Who makes an Aftermarket MPG Computer?

[Lelandjt]

I love my 2004 Subaru STi for its dual personalities and spartan gagets but wish it had a "MPG computer" like the '08 Imprezas (and many other new cars) come with. I'm talking about the display that can tell you current or average mpg. Does anyone know of an aftermarket source for one? It would help in making the best gear selections for the times when I'm driving for efficiency (I can get approx. 30 mpg) rather than speed (160 mph @ about 3 mpg!)

[kamesama980]

just look around for about 5 minutes... scangauge is what everyone uses

[ShadowWorks]

I think Mega Squirt can control everything on your car and it can be programmed for economy but I honestly think its best to leave your engine management system in place and start tuning for FE instead.

[Lelandjt]

^Ingore the post above, the previous guy knows what I'm talking about. I'm checking out the Scangauge now. Anyone know of others?

[monroe74]

Originally Posted by Lelandjt

I'm checking out the Scangauge now. Anyone know of others?

I think that for OBD-2 cars (like yours), it is probably the most popular choice.

There are various approaches that bypass OBD-2, and this can have certain advantages. But I think for most people the SG is a simple and effective choice. Although not super-cheap.

[theholycow]

SG is the quickest and easiest way. It also does a lot of other really cool stuff.

For something that will look nicer and be cheaper, see if an upscale model of your car from the same generation offers a MPG gauge, then you can get it from a junkyard and have it look stock.

For ultimate accuracy in choosing gears for a given speed, look at the DIY fuel rate monitor link in my sig. The SG doesn't have access to actual fuel rate measurement data; instead, it has to guess based on air flow and O2 sensor readings.

[Lelandjt]

Thanks for all the advice, especially theholycow. I think this thread can be left to die now. Maybe the next person will be better at searching than I was.

[jstevenj]

Can anyone give any other brands of MPG / trip computers like the Scangage. Surely they are not the only one out there.

[JESSE69]

I use a DashDyno SPD. Besides giving fuel economy, it does data logging and 0-60 performance monitoring + lots of other stuff. I might be way better than a Scangauge, since I heard this turns off during a FAS P & G. But it's expensive at $379.

http://www.auterraweb.com/dashdynoseries.html

[monroe74]

The DashDyno looks pretty awesome, but I think it has the same problem that SG has (as mentioned in #6). I think it does not directly read fuel use via the injectors.