Low fuel warning...

[Jimrod]

Hi guys,

Just a quick question about the low fuel warning - anyone have any experience of how accurate the "Distance remaining" is?

Mine was on the orange light for about 15 miles and for that entire time the distance remaining said 50 miles exactly, usually I'd trust this but since my driving style hadn't altered to be more economical over that distance I got a bit suspicious, filled the car up at £1.30 per litre* and put just over £60 in, in my old Honda Civic with 50 litre tank (same size according to Parkers) this amount of fuel would be reading as just about 0 miles left. Having been stung by previous Fiats where the orange light means GET TO THE GARAGE ASAP!! I'm a bit wary of running out nowadays!


*This was ASDA so no premium unleaded, how important is it to get the good stuff over the cheap stuff with the TSI? I've heard it matters.

[dimexi]

It's calculated using your Average trip MPG - and since this is variable with distance, it wont be accurate at all. I tend to fill up 30 miles after I get the warning light on. No use playing Russian Roulette with it, cos one day, your luck might run out

[Jimrod]

Ahh, cheers for that! My Fiat Panda 100hp managed to run out within 20 miles, embarrassing (bad enough that you're driving a Panda !). The Honda seemed pretty bang on but the Scirocco left me wondering if the remaining fuel warning actually worked at all...

[dimexi]

I only noticed because I realised the "miles left in the tank" changed with my trip MPG - so I assume it goes by that. At least it measures down to the last 5 miles, so it's as accurate as you can get I suppose (except if you start your trip with 5 miles left in the tank ).
My old renault GT used to stop tell you at about 30 miles left, so I was in a constant state of panic ....


Hahahaha - Fiat Panda

[Jimrod]

Hahahaha - Fiat Panda

I traded it in for a Grande Punto! Sucker for punishment! To be fair that was a diesel and I had it remapped to 184bhp and near 300 ft/lb of torque, never skipped a beat and got 50mpg, much faster than the Scirocco too! At 17k the suspension on the front snapped, which I knew was a potential weak point so couldn't live with it after that as potholes would be a permanent concern! The BMW 530i I replaced it with used to just glide over everything (similar performance and economy to this Roc to be fair as well!)

[dimexi]

The suspension snapped?!? Hope it didn't lead to an accident!

The Roc is the first car I've owned above 200bhp - really enjoying it so far (8 months so far). There are a lot of 'rocs in the end of the country I'm living in at the moment though, so I don't stand out at all .

One thing I forgot to add was - the car uses the Average trip MPG AND the number of gallons still left in the tank - but you probably figured that out.

So technically, the warning light comes on when the level of fuel in the tank drops into the red... No matter how many miles it percieves you have left

[Jimrod]

The suspension snapped?!? Hope it didn't lead to an accident!

Fortunately not, was only going about 30mph towards a roundabout and slowing when I head a loud bang like the car had been shot! This was immediately followed by the front right side dipping and jangling as I crept home around the corner. I'd read about it being a potential problem area on the diesel Puntos...

The Scirocco is not too common round here (Swindon/Cirencester) and most I see are white so my silver looks a little classier to my eyes now, this could well be a case of beauty in the eye of the beholder of course I do like the solid build and quiet, refined ride compared to the similar sized Honda Civic I had before, a definite upgrade in many areas if not economy!

[dimexi]

The suspension snapped?!? Hope it didn't lead to an accident!

Fortunately not, was only going about 30mph towards a roundabout and slowing when I head a loud bang like the car had been shot! This was immediately followed by the front right side dipping and jangling as I crept home around the corner. I'd read about it being a potential problem area on the diesel Puntos...

The Scirocco is not too common round here (Swindon/Cirencester) and most I see are white so my silver looks a little classier to my eyes now, this could well be a case of beauty in the eye of the beholder of course I do like the solid build and quiet, refined ride compared to the similar sized Honda Civic I had before, a definite upgrade in many areas if not economy!

Good thing it didn't happen at a high speed!
Why did you go from a 530i to a 'roc?

I am close to you! Currently living in Bristol at the moment, and 'rocs are all over the place - mine is black too so I stand out even less . The Golfs are more rare

[Jimrod]

Yeah, was a little lucky with that! I sold the 530 because it had got to 90k and the £500+ bills were getting more common, lovely car though. Never been a fan of the saloon boot either - huge car, impractical storage!

I probably see another Roc about once a day, not uncommon but not Ford Focus-like either I think I just realised why the MPG seems a little low as I just checked the PSI and I had about 24 all round which much have cost me a few miles per tank! Might be why the tyres were a little screechy too! (they are the originals as far as I can tell, that'll be my next upgrade as they're quite cracked despite reasonable tread...

[dimexi]

I had exactly that when I bought my 'roc. Had low tyre pressure for up to a month before I checked it, and it made a suprising difference to MPG... Made the front tyres wear faster though! That and the numerous wheel spins in snow last year. I've since changed my front tyres

[Jimrod]

Aye, I'll either splash out on some Eagle F1 Asymmetric's or just skimp a little and get some Vreidestein's which look to be a lot quieter. I rarely go nut's on the B-roads now I'm approaching 40 anyway :\

[Deagol]

It's calculated using your Average trip MPG - and since this is variable with distance, it wont be accurate at all. I tend to fill up 30 miles after I get the warning light on. No use playing Russian Roulette with it, cos one day, your luck might run out

Does anyone get the feeling that once the last few litres are in the tank - and the MFG warns you - that the "Range / distance remaining" on the MFD shrinks artificially quickly ? It's as if the car is system has been programmed to panic you into refilling (fair enough - I wouldn't want to run dry in a diesel). I have a mate whose Toyota MR2 fuel guage definitely did that, but it was pre-computer days and could have been down to the design of the fuel tank shape.

The next generation will probably have a voice module which starts off fairly calm "Please refuel as soon as possible" moving on to "Loo, please put some fuel in - NOW ! ! "

Let's hope there's no third message of "Now look what you've done..."

[skippy]

The range does seem to reduce at quite a rate of knots once the light comes on, I never trust it to be honest. The light being on is enough to distract me so I have to fill up ASAP.

That said, I remember doing my original test drive in 2009 and the salesman was not perturbed at all despite the range indicating 5 miles left!

[RisingRoc]

Annoyingly, my warning light as stopped working so anytime I get below 40miles range I'll head for a fill up.

[Skollers]

I have had mine on 0miles many times, seems ok but generally I'm just about to some diesel in anyway !

[rm0rgan]

Hahahaha - Fiat Panda

I had a Panda 100BHP once - I can honestly say it was one of the most fun cars I have ever owned - loved being thrashed - was like a roller skate around bends (aside from its rather see-saw kind of ride at times) but I loved it!!!