ScanGauge Type Engine Monitor Alternative

[az99]

I am looking for a diesel engine monitor and have found the ScanGauge D and the SilverLeaf line. I am not interested in the VMSpc unit. The cost difference in the products is shocking.

I have had mixed results with the ScanGauge D and hate the hokey 1980's style readout. But it is reasonably priced at $170. The SilverLeaf units are so expensive they don't even put the price on their site. All units are well over $1,000.

Is there any other reliable unit with pricing somewhere in between?

Thanx

[chawkins99]

I have the Scangauge and really like it. The display is simple and easy to use while on the go.
I personally don't want something that takes too much attention to use.
I have mine mounted on the right side of the dash right above the rear view camera.

[falconman]

It looks like that's about all the choices. There might be some engine specific diagnostic tools available from Cummins/ CAT, etc but those probably are pretty expensive and not designed to be mounted on the dash. I have the Aladdin system on my coach and it along with the dash gauges, gives me pretty well all the info I can handle. It all depends on what you want to watch. One thing I wish I had was the code reader, just in case. I'm not a field engineer or test pilot so the basics are all all need. I do wonder though why these heavy beasts don't have an exhaust pyro gauge? It as one of the more useful gauges I added on my Ford 6.0.

[ItascaRVer]

I purchased the Ultra-gauge for about $60.00 bucks, it is programmable and seems to do everything I wanted. It is primarily for gas engines, but the manufacture says it will work with diesels too.

[topdownman]

I've got the Scanguage. I like it because it's easy to read and I usually just leave it displaying 4 different gauges anyway. A lot of the other readouts I don't care about. Plus, it'll display codes if something goes wrong, so I like that. I mounted mine right in the middle of the dash where a CD holder was. It looks built-in.

[jroethke]

I certainly did not pay anywhere near 1K for my silverleaf see below. Then I just got a used tablet on ebay and now I have a great engine/drivetrain monitor.

Silverleaf VMSPC6 VMS To 6 Pin Diagnostic Port Complete Engine Monitoring

[GaryKD]

Hi az99,
I have the ScanGage D. It works as advertised and I would make the purchase again. It does what I want. Simple to install and program. Easy to read and understand. Mine is mounted to the left and above the parking brake pull knob. Go to http://www.irv2.com/photopost/showph...=24959&cat=650 for a picture of the install.

[adonh]

Originally Posted by jroethke

I certainly did not pay anywhere near 1K for my silverleaf see below. Then I just got a used tablet on ebay and now I have a great engine/drivetrain monitor.

Silverleaf VMSPC6 VMS To 6 Pin Diagnostic Port Complete Engine Monitoring

Now that sounds interesting. My questions is do I have the necessary 6 pin connector in my 2005 Freightliner chasis, Cat C 7.

[Arch Hoagland]

I use the UltraGauge and it supports diesels.

UltraGauge OBDII Scan tool & Information Center

[chawkins99]

Originally Posted by jroethke

I certainly did not pay anywhere near 1K for my silverleaf see below. Then I just got a used tablet on ebay and now I have a great engine/drivetrain monitor.

Silverleaf VMSPC6 VMS To 6 Pin Diagnostic Port Complete Engine Monitoring

That's still twice the cost of the ScangaugeD (which can be found on Amazon for $155) and you still need a laptop/tablet to use it.
Where and how do you mount the tablet?
The Scangauge comes with both the 6-pin and 9-pin connector.

[az99]

Originally Posted by jroethke

I certainly did not pay anywhere near 1K for my silverleaf see below. Then I just got a used tablet on ebay and now I have a great engine/drivetrain monitor.

Silverleaf VMSPC6 VMS To 6 Pin Diagnostic Port Complete Engine Monitoring

You did not read my post. I said I was not interested in the VMS pc model. All their other models are way over $1K. In fact their 330 model that uses your existing backup camera display is $1,395. Just their VMS pc cable kit to utilize your PC is more than double the price of the ScanGauge D. $395 MSRP vs. $169 MSRP.

[phinneyj]

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland

I use the UltraGauge and it supports diesels.

UltraGauge OBDII Scan tool & Information Center

I don't think that is correct. I do not have an OBDII port for my ISC Cummins. The data link for the bigger diesel rigs (at least for mine) uses a different J19xx port. (Can't look up right now) which the ScanGuage D has. The Ford and GM Diesel trucks may have OBDII that the UltraGuage will work on. Just my thoughts, no time to go Missouri on this.

[Theberrys]

I agree with Jeff. If you don't have a OBD II port than the UltraGauge won't work. A lot of RV DP's have either J1939 or J1708 and are not compatible with OBD II.

I wish the UltraGauge worked on my Freightliner/Cat lash up but alas mine is J1708. I would have bought one in a New York Minute.

Dick

[Arch Hoagland]

Originally Posted by phinneyj

I don't think that is correct. I do not have an OBDII port for my ISC Cummins. The data link for the bigger diesel rigs (at least for mine) uses a different J19xx port. (Can't look up right now) which the ScanGuage D has. The Ford and GM Diesel trucks may have OBDII that the UltraGuage will work on. Just my thoughts, no time to go Missouri on this.

I made that statement based on their websites FAQ where it states they support Diesels with OBDII. They didn't mention the various connections.
Good thing you brought it up.

I just now went to their site to see if they sold an adapter to cover various connectors but the site wasn't working from some of their links.

By the way, $69 is what you are going to pay. They have a $9 mail-in rebate but that requires you to jump through a bunch of hoops with the gauge. After playing with the rebate test for a half hour I decided it wasn't worth the effort for $9.