ECOMETER; better than a vacuum gauge?

[bobstad]

I saw this ECOMETER by Auto-Meter, [http://www.autometer.com/ecometer/] advertised in today's mail; a JEGS catalogue, their newest to me.

I have wondered at installing an old style vacuum gauge to improve my fuel economy, but if there were $70 to spend on this unit perhaps the savings would be accrued felicitously...the website gives the estimated amounts of refuels to pay for the gauge, by the amount saved driving more economically.

I'm a recovering lead-foot, not to be confused with a Sasquatch; but, feel my driving would be improved by addition of something like this since for one thing often I loose oil via heavy acceleration, which somehow gets sucked out of the crankcase and through the fuel injection's air-intake I've read here happens to the Festiva. I always have to top off the oil a little during any time I've been in traffic and have to drive like the Indy 500 to keep up with semi-trucks, ice-cream vendors and the rest of the high-ballers out there to compete with or be crushed.

This is supposed to install into the car's "OBD port" though I don't know if my '91 Festiva has one?

The variety of ECOMETER features is attractive; but, at the website there is no specific endorsement for use on a Festiva, only later model Fords.

Too bad this unit doesn't also include a tach and/or speedometer, as I'd first thought; which would be a nice combination of either or both with the ECOMETER.

Has anyone installed one of these on a Festiva, or used one otherwise too?

[htchbck]

They are neat units, my wife's mom uses one in her 2007 Ford Edge, and she was able to adjust her driving habits enough to see a 8MPG improvement during normal driving circumstances. Unfortunately cars before 1996 don't have the OBDII port that the device plugs into, so the answer is no, the Festiva wouldn't be able to use one as it simply doesn't have the computer power/connectivity to make it work

[bobstad]

Oh well; I should try aerodynamics?

Unfortunately cars before 1996 don't have the OBDII port that the device plugs into, so the answer is no, the Festiva wouldn't be able to use one as it simply doesn't have the computer power/connectivity to make it work

There would be no way to modify some existing unit which could be adapted to a Festiva, then? I have no idea what is involved, but just am speculating on the various functions likely monitored; which a person would guess aren't too complexly acquired electronically.

Probably takes a Ph.D. in nuclear physics, and an account with Fort Knox; but, maybe not?

[bhazard]

Theres absolutely no possible way to *make* it work in any festiva. We dont have any OBD-II capability at all. We dont even have a vehicle speed sensor.

Your only chance at using it would be to get a 97 aspire (maybe 96 too?) as those were updated to OBD-II.

If youre really up for a project get one of the speed sensors for cruise control in festivas and look up "MPGuino" on google. Closest youll get to a functional mileage computer in our cars.

[bobstad]

Mind F##K

Theres absolutely no possible way to *make* it work in any festiva. We dont have any OBD-II capability at all. We dont even have a vehicle speed sensor.

Your only chance at using it would be to get a 97 aspire (maybe 96 too?) as those were updated to OBD-II.

If youre really up for a project get one of the speed sensors for cruise control in festivas and look up "MPGuino" on google. Closest youll get to a functional mileage computer in our cars.

So, could I just yank the appropriate parts from an Aspire, then put these onto the Festiva?

I'm the sort to accumulate projects like that, which then can meander along behind me like an intestinal parasite until I finally get required momentum to deal with the annoyance involved. Having run into the Aspire with little or no financial investment; once I've gotten the chance I'll dive for the necessary, then tote the pieces here and there.

I'm really attracted by having this set-up, knowing how useful any type diversion is during long drives, so that I'm sure using one would greatly modify my driving to the positive.

I even enjoy this roof rack I have, which since I've worked to try to duplicate the effect of with less wind resistance; which makes an amazing sort of low-pitched howl, changing the speed infinitesimally while driving, modulates melodiously.

