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Here are Gryphon's photo's
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Ill keep my Eye on this thread, Im interesded in both this and the scanguage
Ill keep my Eye on this thread, Im interesded in both this and the scanguage
The Ecometer Thread
After reading Gryphon's posts in this thread about tachometers, I decided to order an Echometer for msyelf. It's a little guage pod that measures instantaneous MPG, average MPG, revs, and MPH. Sort of like the scanguage II, but is a bit more simple and is pod-shaped instead of a long rectangle. I decided to start this thread so we can share our experiences with this new gadget.
I got mine from PartsShowRoom.com. Though they had no ratings on Froogle, they had the cheapest price I could find at $73.78 shipped to CA, so I decided to risk it. They followed through and a couple of days later it arrived via FedEx.
Installation was very easy. I put mine on the right side of the pod behind the steering wheel (opposite to where Gryphon put his--pics coming soon). I like this position because it is more to the center of the car, so I don't have to look that far away from the road and my other pods, and it does not block any other gages or warning lights. I also reset my mileage counter often, so on the right it does not block that button.
The instructions say that it comes configured to automatically calibrate itsself for 2008 and newer cars. However, I'm not sure if it does so for the Smart. In city driving, I was getting between 2 and 8 mpg while on the throttle, and 15mpg while coasting to a red light. On the freeway, while maintaining 60mph it was reading 12mpg. While going 60mph down a light slope (the 2nd half of the Bay Bridge) I was getting 38mpg. The instruction manual says that some cars need a bit of callibration by setting the engine displacement and a couple other variables. I'll try this when I get home today and post what my settings are, if any.
At any rate, regardless of the accuracy, it has a nifty set of bars that shows you when you are driving at your highest efficiency. The less bars displaying the more efficient you are. I'm really surprised at just how costly accelerating is after watching those bars go.
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Anyone else have some good or bad experiences with the ecometer?
I got mine from PartsShowRoom.com. Though they had no ratings on Froogle, they had the cheapest price I could find at $73.78 shipped to CA, so I decided to risk it. They followed through and a couple of days later it arrived via FedEx.
Installation was very easy. I put mine on the right side of the pod behind the steering wheel (opposite to where Gryphon put his--pics coming soon). I like this position because it is more to the center of the car, so I don't have to look that far away from the road and my other pods, and it does not block any other gages or warning lights. I also reset my mileage counter often, so on the right it does not block that button.
The instructions say that it comes configured to automatically calibrate itsself for 2008 and newer cars. However, I'm not sure if it does so for the Smart. In city driving, I was getting between 2 and 8 mpg while on the throttle, and 15mpg while coasting to a red light. On the freeway, while maintaining 60mph it was reading 12mpg. While going 60mph down a light slope (the 2nd half of the Bay Bridge) I was getting 38mpg. The instruction manual says that some cars need a bit of callibration by setting the engine displacement and a couple other variables. I'll try this when I get home today and post what my settings are, if any.
At any rate, regardless of the accuracy, it has a nifty set of bars that shows you when you are driving at your highest efficiency. The less bars displaying the more efficient you are. I'm really surprised at just how costly accelerating is after watching those bars go.
Anyone else have some good or bad experiences with the ecometer?
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Sure thing. When I get home this afternoon I'll post photos of where I installed it, how I snaked the wire (without cutting or fastening anything), and different modes. 
Nice product. I like the look of it a bunch better than the scangauge. I also like the price better
Exactly. Also, did you know a Yaris 5dr has 2 extra doors and can carry 5 people
....but it seems like some Smart owners don't NEED the extra 2 doors and ability to carry those extra people.
7
. . . and here it is
Good points Bum-bling-B and ForestAcademy. Both Scanguage and Ecometer (and Kiwi I suppose) have their purposes. I chose the Ecometer because it is easy to install and nicely displays what I need it to without compromising on dashboard real estate and aesthetics (at least not that much) without hacking into my car. So here are the details and pics.
Turns out the Smart needs some callibration, as it apparently does not broadcast the size of the engine over the OBDII. The reason my ecometer was displaying an average of 10mpg was because it thought I was using a 4 litre engine! To correct this, hold the right button while plugging it into the OBD II port. It will display the engine size (4.0) and you can then press the right button over and over again until it cycles past 12 and then go up to 1.0. Then push the left button and wait for it to say EFF. Then push the left button again and you should be set. You can redo the steps and set efficiency after seeing the EFF code to increase or decrease after looking at a full gas tank's mileage compared to your average mileage for that tank as displayed on the device.
Below are some pics of the various modes. Sorry some of them are a bit blurry. I had low light and I was trying to hold a DSLR camera in Av mode (no flash) while driving
Average MPG mode after my first drive around the block
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MPH MODE (sorry its so dark--it says "19.3")
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Instant MPG Mode (while going down a hill with my foot off the gas)
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RPM Mode (it read 3.14 for 3140 RPM. Look to the tach pod above for accuracy)
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And now some photos on how to fish the wire with no hacking, cutting, attaching, taping, or fastening. The gauge comes with its own 3M industrial-velcro-like sticky fastener which as held up quite well so far. The rest is quick and dirty but it works for now.
Putting the wire behind the steering column hides it nicely
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Then fish it over the back of the left cubby
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Then down to where there is a screw in the bottom-left part of the fabric part. This screw can be removed and the wire fished behind it. Re-attach the screw and the wire fits snugly and does not have to be attached anywhere. It will be pretty taught when plugged into the OBDII so it does not dangle below the dash or get caught on your feet.
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Good points Bum-bling-B and ForestAcademy. Both Scanguage and Ecometer (and Kiwi I suppose) have their purposes. I chose the Ecometer because it is easy to install and nicely displays what I need it to without compromising on dashboard real estate and aesthetics (at least not that much) without hacking into my car. So here are the details and pics.
