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Air345Fly · 04-21-2017, 05:46 AM

I remember back when the Chevy big block was new that you could buy
a device that would measure the gas mileage as you drove. The kit had
a sensor that you would put in the gas line and a sensor that you would
put on the drive shaft. There was a display on the dash that showed
your mileage as you went. Modern cars have this built in.

Is there anything like that that you can get now? I am worried about
my heavy foot with my new 345.

Pete.

dznf0g · 04-21-2017, 06:04 AM

Perhaps a ScanGauge II. I don't know if they have programs for that far back, but I would contact them first.

Air345Fly · 04-21-2017, 06:26 AM

My 1987 345 predates the DBD2 system. There are no existing sensors
that could measure gas mileage.

Pete.

dznf0g · 04-21-2017, 06:29 AM

They have no OBD1 Products?

Air345Fly · 04-21-2017, 07:00 AM

I don't believe that there is any computer involved in controlling
this carbureted engine hence no OBD anything.

Pete.

dznf0g · 04-21-2017, 07:07 AM

I can't remember when OBD1 came into production for trucks above 8600# GVWR, so you might be right. Is there no scanner port under the dash?

Light duty carbureted vehicles did have OBD1 well before 1997.

John Woodrow · 04-21-2017, 07:38 AM

You can use the vacuum gauge to monitor your fuel consumption. It won't calculate your mileage for you but that's a fair trade off for not having to buy and install another system.

Air345Fly · 04-21-2017, 08:05 AM

Back in 1989 I rented a 33 foot motorhome (not Airstream) and went on
a 10,000 mile tour of the US. That trip touched all 4 corners of the US.
It had a 454. My mileage for the entire trip was 6.2 MPG. I attribute a
lot of that to my heavy foot. I would like to see the actual MPG as I
go along in my 345.

Pete.

WayneG · 04-21-2017, 08:31 AM

I could do it with the TBI system I installed, but it would need a laptop running.
With a carb, you are out of luck unless you want to spend big bucks on something designed for marine engines.
Way back when, I had a digital MPG meter in my 67 ElCamino. It was a Heathkit product that had a speed sensor on the transmission and a fuel flow meter in the fuel line.

dznf0g · 04-21-2017, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WayneG

I could do it with the TBI system I installed, but it would need a laptop running.
With a carb, you are out of luck unless you want to spend big bucks on something designed for marine engines.
Way back when, I had a digital MPG meter in my 67 ElCamino. It was a Heathkit product that had a speed sensor on the transmission and a fuel flow meter in the fuel line.

I thought about marine products, but I think they measure gallons per hour.

Air345Fly · 04-21-2017, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WayneG

I could do it with the TBI system I installed, but it would need a laptop running.
With a carb, you are out of luck unless you want to spend big bucks on something designed for marine engines.
Way back when, I had a digital MPG meter in my 67 ElCamino. It was a Heathkit product that had a speed sensor on the transmission and a fuel flow meter in the fuel line.

Yes, that is exactly what I remember. Is anything like that available now?

Pete.

bkahler · 04-21-2017, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air345Fly

My 1987 345 predates the DBD2 system. There are no existing sensors
that could measure gas mileage.

Pete.

Pete, you're looking for a Zemco ZT4 or similar system. They were an aftermarket product that fell by the wayside when fuel injection systems became common.

I was going to use one on my 74 Argosy but since I've switched to a throttle body injection system I'm not going to use it. PM me if you're interested in the one that I have.

Brad

Boom Sounds · 04-21-2017, 10:47 AM

For those with OBD1 (certainly onboard my 1991 classic), I think it is technically possible to link a bluetooth code reader such as this:

http://www.1320electronics.com/products.html

to an android device (tablet or phone) to read your diagnostics.

This would need checking with any suppliers. I would be interested to know if anyone has got this working or similar.

all best
Nick

bkahler · 04-21-2017, 12:11 PM

Nick, when I was first getting ready to startup my 454 with the new TBI system I had to learn a few things about how to read and write the chips, etc.

The setup I have right now allows me to plug my laptop into the ALDL port and using TunerPro RT read the data coming from the PCM. Once things are up and running I plan to use ALDLdroid with bluetooth while on trips to monitor the system.

Brad

WayneG · 04-21-2017, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkahler

Nick, when I was first getting ready to startup my 454 with the new TBI system I had to learn a few things about how to read and write the chips, etc.

The setup I have right now allows me to plug my laptop into the ALDL port and using TunerPro RT read the data coming from the PCM. Once things are up and running I plan to use ALDLdroid with bluetooth while on trips to monitor the system.

Brad

I did not consider that method for getting a readout without the bulk of a laptop. I have been using WINALDL on the laptop because I have been too lazy to setup TunerPro RT. To take the laptop out of the equation, how do you get the serial data into bluetooth?

Boom Sounds · 04-21-2017, 01:44 PM

Brad - assuming that Bluetooth OBD1 device worked, would you then be able to monitor results while on the move?

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WayneG · 04-21-2017, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WayneG

I did not consider that method for getting a readout without the bulk of a laptop. I have been using WINALDL on the laptop because I have been too lazy to setup TunerPro RT. To take the laptop out of the equation, how do you get the serial data into bluetooth?

I should have paid more attention, I missed the post about the bluetooth adapter.

Boom Sounds · 04-21-2017, 04:54 PM

I think those Bluetooth scanners require due diligence because their effectiveness seems to vary depending on tbi set up

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Boom Sounds · 04-21-2017, 04:56 PM

My limited understanding is that it may be technically possible to get tuner pro rt working and dumping log files in real time via Bluetooth, possibly even with android (tbc)

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bkahler · 04-21-2017, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boom Sounds

Brad - assuming that Bluetooth OBD1 device worked, would you then be able to monitor results while on the move?

Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

The short answer is yes. The long answer is more involved but you should be able to see live data and graphs while you're driving. With the ALDL to USB adapter that I have for my laptop I was able to monitor my engine running on the test stand. It definitely helped me work out some of the bugs when I was first trying to run the engine with the TBI installed.