Feel free to enter Eden MS and Walls MS in your map program, use US 61, US 49, and US 49E
     
  20. kenichols29

    kenichols29 Active Member

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    You might want to check out this thread the guy is using 3 scangauges to moniter everything about his car.