If I get a programmer will It be able to read my mpg?

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  #1  
Old 08-06-2011 | 12:28 PM
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From: Grapevine, TX
If I get a programmer will It be able to read my mpg?

I have a lifted 06 f150 with the basic interior so I dont have a mpg readout. I was planning on getting an edge evo cs or cts to help compensate for my lift and bigger tires and I was wondering if it would be able to calculate my mpg? I feel like i heard somewhere that if your truck didnt have a mpg counter to begin with then it wont have the right sensor or something for the programmer to read...

also, I am kinda torn between xcal2 and evo cs/cts. I wish I could find an xcal2 but I cant find anyone selling one, also I want know my mpg's and I like the look of the pod. I heard that only PHP can do custom tunes for edge? I am definitely gunna want a custom tune so is PHP a reliable place to get it from? and are they fast?

anyways, thanks for the help guys. I tried to find out as much as I could before I asked any questions but im just making myself even more confused lol.
 

Last edited by hardrock3742; 08-06-2011 at 12:38 PM.
  #2  
Old 08-06-2011 | 12:55 PM
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Even if the Edge/Gryphon CS/CTS can 'display' your average (long term) and instantaneuous MPG, neither will be accurate enough to make them worth the purchase. My 09 is off (usually high; has been as much as 2.88). I have noticed the 2011s seem to be much more accurate.

If you really want to know your true MPG, calculate after each fill and keep a log. See my sig for mine on fuelly.com.

Yes, only PHP can custom tune the Edge platform.

Contact PHP on their site for current delivery times.
 
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Old 08-06-2011 | 12:57 PM
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so would I be better off trying to find a cts xcal2?
 
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Old 08-06-2011 | 01:07 PM
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I believe you mean SCT XCAL2. Personally I'd get an SCT XCAL3 from Mike Butler at 5startuning.com.

Depends on what you want. The Livewire, CS, and CTS can display a lot more than just MPG. I use my CTS (with custom tunes from PHP) to display voltage, TFT, IAT, ECT, gear, and speed.
 
  #5  
Old 08-06-2011 | 01:09 PM
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yeah sorry thats what I meant. And what makes the xcal3 better than the xcal2 besides the fact that its newer?
 
  #6  
Old 08-06-2011 | 01:24 PM
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From: In the fast lane from LA to Tokyo...

You could get a monochrome gryphon along with custom tunes since your truck a 2006....that displays the average miles per gallon..usually a little high......as shotgunz has stated the best way to calculate mileage is by hand....
 
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Old 08-06-2011 | 07:20 PM
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From: The Shenandoah Valley
I use a tuner but unless I'm changing tunes or updating, it stays in a old camera bag.

Otherwise I use a ScanGage II which will do all sorts of things including giving out an instant MPG and a average MPG from last start. It's reading speed, time doesn't change, and it get's fuel flow rate from ECM. If you are going 60 mph and fuel flow is 3 gallons per hour, you're getting 20 mpg at that moment. It maintains a steady average which takes into account speed and flow over the time period from last restart.

It's small, I just mounted mine with velcro in each vehicle. Backlite is adjustable as well as contrast. I love it.

Besides the basics like RPM, MPH, volts, etc it'll also let you set up 24 different other X-gages and yopu scroll between them. I have some Xgages that work with my older Merc and even my '95 T-bird and wife's '03 Forester as well as my '07 FX4.

MPG and avg MPG, speed, tach, and some others like "miles to empty" are not counted against the 24 X-gages.

I have a code that pops up every now and again on my '95 Bird and sets a CEL, 1407 as I recall. I just need to clean the EGR and elbow good. ScanGage II lets me read and reset that light in a few seconds while driving.

As to accuracy, ibn normal use hard to tell because it resets each time you shut the truck off and starts over at next stop where as your average MPG on that tank spans everything between fill ups and no reset. BUT when I've used it on trips where I drove steady from fill up to fill up like 250 miles between stops and got gas at each stop ..... I do the math and it's always been less than 1/2 MPG off.

