Fuel Tank Reserve

[andycupra]

it really depends how you have been driving how far you can get on 0 miles.
Its calculated on the the last few miles of driving. So if you have been spanking it and get 0 showing, then think 'oh no ill run out' and drive slowely you would probably get many many miles as the zero was displayed based on you driving like a loon. In fact, check the display again after some easy miles and it may well say 20 miles left!

On the other hand, if you have been driving very sensibly when the zero comes on, then you wont be able to get that far.

oh and based on the fast the mileage predictor displays intervals of 5.. it will change from 5 to zero from 4 miles...

 

[kriso]

Yea it does depend on how you drive. But my warning sound didn't come on until it said 15 miles remaining yesterday.

 

[st10587]

I cant see how running out of fuel would affect the timings at all. Most modern fuel injected cars will shut the whole thing down if the fuel rail can't get to working pressure.

it lets air through the injectors which throws the timing out (only on diesels as there high pressure systems). im only going on what a tech at work has said happens to BMW's and also happened to his dads mk4 golf diesel (he was told by v.w it was due to running low on fuel and where the fuel was slopping round the tank it was letting air in to the system which screwed the timing up)

 

[andycupra]

Yea it does depend on how you drive. But my warning sound didn't come on until it said 15 miles remaining yesterday.

the warning light is a different system, it just highlights you to a set amount of remaining fuel, not by how far you have left. By the sounds of it you were not driving economically just before it came on.

 

[diss_50]

Ive had 52 miles from when the car said '0' miles - well into the red zone!. Got to work fine then planned to fill up after work the olnly problem was the tank was empty! As soon as it didnt start I knew I had ran out and didnt attempt to start again. So grabbed my spare fuel tank out the boot topped up £5 diesel then put it in the car.

Due to hearing stories about timing getting f**ked, air in the system, injectors etc I didnt attempt to start the car again. So i turned the ignition to the first position to get the fuel pump started then off again repeated this till the point no more fuel could be put into the pipe (around 7 times) then finally turned the key to fire the engine up. Needless to say it started and 3 months later the car is going strong - not ran outta diesel again though! Learned my lesson!

 

[R1ch85]

i got around 40 miles out of my tank when the needle was on zero! Thought i was gonna run out cos it was late and all the petrol stations i came to were shut! Was driving like a saint tho, and coasting as much as poss just to save fuel lol.. prob got around 60-65 from when the red light first came on

 

[GazGT]

The computer on mine is alot more cautious than it was on my fabia. The lowest I got that to show was 5 miles, at which point it took over 45 litres to fill it up. On this, I've let it get to zero a few times, the fuel gauge still reads top of the red and the most I've got in was about 41 litres. Need to vent I think, didn't realise you could get so much extra!

 

[DEAN0]

I cant see how running out of fuel would affect the timings at all. Most modern fuel injected cars will shut the whole thing down if the fuel rail can't get to working pressure.

The high pressure pumps used on modern diesel engines use the oil in the fuel as lubricant. no fuel = no lubrication. This very quickly ruins the pump.

The timing can be affected if small amounts of air get in to the system. Diesel timing is set by the amount of compression at a particular point in the cycle. If you have less fuel - there is less compression and the timing is retarded.

The method used by diss_50 is probably the best one if you ever run out of diesel. It gets the fuel system full again before you try to run the engine.

 

[mattyb95]

Just had a look in my petrol Ibiza and it seems to have a venting button too which I'd never noticed. Little circular flick switch just on the right inside the fuel nozzle. Am quite excited now for the next time I visit the pumps.

 

[Skisbp]

Had taken this to help a member over on BriSkoda, Thought it might clarify what the Vent-Valve looks like for any still in doubt.