How accurate is the fuel computer?

[s3atl3onFR]

Should be recent consumption.... mine was 390 but have seen higher just after amotorway run.

 

[DaveI]

Had 0 on the display for about 5 miles, air con off and drafting the lorry in front at 55mph just in case. Going off other posts it looks like I could have gone home, then popped out to the shops then filled up!

 

[Mitchy]

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.

Hence why they invented a fuel filter

Lot of rubbish mate, i always run my tank right down to the bottom before brimming it full and have done 5+yrs now. Old fish wives tale from the 70's i think, or cars that ran carbs, V-power and the likes clean the fuel system, the bottom of your tank just doesn't flake away Any 'dirty' particles in the fuel are taken in by the fuel filter. No way would this get through to the injector!

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.

Something strange there, if it was showing 30 miles he should have had a good 50+ miles left in it. Also reference the ''safety'' feature, what a lot of rubbish. AA man doesn't know what he's talking about. I have filled my LCR with 4 litres from a green can after running out of fuel and it started 1st time. From a scientific point of view, i cant see how this ''safety'' feature would work as when it got down to a low level normally it would shut itself down (with fuel still in the tank)

Maybe the octavia system is totally different but i know for a fact reference the leon fuel system, its nothing like that

 

[Mitchy]

did you slow down after zero was displayed?

Was on an A road, so steady 55-60 in 6th gear. (kept below 3000 revs)

Like i said, managed 28miles before coming to a halt. Thats on a tuned LCR aswell

Some of you guys aint brave enough Or stupid enough

Easily good for 25 miles and have proven this twice (Have to keep it below 3000rpm though, and coast when you can)

 

[phil3012]

Hence why they invented a fuel filter

Lot of rubbish mate, i always run my tank right down to the bottom before brimming it full and have done 5+yrs now. Old fish wives tale from the 70's i think, or cars that ran carbs, V-power and the likes clean the fuel system, the bottom of your tank just doesn't flake away Any 'dirty' particles in the fuel are taken in by the fuel filter. No way would this get through to the injector!

As you say hopefully the fuel filter would stop anything damaging the engine or cat.

It does warn in the manual though not to run the tank completely dry. "An irregular fuel supply could cause misfiring. As a result, unburnt fuel could enter the catalytic converter and cause damage."

Something strange there, if it was showing 30 miles he should have had a good 50+ miles left in it. Also reference the ''safety'' feature, what a lot of rubbish. AA man doesn't know what he's talking about. I have filled my LCR with 4 litres from a green can after running out of fuel and it started 1st time. From a scientific point of view, i cant see how this ''safety'' feature would work as when it got down to a low level normally it would shut itself down (with fuel still in the tank)

Maybe the octavia system is totally different but i know for a fact reference the leon fuel system, its nothing like that

I found it bizarre too when my mate told me. The AA guy said that once the shut off has been activated to takes quite a lot of fuel before the engine will start.

Good to know the Leon isn't like that though. I left on a 70 mile journey showing 90 miles fuel left about 5 miles from my destination it read 10 miles left so i paniced and pulled into the nearest garage on the A19. It was a BP garage but didn't do BP Ultimate... The only time I have run on 95 RON.

Incidentially I actually ran out of fuel once on my Astra SRi with at least 30 miles of fuel in tank. It was a very hot day and the first of the two low fuel warnings had just come on. Parked on my Mum's sloped drive and came back, car wouldn't start. Argued with my Mum to give me a lift to buy some petrol and one green can did the trick.

 

[chrisboyle999]

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

was this deliberate?

 

[Mitchy]

No mate, but if your familar with the A66 which connects the A1 to the M6 at scotch corner you'll know it's a 50 mile stretch with no fuel garage on it. I just like playing chicken with it and its bit me in the arse twice, although i have made the journey hundreds of times. On a regular 350 mile journey, i usually reach the A66 having done around 280 miles and then try and get the 330 out of the tank before filling up. Ive just got a mental block about filling up early, dont know why, i just like to run the tank all the way to the bottom before brimming it back up.