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Ultragauge pretty cool

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Old Sep 19, 2011 | 08:41 PM
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Ultragauge pretty cool

So I finally ordered one couple weeks ago and it is a pretty cool little device.
Though it does constantly remind me how little MPG I'm getting lol

Oh, well wouldn't trade the R3 for anything else..
Bought an '07 MX5 GT for my daughter couple months ago, honestly it's not a bad little car but, it's no RX8 and I have had the most annoying shudder in the wheel that I will be going in for my 3rd visit to mazda with on Friday. So far, one dealer said it was the tires not too worry about it... BS.. not the tires, 2nd dealer put in a new driveshaft shudder still there and even more weird at around 40mph it's the worse.

http://www.ultra-gauge.com/ultragauge/index.htm



peace.
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Old Sep 20, 2011 | 01:51 AM
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I have one, fairly inaccurate. pretty useless when I can't trust the info.
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Old Sep 20, 2011 | 05:21 AM
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How so, mine seems to be dead on in both the RX8 and the MX5? is it one of the newer versions?
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Old Sep 20, 2011 | 02:33 PM
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RPM is off by about 250 rpm, speedo is off by 2 or 3, average mpg is off by 2 or 3 mpg.
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Old Sep 20, 2011 | 02:40 PM
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There are better options IMO but if it is reading from the OBD-II it is probably accurate.

I have used the Cobb, ScanGauge II, and the Hymee Scanalyzer and with each of them the factory tach was off a bit. The speedo should be spot on but why would you want to see that anyway. MPG is not 100% accurate, how could it be?
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Old Sep 20, 2011 | 02:51 PM
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Originally Posted by soya
RPM is off by about 250 rpm, speedo is off by 2 or 3, average mpg is off by 2 or 3 mpg.
The speedo and rpm are actually right, it's the cluster that shows them wrong.
There's a difference up top of about 500rpms, the tachometer is off because it helps prevent accidental speeding.
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Old Sep 20, 2011 | 03:49 PM
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Originally Posted by 9krpmrx8
The speedo should be spot on
The factory speedo in the cluster is off by 2-3 mph at speeds over 50, a little less below that. This is often the case; with pretty much all cars I owned, the speedo was reading higher than the real speed.

MPG is not 100% accurate, how could it be?
It is accurate if the gauge has been properly calibrated. At least in case of the ScanGaugeII, it is very accurate after calibration. Don't know whether this one has a calibration function or not. It won't be accurate without it for sure.

Last edited by Tamas; Sep 20, 2011 at 03:51 PM.
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Old Sep 20, 2011 | 04:11 PM
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TX

Originally Posted by Tamas
The factory speedo in the cluster is off by 2-3 mph at speeds over 50, a little less below that. This is often the case; with pretty much all cars I owned, the speedo was reading higher than the real speed.

It is accurate if the gauge has been properly calibrated. At least in case of the ScanGaugeII, it is very accurate after calibration. Don't know whether this one has a calibration function or not. It won't be accurate without it for sure.

I meant the factory speedo usually reads the same at the Scanguage II, Cobb, Hymee, etc.

The MPG is not 100% accurate after calibration. We found this out during our Texas 8 run when we compared the Scangauge read outs of three different RX-8's to actual gas receipts and mileage. It is close enough but still off by a couple of MPG.
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Old Sep 20, 2011 | 04:41 PM
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Interesting.
I know for a fact that when I fill up the tank, the pumped fuel volume matches exactly what the ScanGauge shows as fillup quantity. So I figured that means the MPG values must be correct because if the ScanGauge knows how much fuel was used and also knows how much distance was driven, then it is obvious what to show as fuel mileage.
One of my gauges is set to show the average MPG (instantaneous is pretty useless IMO), and those values appear to be also correct when compared to the tank MPG. Even if it is off (which I don't think it is), it may be off only a couple of tenths rather than a couple of miles per gallon.
I think next time I will experiment and note the average mpg per trip along with the exact miles driven. Then at fillup, it will be easy to see if the overall average shown by the ScanGauge matches the pumped fuel volume. That should settle it.
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Old Sep 20, 2011 | 04:44 PM
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That would be good.
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Old Sep 20, 2011 | 05:52 PM
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mine has been showing about a 21.1 avg, which is almost dead on maybe a few tenths high but, not bad. Anyway for $80 bucks, I don't use most of what it can do but, I'm happy with it and if I get a cell I can read and clear it.
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Old Sep 23, 2011 | 05:33 PM
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Originally Posted by 9krpmrx8
That would be good.
The results are in...
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...&postcount=313
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Old Sep 23, 2011 | 06:03 PM
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When I use my scanguage II locally, and fill up at the same pump the gallons used is pretty much exact, and keeps fuel calibration, but when I travel, it can be off up to around a gallon.

I suspect its the different fuel compositions of ethanol and / or winter / summer blend, since I also travel a lot in spring or summer when the fuels are in transition.

Also, I think its just more accurate if you're cruising rather than on / off gas.
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Old Sep 23, 2011 | 06:40 PM
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Originally Posted by mjones53
I have had the most annoying shudder in the wheel
Wow I thought that only happened with older MX5s.
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 07:09 AM
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There is a newer one out, does both English and Metric (EM version). Also has 7 screens with 6 or 8 data elements per screen. There is a fuel economy calibration process. Also, an injector cut off process.

