Fuel/Distance Remaining, how low can it go?

[jc74]

Does anyone whether there is any margin for error in the distance remaining display?

I was driving around remote parts of Cornwall Friday evening, and looking to fill up, and most of the petrol stations were closed. Was down to 15 miles remaining before finding a petrol station which was open.

Reason I ask is that in previous cars, even when reaching zero miles remaining you usually still have another 20 or so miles. Not sure if that's the case on the Scirocco or not, but fortunately didn't find out either. Not knowing the local area, I put a bit in at the first place I found rather than holding out for a non-extortionately priced station!

[maisbitt]

It seems to be approximately 5 litres (I read that somewhere - maybe the manual?) - i've not chanced it beyond 20 miles after "0 miles remaining" though.

[jmn82]

I'd go with around 5 litres as well. Spec says the car has a 55 litre tank, and on the one occasion mine got to zero I was only able to get about 51 litres in when I got to the garage.

[jc74]

I'd go with around 5 litres as well. Spec says the car has a 55 litre tank, and on the one occasion mine got to zero I was only able to get about 51 litres in when I got to the garage.

Hmm, when I got to 15 miles remaining, I put a fiver in at 111.9 (so about 4.5 litres). It showed 65 miles remaining. After driving about 20 miles, I filled up when it showed 45 miles remaining with £53 at 104.9 (so about 50.5 litres).
I didn't realise the tank was 55 litres. This should indicate that in my case I probably only had 5 spare miles after the zero??!
Or have I miscalculated something?

[alexroc]

I got down to 0 miles remaining and was about 5 miles away from the nearest petrol station. When I filled up it stopped at 53 litres - so there is definitely about 2 or 3 litres left in the tank when the display says 0 miles remaining.
Anyone remember that top gear episode when Jezza drove a diesel Audi A8 from London to scotland and back on one tank? His display said 0 miles remaining for ages and i think he got at least 50 miles extra out of it. (but i could be wrong it was several years ago!) I mention this because I am sure the fuel tank sensors and computer kit are probably similar across the whole VAG group.

[figface]

i think the tank is 55 litres with a 7 litre reserve which is start used when light comes on..

[insanojackson]

i think the tank is 55 litres with a 7 litre reserve which is start used when light comes on..

it cant be this as from light to brimmed only takes about 45litres in my car.

[skippy]

When I did my original test drive of the Roc (2.0 TSi) back in January, the light was already on and indicated 15 miles to empty. The salesman was not the least bit concerned and said there was plenty.

I did not share his confidence but I did not hold back on the test drive (why should I). It was not long until it was indicating 5 miles to empty and he still was not bothered by this indication, so yes there is every chance it will run on past zero but I don't like to chance it!

[sciroccoboy]

You can co until it stops. FACT!

[peter.vw]

Advice to all, in the good old days when a fuel gauge was a needle that flickered about and you never really knew how much fuel you had the best thing to do with a new car was to fill a gallon can and put it in the boot then drive the car till it run out, you then knew how much fuel was left in the tank when your gauge got to empty.
You can then put in your gallon (5lts)from the can and see were that was on the gauge, then go to the nearest garage fill the tank to the top and then you will then know to the nearest half liter the tank capacity, simple

[breezimus]

Advice to all, in the good old days when a fuel gauge was a needle that flickered about and you never really knew how much fuel you had the best thing to do with a new car was to fill a gallon can and put it in the boot then drive the car till it run out

I've been told that if you run out of petrol in a car with a catalytic converter in it, then you're in danger of damaging it (the cat that is). Anyone know if there's any truth in this or am I in urban myth territory?

Dan

[S8N]

I got it to down 5 miles remaining ... then broke down (mentally) and filled up.

[BAIKAR]

Advice to all, in the good old days when a fuel gauge was a needle that flickered about and you never really knew how much fuel you had the best thing to do with a new car was to fill a gallon can and put it in the boot then drive the car till it run out

I've been told that if you run out of petrol in a car with a catalytic converter in it, then you're in danger of damaging it (the cat that is). Anyone know if there's any truth in this or am I in urban myth territory?

Dan

Yes it's bad so all this talk about running it till it stops is a bad idea.

[Kev]

You can co until it stops. FACT!

That's true, kianok, but I don't think I'd want to risk it.

[peter.vw]

Advice to all, in the good old days when a fuel gauge was a needle that flickered about and you never really knew how much fuel you had the best thing to do with a new car was to fill a gallon can and put it in the boot then drive the car till it run out

I've been told that if you run out of petrol in a car with a catalytic converter in it, then you're in danger of damaging it (the cat that is). Anyone know if there's any truth in this or am I in urban myth territory?

Dan

Yes it's bad so all this talk about running it till it stops is a bad idea.

if your running a TDI then you dont have the problem.

[Greeton]

i think the tank is 55 litres with a 7 litre reserve which is start used when light comes on..

it cant be this as from light to brimmed only takes about 45litres in my car.

A "roughly" 55 litre tank with a 7 litre reserve when the light comes on is exactly what the manual states as per previous statements. I guess that some of this "capacity" would be also to do with fuel in the system itself too.

G.

[ZephyR]

Advice to all, in the good old days when a fuel gauge was a needle that flickered about and you never really knew how much fuel you had the best thing to do with a new car was to fill a gallon can and put it in the boot then drive the car till it run out

I've been told that if you run out of petrol in a car with a catalytic converter in it, then you're in danger of damaging it (the cat that is). Anyone know if there's any truth in this or am I in urban myth territory?

Dan

Yes it's bad so all this talk about running it till it stops is a bad idea.

As I understand it the problem is that if you let your tank run dry then air can get drawn up in to the system. This means that when you fire it up again, after filling up, air will get blown through the system presenting a weak mix as the engine first tries to fire up. As a result unburnt fuel can pass through the engine and in to the cat which is bad news for the cat.
And I wouldn't be surprised if it causes damage to the injectors too.

[the_tyce]

Filled up my motor last night, having ran it well in to the red on the fuel guage, and got 55.15l in it. So, I then thought to check the onwer's manual to find the official fuel tank capacity, to see quite how close to being stranded on the M40 I had gotten. It states fuel tank capaity is 72l! Surely this is a typo??? If not, it's a colossal tank for a hatch, and why the hell does the fuel light come on when there so much left?

[tildesley]

same in my manual, takes 50/52 litres from the red. if it was taking 72 litres and i was only getting 250 miles, i'd cry!

[skippy]

That little light coming on is no good for my nerves even though there is a claimed 65 miles left, do you know how many miles were showing on yours when you filled up?