Turns out the Smart needs some callibration, as it apparently does not broadcast the size of the engine over the OBDII. The reason my ecometer was displaying an average of 10mpg was because it thought I was using a 4 litre engine! To correct this, hold the right button while plugging it into the OBD II port. It will display the engine size (4.0) and you can then press the right button over and over again until it cycles past 12 and then go up to 1.0. Then push the left button and wait for it to say EFF. Then push the left button again and you should be set. You can redo the steps and set efficiency after seeing the EFF code to increase or decrease after looking at a full gas tank's mileage compared to your average mileage for that tank as displayed on the device.
Below are some pics of the various modes. Sorry some of them are a bit blurry. I had low light and I was trying to hold a DSLR camera in Av mode (no flash) while driving
Average MPG mode after my first drive around the block
MPH MODE (sorry its so dark--it says "19.3")
Instant MPG Mode (while going down a hill with my foot off the gas)
RPM Mode (it read 3.14 for 3140 RPM. Look to the tach pod above for accuracy)
And now some photos on how to fish the wire with no hacking, cutting, attaching, taping, or fastening. The gauge comes with its own 3M industrial-velcro-like sticky fastener which as held up quite well so far. The rest is quick and dirty but it works for now.
Putting the wire behind the steering column hides it nicely
Then fish it over the back of the left cubby
Then down to where there is a screw in the bottom-left part of the fabric part. This screw can be removed and the wire fished behind it. Re-attach the screw and the wire fits snugly and does not have to be attached anywhere. It will be pretty taught when plugged into the OBDII so it does not dangle below the dash or get caught on your feet.
Ya apologies for the blurry pics. I encourage anyone else who gets one to post some better ones
I've been finding it very useful so far. I have been using it for instantanious readouts of my MPG and the "green bar" is useful for getting to know how to drive with optimum efficiency real-time. I haven't yet finished this tank, and I'll only see results after the next tank, so it will be a few weeks before I see if it really helps improve my MPG that much. I'm on fuelly so I'm going to mark this and track my MPG there to see if there is an improvement. As you can see I have a lot of room for it compared to many other smart owners
I've been finding it very useful so far. I have been using it for instantanious readouts of my MPG and the "green bar" is useful for getting to know how to drive with optimum efficiency real-time. I haven't yet finished this tank, and I'll only see results after the next tank, so it will be a few weeks before I see if it really helps improve my MPG that much. I'm on fuelly so I'm going to mark this and track my MPG there to see if there is an improvement. As you can see I have a lot of room for it compared to many other smart owners
Just FYI on the ecometer:
I've had my ecometer on the car now for a little more than 400 miles, about 2 fill-ups. After computing my actual gas milage I have re-calibrated my ecometer to 78% EFF (efficiency). At that setting I seem to be reading about 0.2 mpg below the calculated milage. The next step available is 79% EFF and that makes the ecometer read about 0.4 mpg too high. In that taking the gallons used vs. distance traveled method is, in itself, prone to variation due to differences in fill-ups, please don't take this information as definitive, just informational. YMMV
The accuracy of the ecometer's speedometer function is more accurate than the smart's speedometer. At 70 mph indicated on the smart speedo the ecometer reads 67.8 mph and my Garmin GPS says 67.1 mph.
I've tried to get useful information from the ecometer's instantaneous mpg readout but it varies so rapidly that it is difficult to interpret. I have attempted to find a smooth, level length of lightly traveled roadway and to run the car using the cruise control for speed stability, but the instantaneous mode is still difficult to use. I'd like the instantaneous mode to use just a little time based averaging (a couple of seconds?) to smooth out the information.
The smart's analog pod tachometer is, for me, easier to use than the ecometer's digital readout, but both show about the same accuracy.
The sticky-backed industrial plastic velcro hold-down doesn't stick very well to the cleaned surface of my steering column cover as I have bumped it loose several times now while cleaning that area. I think I'm going to screw mount it when I decide on it's permanent location.
Overall, I'm satisfied with the performance and legibility of the ecometer. It accomplishes the purpose for which I wanted it.
I've had my ecometer on the car now for a little more than 400 miles, about 2 fill-ups. After computing my actual gas milage I have re-calibrated my ecometer to 78% EFF (efficiency). At that setting I seem to be reading about 0.2 mpg below the calculated milage. The next step available is 79% EFF and that makes the ecometer read about 0.4 mpg too high. In that taking the gallons used vs. distance traveled method is, in itself, prone to variation due to differences in fill-ups, please don't take this information as definitive, just informational. YMMV
The accuracy of the ecometer's speedometer function is more accurate than the smart's speedometer. At 70 mph indicated on the smart speedo the ecometer reads 67.8 mph and my Garmin GPS says 67.1 mph.
I've tried to get useful information from the ecometer's instantaneous mpg readout but it varies so rapidly that it is difficult to interpret. I have attempted to find a smooth, level length of lightly traveled roadway and to run the car using the cruise control for speed stability, but the instantaneous mode is still difficult to use. I'd like the instantaneous mode to use just a little time based averaging (a couple of seconds?) to smooth out the information.
The smart's analog pod tachometer is, for me, easier to use than the ecometer's digital readout, but both show about the same accuracy.
The sticky-backed industrial plastic velcro hold-down doesn't stick very well to the cleaned surface of my steering column cover as I have bumped it loose several times now while cleaning that area. I think I'm going to screw mount it when I decide on it's permanent location.
Overall, I'm satisfied with the performance and legibility of the ecometer. It accomplishes the purpose for which I wanted it.
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