I had a check engine light come on. Been threatening to buy a ScanGauge, so since I had no way to read or delete codes I bought one today.

Popped a P0234...boost too high code. I had just passed a truck on a grade, the transmission kicked down to lockup out of overdrive. If I had control id not let it kick down. So I know when it happened. Good news is that's the only code that had been stored. That's a relief.

Now I'm working on calibrating and playing with various settings.

Do you think the boost reading is accurate? Says 13 at idle.

Water temp fluctuates quite a bit. 188-212* in town stop and go. So maybe indicates that my radiator can't keep up with temperature spikes? Or just a thermostat delay?

You really need some timing to help out.... really any box  or programmer is going to help.

I really do like my new OBDLink LX...

And what is this you mention?

Hate to say it but way better diagnostic tool that ScanGauge II.

http://www.obdlink.com/

 

But ScanGauge II is a way better trip computer.

 

Here is my old post...

http://forum.mopar1973man.com/index.php?/topic/9895-obdlink-lx-and-android-tablet/

Drove around today without trailer. 19.3 mpg. What I've noticed is that I keep gaining mpg until I have to stop. Then the cycle goes downward again. Be interesting to see what happens when i actually get on the freeway for a distance. Mpg seem to be better when you keep the Rpms a bit higher. Lugging nets poor mpg.

Now you understand the feedback I use to gaining MPG's. Now if you set up the Scangauge II to display MPG, current MPG for the day and Current MPG for the tank then you can see the effects in all worlds. Also toss IAT up and watch the effects of IAT vs. MPG.

Hard part is that so far the information its provided is interesting but it won't effect my driving habits. I can't control need to stop at stop signs or lights and the other killer of mileage is hills.

No... but you kinda learn how fast to accelerate, gain speed down hills, loose speed up hills ect.  That alone will net you more.

 

Congrats on 1,000 posts btw!

Hard part is that so far the information its provided is interesting but it won't effect my driving habits. I can't control need to stop at stop signs or lights and the other killer of mileage is hills.

 

Also congrads on 1k posts...

 

But as for stop and go travel I usually look for routes that reduce the amount of stop and go. Even if you can shave off 2-3 stops but add maybe 1 mile you'll still come out ahead. As for hills you'll find that backing off and using 1 gear down typically will gain you slightly more MPG's. Like I know I can climb most all 6-7% grades in 5th no problem but drop to 53 MPH and climb in 4th I normally gain about 1-2 MPG over staying in 5th. I use the feedback from the ScanGauge and the EGT's for gearing choice. So if I can climb the same grade at the same speed but 4th (1:1 ratio) is 150-200*F cooler in EGT's typically the MPG are just slightly better.

 

Kind of like riding a bicycle. Yo can ride a bicycle in top gear on flat ground but still climbing a small hill you feel the amount of power you must put out to continue. Same holds true for the truck if you can slow slightly and grab a gear down the load is lessen and MPG's improve typically.

Found a scale today.

Front axle 4250

Rear axle 4100

Trailer axle 2150

Total 10,500 normal work total weight.

My average speed this tank of fuel was 29. One reason my mileage is low. Far from freeway driving.

My average speed this tank of fuel was 29. One reason my mileage is low. Far from freeway driving.

First full tank and fillup with the ScanGuage. Best hand calculated fuel economy I've seen for a work week. Typical route and hauling conditions.

Biggest increase in MPG is from staying out of overdrive. I've not yet had the opportunity to do any 65 MPH freeway driving yet, but on country roads staying out of OD gives me significantly better mileage.

Question is...is there a downside mechanically to adjusting my driving habits to not using OD unless on downhill grades or speeds over 55? I am seeing 2,250 RPM's at 55 in lockup (4th gear if you will, 1:1 gear ratio). Before I'd lug through in OD to keep engine RPM's lower. Thinking that was better for the drivetrain, but it means at least 5 MPG difference.

Exactly what I do too. I typically run 4th gear (1:1 Ratio) on all speed below 55 MPH. It puts me right at about 2,100 at 55 MPH but like you said about 5 MPG higher. That's another reason I hate the auto's they make shifts at weird times and always requires human intervention to get the best MPG's. I typically have to run OD OFF as well on the 96 Dodge for optimal MPG's.

I love my Scanguage II, but the OBD II port is junk on my truck. It looses connection all the time. I used to fill the truck up to the Scanguage procedures religiously, but it looses connection and the darn thing resets to factory default. It got very annoying, so now I just use it to read codes and monitor IAT, Voltage, MPH, and FWT.

Just replace the plug. That should fix the problem.

Dumb question: where can I find one?

Auto Zone, Amazon, eBay to start.

Got pretty well calibrated. Fuel usage was off by 7% out of the box. Speed off too by about 3%. Now that my fuel usage actual and gauge are matching I am averaging more like 16 mpg in my work route. Which only averages 30 mph. On my legs without stop and go I'm doing more like 19. And that's pulling a 3,000# trailer. Still need to do a freeway run and see how that does without the trailer.

We are going to make a idaho trip here before winter sets in. I'll pull out the gauge, get a second cable and plug it into the Subaru. Should be interesting.