[Nerd Racing]

you would have to grab all the wiring, the engine computer, exhaust O2 sensors, and every engine sensor. Otherwise the OBDII will not work properly and you will get even worse mileage. 96-97 aspires are the OBDII ones. might as well get a vac gage

[bobstad]

Hmmm....

you would have to grab all the wiring, the engine computer, exhaust O2 sensors, and every engine sensor. Otherwise the OBDII will not work properly and you will get even worse mileage. 96-97 aspires are the OBDII ones. might as well get a vac gage

Well; I'll at least look in my HAYNES to see if this seems a project reasonable to institute? TANX.

[Nerd Racing]

better look at an fsm, haynes manuals don't cover all the systems you will need.

[bobstad]

where is my MISSION IMPOSSIBLE sound track theme music cassette?

better look at an fsm, haynes manuals don't cover all the systems you will need.

Okay, what is an "fsm"?

Not to be turned aside by mere lack of intelligence; though this looks discouraging on the face of things.

I've built four VW air-cooled motors, and once changed a trans-axle on my Type III working in the dark a couple nights on the Olympia, WA waterfront in a parking lot August of '04 due to the hundred plus degree heat days early that month, with only a flashlight in my mouth and kerosene lantern.

When done, I'd forgotten to wire up the cone shaped bolt securing the transmission shifter rod which worked loose in about thirty miles, which I'd had the presence of mind in all that mechanical chaos, to ferret out and attach correctly in a strange parking lot in Spanaway, WA in the middle of a hot afternoon on my way to Spokane.

[bhazard]

I suppose you could transfer the OBD-II setup from an aspire to a festiva. It would be a VERY involved process, basically every bit of wiring from one car to another. All the electronics, etc.

If youre gonna have that, you might as well get a http://www.scangauge.com/

Wwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than that autometer thing.

[Nerd Racing]

Factory service manual. I'm not saying it can't be done, just going to be a huge pain and will probably not give you any more gains than a vac gage used properly will.

[pwgus]

yes it would be a very difficult process, I went the other way around but I did it. I converted a 97' aspire to a 94' (by the way '96 is OBDII). You have to completely remove all the sideskirts and stuff and the dash must be completely dissasembled to remove the wiring. You will have to modify wiring since the wires go to different spots on the festiva. You will have to modify connectors since those are different on the festiva. You're ok to skip the whole air bag system. Just leave all that stuff disconnected. Another problem you will have is drilling the whole for the downstream oxygen sensor, but I'm sure it can be done. Just make damn sure you have both regular and electrical manuals for both years and that you are darn familiar with electrical stuff and wiring before you attempt this. Oh and another problem, OBD-II aspires (and maybe even all aspires) use a Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor instead of vane metering so you'll have to convert that setup I believe and I'm not exactly sure what all that entails. Another thing, various engine hookups are different of course again you'll have to figure that out. Switching from a 97 to 94 was easy because I was also swapping the engine so pretty much I just swapped bodies, but switching aspire stuff to a Festiva is going to be quite a beast. Make sure you label all the connectors on the wiring loom as you remove them, I whished I would have lol. Hope it works out for you!

[TominMO]

I never had a vacuum gauge to get mileage in the 50s and even 60s. You just need to be aware of what you're doing.

[bobstad]

Not that vacuum gauges don't suck, in other words...

I never had a vacuum gauge to get mileage in the 50s and even 60s. You just need to be aware of what you're doing.

I appreciate what you're saying, but my feeling is one where having the gauge makes for significant focus, as a sort of entertainment; which in fact creates the ability to hone one's habits. Like a game though not as intense?

I sure feel with some of the other technical comments, that a vacuum gauge would be the ticket of any alternative other than nothing. I've done a little web-searching to try to find one with a face which has the markings to use to drive by for best economy; but, mostly the ones sold now seem more designed to use with turbo-chargers.

My old computer is so damned slow, that when I come up with several hundred items in a search, I get discouraged trying to look through them. I think I've seen one vacuum gauge of the type I'd like though, so they are probably still around and available. If I get ambitious I might find the project worthy and fun afterwards.

Some old timers seemed to always think highly of those old vacuum gauges, and on the net I just read of their value as a diagnostic tool; where they are highly praised, though not the type a person uses driving I'd guess must be mechanically identical if used differently; [http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/186.cfm].