Hours driven and average mph indicator

[joey]

I think I found a formula to calculate our average driving speed, or something similar to how Nascar calculates average track speed during a race. With the hours driven and miles driven, an average mph can be calculated.

Turning the key to acc. and pressing the miles reset button will display the number of hours, which I assume is the number of hours the car is running, not moving.

By using this formula, I figured out my average "track speed" is 26 mph.

((Total miles driven / 60(mph)) / hours driven) x 60mph = avg track speed

In my case I have driven 359 miles in 14 hours.

((359 / 60 = 5.98hours) / 14 hours) = 42% x 60mph = 26mph

26mph avg seems low to me and may explain why I am only getting 13 mpg.
The theory is, a lower number assumes a lot of stop-and-go and idling time at stop lights. A higher number would imply more highway speeds, which would get better mpg.

I was reading on another forum where folks were posting their hours and miles driven. When I did the calculations, one guy was averaging as high as 48mph (he lived in Arizona), and all of them were higher than mine.
I live in Silicon Valley and my commute on the way home is pretty slow.
I guess I need to get out more and stretch my legs.

Anyway, thought this might be interesting for folks interested in crunching some numbers.

[Gary C]

The Dodge Diesel I have does the same, good info

[upstate]

I'm missing something. I turn my key to acc. and then press the trip reset and nothing happens except resting the tripodometer. What gives?

[joey]

Originally Posted by upstate

I'm missing something. I turn my key to acc. and then press the trip reset and nothing happens except resting the tripodometer. What gives?

Keep pressing the reset button for about 6-8 seconds. It should then display the hours. Do you have 300c or 300? My trip miles don't change when I push the trip reset button.

[catchMEifUcan]

I think the computer is wrong. The timer runs even when the car isn't running. I have gone back to computing the MPG by taking trip A reading and dividing it by the amount of fuel I just added. So, 360 / 18 = 20 MPG. The computer tells me 16.8MPG. Ha!

[joey]

Originally Posted by catchMEifUcan

I think the computer is wrong. The timer runs even when the car isn't running. I have gone back to computing the MPG by taking trip A reading and dividing it by the amount of fuel I just added. So, 360 / 18 = 20 MPG. The computer tells me 16.8MPG. Ha!

Hours Driven and Elapsed Time should be same number.
The attached picture is someone else's Hours Driven. I don't have a picture of Elapsed Time.
The Elapsed Time can be found by clicking on the Menu > and scrolling to Elapsed Time, which will show the Hours:minutes:seconds.

Elapsed Time only changes when the car is running. I just verified this.

But your MPG calculation (360 miles / 18 gallons = 20mpg) doesn't use Hours Driven or Elapsed Time. So why did you conclude "The timer runs even when the car isn't running"?

[catchMEifUcan]

Last time I was sitting the car after turning off the key, the EVIC's timer kept counting.

Maybe it's a glitch?

[mileshoover]

Dependent upon your EVIC Personal Settings, the car's electronics will continue to function so long as neither front door is opened. Once one is opened, all activity ceases.

[upstate]

I have a 300C and can not get this to work. Once I press the mileage reset botton in this fashion it resets the miles. This occurs in A or B.

[jeepgrady]

You probably have the old software dated 2/24/04, like I do. This hrs. feature apparently only works with the new software which I beleive is dated 6/11/04.

You can check which version, as well as other good stuff by simultaneously pressing, and holding the compass and the music button on the steering wheel for about 5 seconds.