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So I found this the other day. It's a small OBDII reader that plugs into your car and gives you a digital display for various automobile readouts (coolant temperature, speed, RPMs, horsepower, miles per gal, etc, etc) and works in any car with a OBDII port. It also has the ability to download error codes and reset them (i.e: the check engine light).

I got interested in buying this because I'm looking for ways to improve my gas mileage. I'm stuck with a fairly long commute to work and anything I can do to burn less gas will be helpful. I've had a car pool buddy for most of the last two years, which has helped a lot, but she is having family problems and I've probably lost her for the summer (yey, just when prices go up).

I've already adopted some of the 'hypermiling' techniques and have actually been able to bring my mileage up by 4-5MPG just by driving slower (50-55 on state roads instead of 60-70 -- 60-65 on the highway instead of 75-80) and planning ahead. Figuring that this device would give me more instant feedback on how I'm doing -- plus it looks like a neat geek toy ;)

Seriously, it's like they designed it for geeks. How many other devices are designed so that you vary the output intensity on three different color LEDs to create the exact backlight color that you want? That's just awesome ;) I can reduce my carbon footprint and geek off at the same time. What's not to like?