I think mine was $87 shipped, with a $9 or so rebate.

So far so good. Definitely beats driving around with access port.
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 09:21 AM
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I never understood why you guys don't just get HUDs instead. If I had OBD2 that's where I would go.
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 10:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Supernaut6
I never understood why you guys don't just get HUDs instead. If I had OBD2 that's where I would go.
I'll bite, this interests me.

Like what?

Do you have a recommendation?
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 04:11 PM
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Originally Posted by wcs
I'll bite, this interests me.

Like what?

Do you have a recommendation?
Get outta here man use da googles. There are alot of slick ones.
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 04:23 PM
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da googles only shows crappy HUD that are barely visible during the day.
Perhaps you may point us in the right direction?
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 06:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Supernaut6
Get outta here man use da googles. There are alot of slick ones.
Your post kind of left me with the impression you had a product you liked already.
That is what I was looking for.

I can't use the google for that ... I wanted your suggestion not a brush off
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Old Nov 8, 2011 | 11:31 AM
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I just got the Ultragauge EM also. For the price it can't be beat.
Reads straight off of OBD2 port. The only drawback is the display refresh rate, but it's an outstanding product for the price point IMHO. The configurable alarms (both hi and lo thresholds) for all the parameters are very handy.

Getting another one for my other car.

See attached PDF (user manual).
Attached Files
File Type: pdf
Ultra_Gauge_EM_Manual.pdf (1.06 MB, 386 views)
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Old Nov 8, 2011 | 01:36 PM
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Can the UltraGauge also be calibrated regarding fuel economy display, like the ScanGaugeII? Also, is there a way to define your own gauges like the ScanGaugeII can?

Edit: never mind... just read the documentation and saw that calibration is there, but not the custom gauge definition. But there are so many gauges already present that this may be a non-issue after all.

I like the ScanGaugeII, the only thing that bothers me is the display that is backlit but in bright sunshine it's hard to read or downright invisible. How is the Ultragauge in this regard?

Last edited by Tamas; Nov 8, 2011 at 01:50 PM.
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Old Nov 8, 2011 | 04:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Tamas
Also, is there a way to define your own gauges like the ScanGaugeII can?
Not sure if I understand correctly, but there are 7 pages and each page can hold up to 8 gauges (params) that you choose.


For example, I have my pages set up like this for my Speed6:

Items in parens are alarm thresholds.

Page 1
* boost (hi: 15.6psi)
* lambda (lo: 0.65(rich); hi: 1.10 (lean))
* coolant temp (hi: 215F) - nominal 170 - 215
* DI fuel pressure (lo: 410psi)
* intake temp (hi: 210F)
* batt volts (default hi)

Page 2
* cat temp 1 (hi: 1900F) - nominal 1200-1600
* cat temp 2 (hi: 1900F)
* egr flow %
* egr flow % error
* evap purge %
* evap vapor press

Page 3
* MAF
* timing advance (spark)
* ltft (lohi: 20/25%)
* stft (lohi: 20/25%
* accel ped pos
* rel throttle pos

Page 4
* eng load
* abs load
* volumetric efficiency
* tank fuel press (lo: 60psi)
* MAP
* barometric press

Page 5
* Inst MPG
* shrt trip ave MPG
* shrt trip gallons used
* shrt trip run time
* shrt trip miles
* time to empty

Page 6
* Inst MPG
* trip ave MPG
* trip gallons used
* trip run time
* trip miles
* distance to empty

Page 7
* Inst MPG
* ave MPG - general
* time to empty
* distance to empty
* fuel level
* UG temp (default hi)

Extra Alarms:
RPM (hi: 5500RPM) - RX-8 style beep
Speed (hi: 90mph)

Originally Posted by Tamas
I like the ScanGaugeII, the only thing that bothers me is the display that is backlit but in bright sunshine it's hard to read or downright invisible. How is the Ultragauge in this regard?
No problems with the readability so far. The display is very clever and there's an integrated photon sensor that adjusts brightness automatically.
The only issue is the display refresh. It's fast enough, but barely. The refresh cycle is adjustable. The fastest is 0.3 secs. Default is 1 sec.

I still cannot believe the value of this thing. Just stumbled upon it.
Now I have an $80 boost gauge and a $100 gauge pod that I don't feel like installing anymore as a result of this thing.
With a datalogging feature, it'd be close to perfect.

Last edited by dynamho; Nov 8, 2011 at 04:54 PM.
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Old Oct 22, 2014 | 09:23 PM
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Just been searching for gauges etc someone recommended the ultragauge & from what im reading id be pretty keen on this little unit. Basically i just want something that will read oil temp / water temp & any codes that may come up in the future, & whatever else is a bonus..

has anyone else been using/loving their ultragage.. could only find this one post on it.
otherwise could just get a cobb unit down the track but im quite happy with stock tune also its only $60 which is not bad

edit whoops dont think it reads oil temp....

Last edited by OnCam; Oct 22, 2014 at 09:37 PM.
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Old Oct 22, 2014 | 10:23 PM
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It looks kind of cheap to me, just use your phone and an app. I have a ton of gauges in my RX-8, plus the goodbox, and the Cobb. But, I use the Actron U-Scan in my daily and I like it very much.

http://actronuscan.com/

Last edited by 9krpmrx8; Oct 22, 2014 at 10:26 PM.
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