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My Cadillac has a computer in the dash which tells you the current and average MPG and other such fuel related data. I believe its called the "Depresotron". Anyway I had assumed that the MPG display would be incorrect by a standard factor. This factor would be based on the fact that the US gallon is 20% smaller than a UK "Imperal" gallon (ie 10 MPG in the USA is 12 MPG in the UK) and that the car is now run on LPG not petrol would also effect it in some unspecified way. Lets not add the "1984 electronics" element to the mix.
Astoundingly, when compared to the fill-up-drive-fill-up-check-mileage method the computer is accurate to one point at one decimal place. Calculated = 13.8, computer = 13.9
That is all. As per title - odd, true, pointless.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Lol, thanks for that AK
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Your car is not 'epic', this thread is not 'epic'....the OCEAN is epic, the UNIVERSE is epic.... please stop misusing this word!! It would appear Hotrods are the new VWs - aint fashion funny! '69 BUICK LESABRE 350
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That's not bad So you get a slight power drop and increased consumption with LPG combined with the smaller US gallon and you end up a figure accurate to the UK gallon - noted to self.
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13.9mpg?
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I had a fuel computer on the Mk2 Granada, it was a PITA, it was wrong constantly, it beeped everytime the tank was on 1/4 full or below, and it reset itself whenever you took a sharp lefthand bend, but it was connected to the fuel line, so I left it attached
(more pointless content) ;D
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Last Edit: Apr 14, 2008 9:02:44 GMT by Autofive
Someone just shot the elephant in the room.
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My mk2 granny one was spot on, the one in my 24v scorp on the other hand was so pessimistic it was unuseable, all the sierra ones ive had have seemed fairly accurate. The fuel light in the merc don't work and the gauge is a bit dodgy, if you tap the glass cos the needle hasn't moved for a while, it normally shoots upwards about an 8th of a tank which is good until you tap it again and it drops of the bottom.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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13.9MPG?! No wonder they called it the "Depress-o-tron"! ;D The computer in my BMW e34 used to go berserk randomly and start displaying everything in German. This happened at about 4am when I was sleeping in my car (don't ask...), and it woke me up with high-pitched beeping then proceeded to display all the information in its native tongue. After me doing nothing with it, it reverted back to English a few days later. Bizarre. Also, if anyone can figure out how to use the onboard computer in a Mk2 Golf GTI they're a better man than me - I have no clue how to work them and it seemed to give the average MPG figure for the lifetime of the car.
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Apr 14, 2008 10:02:11 GMT
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Also, if anyone can figure out how to use the onboard computer in a Mk2 Golf GTI they're a better man than me - I have no clue how to work them and it seemed to give the average MPG figure for the lifetime of the car. Isn't there a switch that slides from 1 to 2? You can reset either one by sliding and holding for 3 seconds if I remember right. The fuel gauge on my bike reads 'full' from zero miles to 100 miles, then goes down to 'empty' by the time I get to 160 miles. I can get to about 190 miles before I need to switch the reserve tank on. Point of the fuel gauge? None
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Tim
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,340
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Apr 14, 2008 10:12:01 GMT
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Also, if anyone can figure out how to use the onboard computer in a Mk2 Golf GTI they're a better man than me - I have no clue how to work them and it seemed to give the average MPG figure for the lifetime of the car. Isn't there a switch that slides from 1 to 2? You can reset either one by sliding and holding for 3 seconds if I remember right. The fuel gauge on my bike reads 'full' from zero miles to 100 miles, then goes down to 'empty' by the time I get to 160 miles. I can get to about 190 miles before I need to switch the reserve tank on. Point of the fuel gauge? None ;D The guage in the 406 is similar - 400 miles to half a tank, bending the needle round the empty stop at 550 :-)
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Apr 14, 2008 11:00:19 GMT
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Sounds a lot more useful that the early Holden MPG 'computers', that gave you a 'live' MPG figure that would go all the way down to double zero every time you put your foot down.
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Apr 14, 2008 11:45:23 GMT
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I can get 0 on the instant readout without too much effort. I wanted to see if a burnout would result in a minus figure but see if you can spot the obvious flaw in that logic...
13.9 MPG ain't so bad. Its not good for a smallblock but its OK for such a big car. on LPG thats the same as about 28 MPG in cost terms.
I'm loving the array of computer ocntrolled lights in the Caddy. "Service Soon". "Service NOW" and "STOP DRIVING IMMEDIATELY" to name but three... LOL
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,435
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Apr 14, 2008 12:23:11 GMT
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Also, if anyone can figure out how to use the onboard computer in a Mk2 Golf GTI they're a better man than me - I have no clue how to work them and it seemed to give the average MPG figure for the lifetime of the car. Dead easy - the switch on the end of the stalk that goes 0-1-2-0 is for resetting either one. Pull it to the right zero to reset programme 2, left zero for programme 1. Both programmes display the same readout for the obviously instantaneous measurements like oil and outside temperature. One does average mpg over the past 7000-odd miles, whereas the other is average mpg for your current journey. This one resets itself if the ignition is off for more than two hours. There's also a secret mode accessed by holding the button in and turning the ignition on and off which gives you a digital rev counter, readings from the airmass meter and a few others. That one's very handy for setting idle speeds!
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bortaf
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,549
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Apr 14, 2008 13:12:39 GMT
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My Mk2 granny Ghia X comp was depressingly accurate, was forever saying 6MPG and beeping at 50 miles left (which changed as right foot weight changed) so it would come on once then i'd let up, recalculate then come on again then after i went into granny mode it'd come on again beep beep 50 miles left beep beep Arggghhhhhhhhh
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R.I.P photobucket
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Apr 14, 2008 13:20:54 GMT
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My mams old car had a fuel guage that used to constantly jump from empty to full and even though its been scrapped, we still wonder how much petrol the car had in ;D
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1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
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Apr 14, 2008 15:57:48 GMT
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The computer in my Range Rover constantly tells me that I'm averaging between 35mpg and 48mpg.......I reckon that LR did this on purpose to make you feel less depressed about the 'real' consumption!
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Apr 14, 2008 16:50:25 GMT
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from the 72 miles I did in the SEC yesterday my workings out come to 16mpg.
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,538
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Apr 14, 2008 17:48:08 GMT
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Alistair, I can't believe you've wasted precious internet bandwith on such a pointless piece of trivia! Did you know that Cadillac were the first manufacturer to introduce headlining mounted automatic nose hair trimmers after a spate of nasty accidents in Iowa?
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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Apr 14, 2008 18:56:43 GMT
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I'm impressed with this piece of trivia. To make it even more trivial, I shall check the accuracy of the computer on our Clio to see if 'progress' has made them any more accurate. Bearing in mind the range can go from 60 miles to nil in less than the blink of eye, I reckon a bit of flattery from the computer will be the end result
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205 GTi Mi16
205 XS - Now in filmidget's signature
Clio dci 80
I've found in life if someone is an idiot, they generally stay and idiot.
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Apr 14, 2008 22:48:31 GMT
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Just to rub it in - recently on a ~300 mile trip, I did about 80mpg. On that same tank, but with a short commute in traffic every day where the engine doesn't even get time to warm up, I got 65mpg for the whole tank.
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Apr 14, 2008 22:58:46 GMT
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to add my pointless 2p worth... The "economy" gague on my E30 316 never rose above 8mpg after I bodged on a 38dgas. Who cares, it went like stink!
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To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in
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