Like when I went to Indy last summer, filled up here near the house on the way out and had my '07 on a mileage tune. ScanGage II showed 15.9 before I got to Lewisburg and after Charl;eston, I had had enough. That tune sucked and I had been told that might happen, that the 87 perf tune would be best. I stopped at the BP just off I-64 at Scott Depot, WV west of Charleston and got breakfast biscuits and filled up at the BP last summer. 210 miles on the odometer since gassing here, took 13.4 gallons. 15.67 MPG by math. SG II said 15.9. I changed my tune back to 87 Perf Tune while eating my biscuit.

We left Scott Depot going up to US Rt 35 and following 35 all the way through to our next stop there at the Ohio / Indiana State line just east of Richmond, Ind where there's a BP we've used a few times, SG II said 19.5 avg MPG. We had gone 222 miles, we ate lunch at the White Castle, and the truck took 11.3 gallons BP regular with "Invigorate" equals 19.64 MPG by math.

I knew it was better than the mileag tune, I had to mash the gas harder with that mileage tune. Truck runs much much better on 87 Perf tune. I've tried stock tune on other trips, it's about 1-1/2 MPG below that I get with this tune. I've never tried the premium gas only heavyu tow or max perf tunes in my tuner.

What I found through that whole trip and several others is the Scan Gage II is pretty accurate with stock tires where the speedometer feed is accurate. Change tire size enough and get speedometer off and not correct it with the tuner ... and the mileage readings would be affected too. An accurate speed and accurate fuel flow rate makes for an accurate result in MPG.

Just to be clear for those who maybe don't know ..... Scan Gage II is NOT a tuner, it's a diagnostic tool, code reader, and it's supplemental gages with trip statistic options.
 

Last edited by tbear853; 08-06-2011 at 07:55 PM.
  #8  
Old 08-07-2011 | 05:23 AM
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From: In the fast lane from LA to Tokyo...

Just remember the scangauge ii is approx 160.....
http://www.scangauge.com/
So if you're looking for a programmer add that to the cost....

Alot of pids that the scangauge shows are already included in the monochrome gryphon.....
 
  #9  
Old 08-07-2011 | 12:23 PM
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From: The Shenandoah Valley
Originally Posted by 88racing
Just remember the scangauge ii is approx 160.....
http://www.scangauge.com/
So if you're looking for a programmer add that to the cost....

Alot of pids that the scangauge shows are already included in the monochrome gryphon.....
Oh, it has gone up then? Mine was $120 something.

But the ScanGage II is so portable and it goes with any OBD-II compliant car / truck / SUV which most here have so they can use it to diagnose or check or just play with as a supplemental toy. It's not VIN locked or restricted in any way. Just a great supplement. Extra cords are cheap enough to outfit several vehs with them.
 
  #10  
Old 08-07-2011 | 03:00 PM
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From: missing Texas...
the truck in questions needs a re-gear...
 
  #11  
Old 08-07-2011 | 10:45 PM
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Originally Posted by tarajerame
the truck in questions needs a re-gear...
Which truck? The one belonging to the OP, or TBear? Kinda seemed like an out of left feild comment....... like something yoda would blurt out.
 
  #12  
Old 08-07-2011 | 11:19 PM
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From: In the fast lane from LA to Tokyo...

Originally Posted by canadianelbow
Which truck? The one belonging to the OP, or TBear? Kinda seemed like an out of left feild comment....... like something yoda would blurt out.
Yep and he does a good job of pointing out all the details!

Keep up the good work Jerame....
 
  #13  
Old 08-08-2011 | 12:59 AM
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send over the money and ill get right on it
 
  #14  
Old 08-08-2011 | 01:39 AM
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From: The Shenandoah Valley
Originally Posted by canadianelbow
Originally Posted by tarajerame
the truck in questions needs a re-gear...
Which truck? The one belonging to the OP, or TBear? Kinda seemed like an out of left feild comment....... like something yoda would blurt out.
Huuuuuuh?

Re-gear?

Yoda?
 

Last edited by tbear853; 08-08-2011 at 01:45 AM.



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