Originally Posted By: mechtech2
I do not have one, but often consider getting one.
But I always relent, knowing that any gain in MPG would never equal the costs of the unit.
But it sure seems that MPG readings are high on everyone's list.
I thought the same way too mechtech, and I never did buy one - this was a birthday gift that arrived early. Based on what I'm seeing so far, I know that - even if I had bought it - it would pay for itself fast. To give you an idea of why I know this:
My average tank average pre-Scanguage was 30 mpg. Already, while still learning how to use it, I'm consistently pulling trip averages of 33-38 mpg. Those have either been all city or a mix of both. By the time I've gotten the hang of it, I expect to be consistently getting 35-40 mpg. And I may pull off more as I can modify things with instaneous feedback on mileage impact.
Then there's all the little extras you get out of it too, which allow so much feedback on what's going on under the hood. And if you pop a CEL the scanguage will record the ECU parameters present when the code popped, which your ordinary code reader can't do.
I love mine and I haven't even gotten to the X-gauge stuff yet.
Edit: as an aside, while getting 30 mpg I was thinking the guys on the other forums I visit who were posting 40+ mpg with the same car I have were all either full of [censored] or doing nothing but highway at granny speeds. Now I know they weren't, and I'm learning how to do it - and with no granny driving involved and just doing my regular driving that I do anyway (but better as I watch the impact a given throttle position has on ignition timing and fuel efficiency, and then adjust slightly to maximize both).
-Spyder
