Ran a vacuum gauge in my 57 for years,then took it out. Always ran one in the past (boats and cars). Had one in my 26' boat and would play with the trim tabs until I got the highest vacuum, figured it saved me close to a gallon a hr. Going to reinstall this one in my 57,but how does the outer ring (MPG) work? It's adjustable and rotates but how is it set? Anyone else run one in their car? Thx Jim
I remember those from a 65 Chevy, they were a factory option, but I don't remember them having the movable MPG setting. I'm betting the mileage setting is theoretical, you must drive your car at say 18 vacuum for a while, calculate the mileage you are getting and set the gauge to that number? Cool gauge.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
The vacuum gauge was standard in the 1965 Impala SS unless you had a 300-horse or better powerplant under the hood, in which case a tachometer was substituted. Priorities They were also standard in many of the Oldsmobile Starfires in the early to mid-60s. GM brought them back for 1975 as The Econominder Gauge Package.
I have a similar function in the digital display of my modern direct-injected daily driver. If I pay attention to it the car can deliver excellent fuel economy. It helps with driving technique when pushing for better fuel economy.
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67 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, Oshawa-built 250 PG never touched.
In garage, 296 cid inline six & TH350...
Cam, Toronto.
I don't judge a man by how far he's fallen, but by how far back he bounces - Patton
The vacuum gauge was standard in the 1965 Impala SS unless you had a 300-horse or better powerplant under the hood, in which case a tachometer was substituted. Priorities They were also standard in many of the Oldsmobile Starfires in the early to mid-60s. GM brought them back for 1975 as The Econominder Gauge Package.
I have a similar function in the digital display of my modern direct-injected daily driver. If I pay attention to it the car can deliver excellent fuel economy. It helps with driving technique when pushing for better fuel economy.
Let's not forget a vacuum guage took up the third pod in a 65 Custom Sport with the clock moved down to the console.
I suspect the explanation given is as good as we're going to get for how the outer ring works.
-- Edited by norontcan on Tuesday 20th of June 2017 02:33:41 PM
I remember running one of these in a 55 Chevy i had back in the late 70's and early eighties. I finally got rid of the thing because it is mostly useless. To run in the economy range, you would either have to coast down a hill, drive backing off on the throttle and never down on the throttle, have it idle in park or just plain have the engine off. As far as i am concerned it is something that is mostly useless in the real world of driving. Does anyone really take these things seriously. Cheers. George
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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
I remember running one of these in a 55 Chevy i had back in the late 70's and early eighties. I finally got rid of the thing because it is mostly useless. To run in the economy range, you would either have to coast down a hill, drive backing off on the throttle and never down on the throttle, have it idle in park or just plain have the engine off. As far as i am concerned it is something that is mostly useless in the real world of driving. Does anyone really take these things seriously. Cheers. George
yep, just have to know what the gauge is telling you!
I remember running one of these in a 55 Chevy i had back in the late 70's and early eighties. I finally got rid of the thing because it is mostly useless. To run in the economy range, you would either have to coast down a hill, drive backing off on the throttle and never down on the throttle, have it idle in park or just plain have the engine off. As far as i am concerned it is something that is mostly useless in the real world of driving. Does anyone really take these things seriously. Cheers. George
Not sure about the MPG scale but the gauge can tell you a lot about the engines performance, timing,valves,leaks etc. and like stated..saved me a ton of $$$ on fuel in my boat. So they do serve a purpose,just don't think many guys use them. Jim
I have one in my class b van,previous oldtimer owner installed it.Agreed on the economy,pretty much have to have your foot resting on the pedal.............looks good anyways,i guess.
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"When the power of love overcomes the love of power,the world will know peace"
There is also one on my class A motorhome ( 89 chassis 454 ). So small I have to squint to see it but it does give a good indication of relative fuel economy.
Had a 66 Impala rag with the console guage package, drove it fifteen years in a row Saskatoon to Kelowna B.C. every summer. I used the "manifold" gauge more than the speedo. Sometimes you drive 65 or 70, sometimes 55 mph showed the highest vacuum. I didn't care, I was on holidays. (Of course the mountains cancelled the usefullness of the gauge alltogether) I find a vacuume gauge very useful out here in the flatlands. Gears really play a big part too, Have an 88 Suburban that was okay on fuel till I put a vaccumme gauge in and discovered higher readings in drive than overdrive. 256 gears rendered OD useless.
To run in the economy range, you would either have to coast down a hill, drive backing off on the throttle and never down on the throttle, have it idle in park or just plain have the engine off.
My wife's 2012 Camry has an orange "economy" light on the dash that goes on and off.
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
I remember running one of these in a 55 Chevy i had back in the late 70's and early eighties. I finally got rid of the thing because it is mostly useless. To run in the economy range, you would either have to coast down a hill, drive backing off on the throttle and never down on the throttle, have it idle in park or just plain have the engine off. As far as i am concerned it is something that is mostly useless in the real world of driving. Does anyone really take these things seriously. Cheers. George
yep, just have to know what the gauge is telling you!
What it is telling you, is that you are getting crappy gas mileage.
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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
I remember running one of these in a 55 Chevy i had back in the late 70's and early eighties. I finally got rid of the thing because it is mostly useless. To run in the economy range, you would either have to coast down a hill, drive backing off on the throttle and never down on the throttle, have it idle in park or just plain have the engine off. As far as i am concerned it is something that is mostly useless in the real world of driving. Does anyone really take these things seriously. Cheers. George
yep, just have to know what the gauge is telling you!
What it is telling you, is that you are getting crappy gas mileage.
They were also standard in many of the Oldsmobile Starfires in the early to mid-60s. GM brought them back for 1975 as The Econominder Gauge Package.
derailing the topic here sorry, but I have one of those Zenith short wave radios in your avatar....