As i'm currently at work - 10 miles away from a pterol station and it says I have 10 miles of diesel left...... 
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How accurate is the fuel computer?
- Thread starter morleymackam
- Start date
H8T WP
Guest
i have done about 5 miles after the petrol comp said 0 miles left... its quite inaccurate imo
in the MK1 its not bad.
Obviously it will be on the safe side when it gives you an idea of how many miles are left!
As for going 5 miles after zero is displayed, you need to remember that the number is in multiples of 5, therefore if it thinks there are 4 miles to go it will say 0 most likely. It is also based on how the car was driven in the previous period. Therefore if you were moving along nicely, then slowed down when the readout said zero you would manage mroe miles as the car is not being driven as previously.
In fact if you kept going on zero being realy careful you could then get a readout of 5 or 10. (but then this is based on carefuly driving and so if you put your foot down...)
So as a guide, its pretty good. But remember its based on your driving so if thats eratic it will be less accurate.
I have tested this to the limit TWICE
Both times running out of fuel
1st 1 i had done 28 miles after the 0 displayed (about 2 miles from petrol station, so i had a long walk)
2nd time i had done 26miles after 0 displayed. (about 100 yards from petrol station)
Thats in a mapped LCR which guzzles fuel.
So answer is easily 20-25 miles
Both times running out of fuel
1st 1 i had done 28 miles after the 0 displayed (about 2 miles from petrol station, so i had a long walk)
2nd time i had done 26miles after 0 displayed. (about 100 yards from petrol station)
Thats in a mapped LCR which guzzles fuel.
So answer is easily 20-25 miles
Comes down to how you drive it aswell. I once drove our LCR to get fuel when it was saying 0 miles left, went 10 miles and it was fine, but i was driving like a nun to be safe!
did you slow down after zero was displayed?I have tested this to the limit TWICE
Both times running out of fuel
1st 1 i had done 28 miles after the 0 displayed (about 2 miles from petrol station, so i had a long walk)
2nd time i had done 26miles after 0 displayed. (about 100 yards from petrol station)
Thats in a mapped LCR which guzzles fuel.
So answer is easily 20-25 miles
I'm struggling in the new hosue living so far from a petrol station. I'm tempted to get a diesel pump installed in the back garden.
Is this what you normally get in the mk2 Cupra, I am used to my car getting to the red (or 0) then the petrol light comes on and you have around 50miles to be safe.
In the cupra the light comes on at about 1/8 of the way before the "red" or 0.
Not that I am going to chance it but once its at 0 are you pretty much screwed
In the cupra the light comes on at about 1/8 of the way before the "red" or 0.
Not that I am going to chance it but once its at 0 are you pretty much screwed
H8T WP
Guest
knackerdan
Guest
I've done 35 miles from showing 0 on the computer ( about 45 since light came on) - I noticed when I switched the car off it was showing just less than 1/8th of a tank left, whan I went out in the morning the gauge was showing empty and computer said 5 miles left. Drove about 40 before filling up with no problems, I reckon the computer is over cautious, but don't quote me on that.
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Im confused of how it shows fuel consumption, because when pointer cross "red", goes so quickly to zero! But you guess, that in petrol tank should be about 5-7 litres reserve. Different way is MFD and how it shows consumption.... But I dont trust in. Its hard to drive only about 5km to next petrol st., when mfd shows 0km left to empty
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The bravest I've ever been was 15 miles after 0 was reading, but clearly as shown above I'm not brave enough
Based on my geek fuel consumption spreadsheet, I've found the consumpion indicator to be very "optimistic" sometimes up to 10% over what is actually being achieved.
MDF says I'm doing an average of 48.7mpg at the moment, but my spreadsheet shows it to actually be 44.2mpg.
Based on my geek fuel consumption spreadsheet, I've found the consumpion indicator to be very "optimistic" sometimes up to 10% over what is actually being achieved.
MDF says I'm doing an average of 48.7mpg at the moment, but my spreadsheet shows it to actually be 44.2mpg.
I got caught on a long motorway stretch with the readout on my lcr showing 0 miles.
after 5 miles at a nice steady 60 it then said i could do 10 miles as it was then using my last few miles driving as a base for the calulation.
Its always going to cautiousl
after 5 miles at a nice steady 60 it then said i could do 10 miles as it was then using my last few miles driving as a base for the calulation.
Its always going to cautiousl
Depnds on how you drive when you see the indicator... and how high the revs you allow it to go before reaching the petrol station I assume.
Couple of points...
Not worth risking running out of fuel as the amount of c**p in the bottom of the fuel tank that it might drag up that could damage the catalytic convertor.
My mate had a Skoda Octavia which I imagine has a similar fuel computer in it and he actually ran out of fuel with 30 miles still showing. It took more than one plastic can of petrol to get the engine started again as according to the AA there is a safety feature to prevent the engine starting with too little fuel.
On a full tank mine reads anywhere between 270 miles and 320 miles remaining. Not sure if it works it out based on recent consumption as I often use my car in the city centre getting about 15 - 20 mpg. It tends to stay on 270 miles for ages as well...
Not worth risking running out of fuel as the amount of c**p in the bottom of the fuel tank that it might drag up that could damage the catalytic convertor.
My mate had a Skoda Octavia which I imagine has a similar fuel computer in it and he actually ran out of fuel with 30 miles still showing. It took more than one plastic can of petrol to get the engine started again as according to the AA there is a safety feature to prevent the engine starting with too little fuel.
On a full tank mine reads anywhere between 270 miles and 320 miles remaining. Not sure if it works it out based on recent consumption as I often use my car in the city centre getting about 15 - 20 mpg. It tends to stay on 270 miles for ages as well...
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