When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
ATTENTION: The objective of my post is to fix it. Not discount its usefulness.
Easy there. We don't even know if this is a problem or just something that you never noticed before. Many people have noted that the needle seems to swing wildly and therefore deemed it useless. Unless we have a better description of the action of the needle, it is difficult to know if there is a problem and what the fix might be.
Easy there. We don't even know if this is a problem or just something that you never noticed before. Many people have noted that the needle seems to swing wildly and therefore deemed it useless. Unless we have a better description of the action of the needle, it is difficult to know if there is a problem and what the fix might be.
I am taking it easy. I'm an easy going person. I mentioned I'd prefer to video it but that's tough to do while I'm driving. The one weirdest thing I noticed is while going uphill, it'll swing past 50 MPG. Going uphill? Really? It may be doing it at gear change but uphill though? It just seems that the needle is way more active than I recall.
Get somebody else to make a video while you drive. I have a long twisty rope with a wire inside for wrapping tools that I used to fabricate a phone holder to make videos. Get inventive. Unless we can see what you're describing, along with some indication of RPMs and road speed, everything is just a shot in the dark. Ball's in your court. In general, I would expect if you're cruising along at a steady speed on level terrain, the needle should stay at about 10l/100km. If you go up a slight hill, expect it to go to 13-15l/100km. Going down a slight hill, expect it to read 6-8l/100km. WOT in any gear should peg the meter to infinity - likely represented as 0MPG on a US car.
As to the utility of the gauge, I have a tuner pack on my E60 that hijacks the fuel economy gauge to show turbo boost instead. I don't miss the FE indicator.
Last edited by audiophool; Mar 11, 2019 at 07:11 PM.
Instead of MacGyvering a camera mount, I decided to use my powers of observation instead. While doing so, it was discovered that I found a new habit called excessive throttle feathering.
I am not sure why I started this habit but I have been under a lot of stress lately. Maybe that had something to do with it. I cut down on the feathering and seems like things are back to normal.
Instead of MacGyvering a camera mount, I decided to use my powers of observation instead. While doing so, it was discovered that I found a new habit called excessive throttle feathering.
I am not sure why I started this habit but I have been under a lot of stress lately. Maybe that had something to do with it. I cut down on the feathering and seems like things are back to normal.
So we have found a use for the needle - its a stress detecting needle! Glad that you found the source of the "problem". Now you can get back to the "laid back" person you are.
My wife does this - drives me nuts. The needle swings back and forth and if I'm in the passenger seat my head bobs back and forth along with it. It's a fuel waster too, since every time you jab the throttle it richens the mix.
I mentioned I'd prefer to video it but that's tough to do while I'm driving. The one weirdest thing I noticed is while going uphill, it'll swing past 50 MPG. Going uphill? Really? It may be doing it at gear change but uphill though? It just seems that the needle is way more active than I recall.
