OBD2 scan tool to save fuel worth it?

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by ezhacker1

I know it depends on how many miles you would drive in a year, the price of gas, and driving habits to see how much money you could save by driving further per gallon. (sorry if i missed some others)

I found this website to compare saving money through price of gallon and mileage gain.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/savemoney.shtml

My info would be as follow:
$2.35/gallon
assuming 38 avg mpg (no fill up yet)
assuming increase of 10% with scan tool
estimated 9125 miles driven a year

so i would save $41 a year if i could maintain those variables.

cheapest scan tool iv found is the new Kiwi MPG for $86, so about 2 years of driving just to break even.



I know i am just focusing on the mpg side of these tools and not talking about the other features and conveniences but primarily i would look at any thing that has to do with mpg (fuel left, miles to empty, avg/inst mpg)


Any thoughts?

Uh, no, I don't buy the 10 percent savings....

When I hammer on my Yaris I usually get about 32 mpg. Some of our real speeders here report figures in the high twenties.

In contrast a good hypermiler, saying someone trying to emulate Brian, can get well over forty miles per gallon.

Assuming that you'd drive like me if you did not "know better" we're talking about 32 mpg. If you worked it right and were careful with DFCO, pulse 'n glide etc, you'd do well over forty miles per gallon. Let's say 42 mpg.

That's a 31 percent increase in mileage. Over the span of a year, given that you drive about 15,000 miles, we're talking a difference of gasoline consumption of about..

15,000miles* gallon/32miles = 469 gallons.

15,000miles * gallon/42miles = 357 gallons

For a difference of 112 gallons, or about 31 percent difference (a check).

For a grand total at $2.35/gallon times 112gallon or $263.

You'd "break even" on the Scangage, at a price of $169.00 in about...

$169/$263yearsavings*12months/year = 7 months 3 weeks (assuming four weeks per month).

I'm neglecting other costs, such as shipping and handling, tire wear difference and the lowered risk of accident if you don't drive like a bat out of hell.

Gene