UltraGauge....neat stuff!

Put my new Ultragauge in last night. Just HAD to drive around to see how it works. I'm amazed at the fuel milage and how it varies so much with speed and GRADES [hills]. Now to get on a level interstate [probably I-16 soon] and see how cruising at 55/60/65/70/75/78 mph speeds compare as far as fuel used. THAT is something I've wanted to know for a long time. In other words, is it WORTH driving 78 in a 70mph [feel fairly safe] fuel efficient? Or is 65 or so using a lot less fuel? Glad to finally 'find out'!!!

QUESTION: Has using the UG or Scangauge helped you to modify your driving habits and save fuel costs? BTW: radio news this morning says regular jumped from $3.55 yesterday to $3.99/gal at several stations this morning......going UP!

 

Yes it is very interesting. You will see a dramatic drop when you start to go over 75mph. From 55 to 80 is . But I don't want to do 55 all the way.

I have not adjusted my driving habits based on what I see - probably get worse mpg now because I play with the UG too much to see "what happens if I..."

What is really interesting is to see how a little bit of city driving influence your average. I get 20 MPG on the highway, but with 2 miles city before I get to 18 miles of highway, my average for the trip drops down to 16 mpg .

 

Alan. Why the Ultra gauge and not the Scan gauge ?

Not trying to start a debate. I'm just curious. I've been interested in one for a while but can't decide.

 

From what I could see when I researched, they do pretty much the same thing. The SG is more expensive, but the screen is smaller, so less information per screen shot. However, the SG is lower profile so it can be mounted in locations where the UG can't fit, such as above the steering column.
I decided to go UG, and do not regret it. The only complaint is that the buttons are on the back of the unit. WTF!. I can't see any good reason for that - it limits the mounting options.

 

Don't forget to calibrate tires and fuel. Don't use your odometer. Dom

 

Where is the best/cheapest place to purchase the UG?

 

Choice of UG over SG: I read many posts here after doing a 'search' on the two. No one really mentioned anything that made me want to pay the extra $$ for the SG. I'm not sure my choice was the right one, but so far it has been [24 hours later..LOL]..
I have two trucks and a Honda Accord and could put at least 2 UGs in them for the price of one SG. Either way I'm glad to HAVE an active monitor....except now I am painfully AWARE of HILLS!!!! LOL!

 

It sucks when the meter is playing nice, reading mid 20s and you start up a hill and BAM it's down to 18, 15, 11, 9.... lol!

It sure educated me on speed vs mileage. Just changing the cruise from 55mph to 58 mph is consistently a 1 mpg hit on my truck. Now I virtually never go over 65 mph because up there it'll read 18 going DOWNHILL. Yuk!

Now city driving I love. 35 mph, throw it into 6th, thats an easy 30-35 mpg. I can always bank on raising the average a few ticks once I get off the highway and into town.

So where did you end up mounting it?

 

I mounted it by the left pillar/post on windsheild as per instructions recommendation. Might Velcro it in somewhere but for now this works. Using a velcro strip tie to gather loose extra cable. Last night I started to program in 'page 4'. RPM [just a backup to compare to factory tach needle gauge], and timing advance. Otherwise left default settings. Interesting to 'see what is going on' by monitoring the sensors! Love this thing! I'm voluntarily driving for high milage now! Hopefully it will become an involuntary thing soon.
What gauge readings have you selected from the chart and like to monitor??

 

Did I miss something? I recall a super long thread on trying to get the SG to display tranny temp that last I looked (a year ago or so?) was negative. Did the SG folks finally figure out how to access that data and provide a firmware update?

 

What does SG or UG tell you that the 20.00 ELM327 bluetooth OBDII and the 5.00 Torque app for Android won't?

 

I have an android phone and thought about the Torque ap but I use the phone (handsfree) and the nav on the droid so I don't think I'd like the device tied up with all at once. Sometimes music too.

 

I am not sure what the apps do, but the ultragauge has the ability to read about 74 different signals, depending on what your truck provides (i.e. it can read transmission temperature only if your truck is equiped with a transmission temp sensor etc.) On my truck it provides something like 40 of the 74 available.

 

I just checked the elm327 site and they are now $16. Seems to read about the same stuff as the ultragauge and scangauge.
http://www.elm327-bluetooth.com/

 

I just don't feel the need to run a SG or UG all the time tho. I have a Casio Gzone Commando and use it for all kinds of shit too. Hands free while driving, music, GPS map my bike rides, video calls, browser, turn on as wi-fi hotspot, look at constellations/tides/moonrise/sunrise, layered compass, pedometer, etc etc etc. I guess if you wanna see that info and have a dedicated device left in the vehicle to attract thieves and such then OK. I prefer multitasking device that stays on my person.

 

SG and UG are cool but I don't want more stuff laying around in the truck. I don't talk on phone thru stereo & if I'm watching stats on the torque app then I will ignore calls. Also like the HU display feature on the windshield. My bodyglove cover on the phone is rubbery where it'll stay put on the dash and also I can wedge it between the visor and headliner without the need for any other mounts. But as always, it's a personal preference thing.