Multi-information Display: Instant MPG gauge

KeepItStock · 03-17-2006, 01:53 AM

This week it hit me that the instant mpg gauge acts just like a vacuum gauge. Lift up on the gas and the reading goes way up, step on the gas and the reading goes way down, constant gas and it reads around 20.

I called Acura and the dealer and asked both if it was vacuum gauge. They could not answer the question. They kept repeating it is the computer measuring the use of gasoline and providing your miles per gallon. I tried a different approach and ask them where the feed (sender) was loacated for the computer for the instant mpg and again both could not answer my question.

The instant mpg gauge sure acts just like my old VDO vacuum gauge acted. Is the instant mpg gauge just a vacuum gauge and the information taken off a vacuum line?

Still can't get the 06 Helm manuals that would probably answer this question.

psteng19 · 03-17-2006, 10:58 AM

Without knowing anything about how these things work, I was under the impression it read throttle position, engine RPM, current speed, and the computer did some calculations.

redTSXy · 03-17-2006, 11:25 AM

Where do you even see this indicator?

TSXBeemerGuy · 03-17-2006, 01:35 PM

It's in the 06

The Sporty Xtra · 03-17-2006, 02:24 PM

The 06 has a BMW-style fuel economy gauge? Cool. Anyway, in my 05 similar info can be accessed through the Nav trip computer.

redTSXy · 03-17-2006, 03:39 PM

aah...i don't explore my navi enough..will have to look thanks!

travis8119 · 03-18-2006, 03:02 PM

Yes the same feature is in the 04's and 05's. I have an 05 navi and if you push the info button (i think have to look at car to be sure) the trip computer option will come up along with where you go to see the voive commands you can give. push tri[ cpmputer and it is like an interactive bar graph almost when you drive it will move between 0mpg and 50mpg and stay at bout 35mpg om the highway. I've had my car 6 months and just found that like 2 weeks ago. It also tell you average fuel consumption and approx dist to empty I think. And it can auto reset everytime you fill up. On the 06 they put the mpg gauge by where the odometer is

larchmont · 03-18-2006, 06:19 PM

Can't help you on the technical aspects, but I think I can help clarify some things by giving add'l info.

It's not exactly fully true what you're saying about the readings.

The readings do what you said ONLY IF YOU'VE RECENTLY RE-SET IT (or if you just had a fill-up).
I think the readings do pretty accurately tell the average mpg SINCE THE LAST RE-SET.
And the mpg on the TSX apparently is just extremely sensitive to how you're driving.
Yes, when you floor it, it seems like it uses up about half of your gas tank.

I'm exaggerating. But it does eat up a lot.
And when you're coasting or just driving easy, it uses little.

And I doubt it's any kind of "artifact" due to how the gauge works. It's how much gas the car really does eat up.
Drive it hard, it'll eat up a lot, and it'll be reflected on the MPG gauge.
Drive it easy, and you'll see the MPG climb.

KeepItStock · 03-20-2006, 05:23 PM

Perhaps there is some confusion between MPG Guage and Instant MPG Gauge due to a miscommunication on my part. The attached Jpegs show the action of the IMPG gauge. 01 is at steady throttle, 02 is with no throttle, and 03 is at full throttle. The bar graph acts, in a gross manner, just like a needle on a vacuum gauge, except the read out on a vacumm gauge is more precise.