How low do you go before refuelling?

[Phil21185]

On 24/03/2018 at 9:19 AM, TomsFocus said:

Bit of a thread revival...  My fuel light came on at 78 miles range again this time so decided to see how accurate it actually is.  Turns out, not accurate at all...  I've seen more accurate crystal balls than the fuel calculation system on the Mk3.  Not sure how they've made it worse as the Mk2 one was always pretty good, just 1mpg out either way and range was pretty close, with the light coming on at 50 miles, then a reminder at 25 miles.  

So anyway, the range kept jumping up and down but the fuel light never went off and the average MPG was showing 58.5 on this tank, should be an easy 600 miles to the tank if that's the case so I went with watching the miles instead and aiming for 600, even with the needle bent round the lower stop lol.  Was interested to find out the stop start still operates on 0 miles...which does make you wonder whether it'll start or not after...especially on a steep hill lol!  Did another ~20 miles with it on the 0...was expecting it to jump up again after 0 but it just stayed there...hmm...maybe it genuinely is low.  I did have diesel and a hand primer with me, and stayed off dual carriageways after the 0 just in case, but didn't drive any differently to normal.  Got to the fuel station on 596 miles...annoying but it did feel a bit rough so I decided to fill up rather than push on to do the other 4 miles.  Got just over 50 litres in...more than I was expecting...  Worked out the MPG properly and it was only 53.8mpg!   Oddly that's exactly what it was on the previous tank, but the trip computer showed 54mpg that time, so was less than 1mpg out that time, but over 5mpg out this time.   So can't trust the MPG calculation for the miles, cant trust the range for any sort of accuracy as it keeps jumping about, and cant trust the gauge as it did nearly 50 miles on the lower stop.   Since filling up the range now thinks I've got 686 miles worth...ok then.

Must admit, I'm pretty disappointed with those MPG figures as well...  With all the money and tech that went into making the mk3 lighter, more aerodynamic and more efficient it's currently doing the same (or slightly worse!) as I'd get from the Mk2 in this weather.

That's an impressive leap in economy over 4 miles...

[TomsFocus]

Did you read the post or just look at the pictures lol?  That last one was after resetting and on a hot engine between the filling station and home.

However, I've currently done 500 miles and still got 150 on the range.  Average MPG showing as 63.3...  

[TomsFocus]

Well, fuel light came on at 91 miles this time...pretty sure it's doing it just to wind me up now...

Anyway, I did manage to get over 600 miles to this tank, but more importantly over 60mpg avg for the first time with a 1.6tdci lol!!  When worked out properly it was 61mpg, so the computer isn't far out this time.

 

[RichardWh]

When the 50 mile light comes on on the dash, or as near as i can.  Let it go down 5 miles once. 

[Randall Flagg]

I normally wait for the 50-mile warning. However, the other week circumstances were such that I ended up driving about six miles whilst the car's computer was telling me the range was at "0".