Eurocamper wrote: "Lie-o-meter," that's a good one. But it does make me wonder just how much credence I should put in what my dash display reads.
I understand that the instantaneous reading are just a snapshot of performance, but I figured that fluctuations would even out over time and the average MPG figure would be relatively accurate. Has anyone really put their "Lie-o-meter" to the test and checked the readings vs. hand calculations? Are they accurate, or would my time be better spent monitoring something really important like tire pressure?
Well, let's see...
"I went on a 6700 mile trip last summer and the calculated mileage was 10.82 the lie-o-meter said I got 10.9 so that is close enough for me I still write down everything but most of the time I don't even check it."
and
"I find my average is also pretty close to the calculated mileage when I check it."
I have one vehicle that has the read-out capability. I very rarely set it for that, because I really just don't care. I used to keep a log book in every vehicle, in which I entered all the gas and oil I put in, all the service and parts replacements, etc. I quit doing that because I found I never went back and checked it anyway.
When I was keeping close track of everything, I found that the magic electronic gadget, in the "Average" setting, was reasonably close to the calculated MPG. One should take into consideration that as the effective diameter of your tires changes, so will the numbers!
* This post was
edited 04/21/12 06:43am by mowermech *
CM1, USN (RET)
2002 Fleetwood Southwind 32V, Ford V10
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With my truck the speedometer is off due to my tires but the mpg read just about perfect and I track every tank. I hand calculate and fill the fuel up in the neck to the same spot. The gallons used is usually low by one gallon every tank.
As the OP said if a brake was dragging you would most likely see it in the mpg. I have always had a habit of switching to the mpg read out about once a hour while I am on the road.
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05 Chevy 2500 4x4 D/A with Helper Springs and Air Ride Air Bags
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Like any other gauge, we need to look for deviations from normal. Doesn't matter in general what the norm is but like the OP stated, why is it different all of a sudden? He should be commended for noticing.
Eurocamper wrote: "Lie-o-meter," that's a good one. But it does make me wonder just how much credence I should put in what my dash display reads.
I understand that the instantaneous reading are just a snapshot of performance, but I figured that fluctuations would even out over time and the average MPG figure would be relatively accurate. Has anyone really put their "Lie-o-meter" to the test and checked the readings vs. hand calculations? Are they accurate, or would my time be better spent monitoring something really important like tire pressure?
People will answer your question..but no one can answer your question. It's different on every truck. Some folks with the same make/model/year truck as mine report 95% or better accuracy when compared to hand-calculated mileage. Mine is off, and never by the same amount twice. I've had it read as high as 16% over actual mpg, and as low as 2% under. Every tank is different. You'll have to learn yours, and decide whether you can trust it.
As I've said before in other threads...I use my hand calculations as an absolute...the EVIC is just a gauge. If It reads higher at my destination than it did at the start, I drove well. If it's lower, I probably had a fun drive! And if, as OP stated, it suddenly drops for no apparent reason, you can bet your boots I'd start looking around for the cause.
As for the comment that front rotors, calipers, pads and rear pads all installed with labour should be around $500 there are 2 problems with that...
1) I live in Canada, everything is more expensive because our currency USED to be less than the USA.
2) It's a Toyota and had to go with almost all oem parts, which are again expensive.
3) I live in Canada.....
As per the term lie-o-meter it is an oft used term within this forum and others dealing with motor issues. If you have not heard of it in the past that is ok, just spend more time on these forums and you will hear it again. Some of us have been on these forums and others for years.
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People will answer your question..but no one can answer your question. It's different on every truck... You'll have to learn yours, and decide whether you can trust it.
Sounds like good advice. I had the speedometer recalibrated after I put new tires on it, and now the speedo checks out against roadside radar, so that part of the calculation is accurate. Next tank of gas I'll hand-calculate the mileage.
I use the gas gage as a point of reference, but tend to use my trip odometer to track actual consumption. I know my range and can tell with a few fill ups if something is off.
Well folks, I'm with Mowermech... In my 68 years, I've never heard this terminology before and I've been a car nut my entire life. Must be a east coast or Canuck thing.
I receive Car & Driver, Motor Trend, Hot Rod, and several other car mags and can't ever remember reading anything about a lie-o-meter! I guess, just goes to show you, never too old to learn something new.
Ron
Ron & Sandie
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Don't have the Lie o'Meter in my 06 F-150 but did just add the Scan Gauge II. After 4 or 5 tanks the SC has "Learned" my trucks fuel system remarkably well. It now predicts within a tenth or two exactly how much fuel it will take to fill the tank. Its average fuel consumption figures are equally as accurate matching my pump/calculator numbers exactly. By paying attention to the SC I have increased my mileage by 8 to 9%. Wish I had bought the SC years ago.
lanerd wrote: Well folks, I'm with Mowermech... In my 68 years, I've never heard this terminology before and I've been a car nut my entire life. Must be a east coast or Canuck thing.
No, it's a FORUM thing.
If you care to go back through past posts, you will lose count of the number of times people have been told that the mileage computers in their vehicles LIE about the vehicle's fuel economy. Ergo, "lie-o-meter."
It's not rocket science to figure out, and there's no need to play the part of the grumpy old phart complaining about "the young'uns and their rock and/or roll music."
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