mpg meter

[zukking01]

I am interested in getting a mpg readout meter for my 79 carbed chevy 350. I would like to get one that will give me a average pet tank and not just a current mpg readout like a cheezy vacuum guage with fuel numbers on it. In my searching I can only find a marina guage that is $300+ so that is not cost effective.


Has anyone put a MPG guage on a carbed vehicle or heard of a meter that might fit my needs without breaking the bank.

 

[scoutabout]

Just grab a marker and write "12" on a post-it note and tape it to your windshield.

 

[jackjoh]

Steve is correct but I bought one at J C Whitney about 20 years ago for $50.

 

[Zombie]

Odometer broken? The best MPG averages per tank come from and accurate speed/odo, a little notebook and a calculator. For a setup to accurately measure the amount of fuel that has passed into the carb, I'd suspect $300 might be a little low.
The price for little notebooks and calculators is pretty cheap tho...

 

[zukking01]

If I were to put a post-it there would be a 6 on it and that stinks. I want to see what I am getting and improve my driving habits with the new supercharger.

 

[Chevycrew]

For the system to work, it needs throttle input, air fuel meter, speed sensor, a built in odometer, etc, etc.... Even the ones in new trucks arent really that accurate.

 

[ricsrx]

For the system to work, it needs throttle input, air fuel meter, speed sensor, a built in odometer, etc, etc.... Even the ones in new trucks arent really that accurate.

I know that the readout in my truck in wrong as well, but is its consistently wrong so I can get an idea of the fuel usage depending on my current driving.

 

[jackjoh]

I checked J C Whitney, they are $90 now. Or get a note book it is cheaper.

 

[zukking01]

I checked J C Whitney, they are $90 now. Or get a note book it is cheaper.

link for the specific item?

 

[scoutabout]

link for the specific item?

www.jcwhitney.com

Maybe search 'mpg meter'? It might be the first (and only) thing to pop up. Jack is like 200 years old and he can work a computer better than you.

 

[Chevycrew]

That mpg meter is for OBDII vehicles 1996 and newer.

 

[ricsrx]

wouldn't the vacuum gauge still give you real time info on what the motor is doing, that is what he is trying to accomplish is to change his driving habits for better mileage right?

Then use the math to figure out the average mileage per tank?

 

[zukking01]

wouldn't the vacuum gauge still give you real time info on what the motor is doing, that is what he is trying to accomplish is to change his driving habits for better mileage right?

Then use the math to figure out the average mileage per tank?

I have a vacuum and boost meter to check but wanted to see if there was a cost effective low meter to check the physical amount being flown through to get better economy.

It seem if I dont want to spend a TON of money I need to just make due with my vacuum gauge.

 

[jackjoh]

I used to do FCCA Economy Runs from Burbank, CA to Las Vegas, about 350 miles through some back country on the way. I was always in the top 5 out of 200 to 250 entered. Some of the tricks I used are: easy on the gas and brake (I would go bare footed) anticipate stops, never come to a complete stop, use light oil, pump up pressure in tires, coast wherever you can. I averaged all the way from 47 to 52 MPG and once did 82.3 MPG from Long Beach to Palo Alto. This was in a 4 cylinder Renault Dauphine that usually got between 30 and 34 MPG. The moral of this story, a lot depends on the driver.

 

[MikeGyver]

On a carbed motor with no sensors...? You'd need to at least know rate of fuel being consumed and speed to measure real-time mpg.

 

[Will3161]

If I were to put a post-it there would be a 6 on it and that stinks. I want to see what I am getting and improve my driving habits with the new supercharger.

fuel economy?

seriously though, it sounds like you need to tune it up, no way should it be getting that low. save the money for the economy gage and spend on tune up stuff. if you don't know how to set your carbs and such, use it to pay someone who does. I literally have never heard of a small block getting 6 mpg that was in any state of decent tune. (unless it was some really high performance stuff)

 

[zukking01]

The engine is built. It is a carbed 350 with forged pistons and crank, preformer cam, high flow hedders, and a weiand blower. It has new plugs, cap, rotor, filter, and oil. I think my biggest problem is keeping my foot out of it, so much fun to floor it and shoot past the new mustangs.

 

[Tacoma]

The Performer cam, pistons, etc. do not constitute "built". The blower, maybe. Blowers take a fair amount of power just to turn them.

FWIW, the lowest MPG I got out of any of my smallblock work trucks and box vans was about 10. These carried a full payload at pretty much all times. So either your blower is sucking up a bunch of MPG, your tuning is off, or both.

 

[1\4elliptic toy]

I think is funny that your running a blower and you care about your MPG. Those 2 things normally don't mix well.

 

[Chevycrew]

Have you had it on an emissions machine?

Not for testing, but for tuning. A properly tuned engine will get the best mileage.

Also, what gears and tire size. If those are out of sync it can also rob you horribly.