Fuel range indicator says I can drive 180 miles until empty. I drive half a mile and the indicator already says 165 miles left. What’s wrong?
My 09 passat, just started to give me what I think wrong fuel readings? I put some gas, indicator says I can drive for 180 miles til empty, 1 Mile later, it indicates 165 miles left? What's wrong? Is it using gas like crazy or is sending the wrong info?
My car has 101000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
This calculation your car performs is a constantly varying calculation due to a couple of things. One part of this calculation is based upon the driving habits of the driver and how the throttle is used in combination with how much fuel is left in the tank. The computer calculates a running average of the fuel used relative to how much fuel is in the tank. As you use more throttle consistently, this average mileage to empty calculation goes down. However, if you feel something is definitely out of the ordinary, have a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, diagnose your car’s fuel mileage issue.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The Fuel Range feature in the driver information center (DIC) displays approximately how many miles you can drive your vehicle before you next need to refuel.
A bad fuel injector or dirty/old fuel filter can drastically affect the flow of fuel into the engine. A fuel system problem is one of the most common causes of poor gas mileage. The more you run your A/C, the lower gas mileage you will get.
There`s no hard and fast measurement — each automaker turns the light on with different amounts of gas left in the tank — but a general rule of thumb is between 30 and 50 miles.
Speeding increases fuel consumption and decreases fuel economy as a result of tire rolling resistance and air resistance. While vehicles reach optimal fuel economy at different speeds, gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 miles per hour (mph).
“Overall, they are fairly accurate, but as you`re getting towards those lower amounts of gas in your gas tank, if you`re relying on it for the exact mileage to that next exit and to that gas pump, you could be in some trouble if you`re taking it that literally.”
Is it safe to drive with the fuel filter warning light on? While it`s not an emergency when the light first comes on, it is important that you get the filter drained as soon as possible. Waiting too long will let the water build up and eventually let it get to your engine where it can cause some serious damage.
They found that once the warning light comes on, there is usually about 10 litres (2.6 U.S. gallons) of fuel left in the tank.
Yes: The alternator, which is powered by the engine, is what provides energy to the air conditioner. The engine runs on fuel, meaning you are using up gas when you run the AC. With that said, enjoying a bit of cool air doesn`t necessarily mean you`re being inefficient.
Get the miles traveled from the trip odometer, or subtract the original odometer reading from the new one. Divide the miles traveled by the amount of gallons it took to refill the tank.
The Energy Saving Trust says that the most efficient speed you can travel in a car in terms of achieving the best fuel economy is 55-65mph. Any faster, though, and the fuel efficiency decreases rapidly.
Most cars, vans, pickup trucks and SUVs are most fuel-efficient when they`re travelling between 50 and 80 km per hour. Above this speed zone, vehicles use increasingly more fuel the faster they go.
These days, 23 MPG or higher in combined EPA fuel economy is considered good gas mileage for your vehicle.
Gas ranges heat the cooktop and the oven with gas. Dual fuel ranges heat the oven with electricity and the cooktop with gas. The advantage of dual fuel ranges is to have the precise temperature control of electricity to heat the oven instead of the temperature fluctuations that often happens in gas ovens.
The easiest way to calculate your gas mileage is to simply divide the number of miles traveled by the number of gallons of gas your vehicle took to refill. In sum, that`s miles driven divided by gallons of gas used.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Fuel range indicator says I can drive 180 miles until empty. I drive half a mile and the indicator already says 165 miles left. What’s wrong?
ANSWER : This calculation your car performs is a constantly varying calculation due to a couple of things. One part of this calculation is based upon the driving habits of the driver and how the throttle is used in combination with how much fuel is left in the tank. The computer calculates a running average of the fuel used relative to how much fuel is in the tank. As you use more throttle consistently, this average mileage to empty calculation goes down. However, if you feel something is definitely out of the ordinary, have a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, diagnose your car’s fuel mileage issue.
when my gas gage hits 35 miles left the miles left disapers and the empty tank lites up how far can i drive that way
ANSWER : Hello. I would trust the gauge. I’m guessing somewhere around 35 miles. It’s good practice to not run your vehicle that close to being out of fuel. If there is ever an emergency, you won’t have time to stop to get gas, and if you were to hit unexpected traffic on the highway, you could end up stranded.
Lost half a tank of fuel in less than 2 miles. the tank is empty. can’t see a leak
ANSWER : I would first get a 5 gallon gas can and put it in the tank to see if gas gauge registers the fuel. Then turn on the key and listen for fuel pump operation to see if pump runs. Recheck for any leaks in the engine compartment and under truck. Pull out oil dipstick to see if you are overfull of oil and it smells like fuel. You may have a bad fuel pressure regulator that leaked all the excess fuel into the engine real fast. You would of noticed the engine running rough or blowing black smoke. I suggest you get some help from a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, if you can’t pinpoint the leak.
1983 toyota corolla 69,000 miles. Not sure if it’s a problem with fuel lines, fuel tank, or fuel filter.
ANSWER : If the exhaust smells like gasoline, the fuel mixture is either way too rich or you have a weak ignition system that is not burning the fuel efficiently. You can pull spark plugs out to check them and if they are wet or black they may be fouled and this can cause very rough running, misfires and stalling. Consider hiring an experienced technician like one from YourMechanic who can come out for a closer inspection of the vehicle in order to run a few tests and offer a more personal diagnosis of your stalling and drivability concerns.
My fuel guage is not working and always tells me i have a full tank. Will my fuel light still come on if my tank is close to empty?
ANSWER : This is a problem likely related to your fuel tank sending unit. The fuel tank sending unit is a small float type component (or sensor) inside your fuel tank that measures the level of the fuel inside the tank. As the fuel level drops, this change is detected and relayed in the form of a signal to the car’s computer which then displays the reading on the fuel gauge in your dash. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and repair your fuel sending unit.
I was at 50 miles from empty. I just filled up to full and it only gave me about 215 miles from empty. Typically it holds up 350 p
ANSWER : The fuel range calculator in your car’s computer works based upon your most recent driving conditions. The throttle position sensor constantly calculates your fuel range based upon your driving behaviors. You will notice, if you are driving more aggressively or faster more often, the expected range will go down. On the other hand, when you drive more conservatively, it will go up. If you really feel as if it’s abnormal to your driving behavior, have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, diagnose your lowered mileage and help you fix it accordingly.
I have a 1981 e-350 with dual fuel tanks the p.o. added a third tank and 3 electric fuel pumps along with sepparate gauges and swi
ANSWER : The switch you are referring to is vended with the required electrical and fuel schematic (I just looked in the box) that answers your installation question. If you want an advance view, here is a link as well. Yes, you need a return line and just refer to the aforementioned link. If you are retrofitting back to OEM, I strongly encourage you to buy the original Factory Service Manual (FSM). There are lots of details attending this system and obviously it is difficult to recount it all here. The FSM will make your life much easier and you can then make sure your installation is perfect. Alternatively, YourMechanic can dispatch a certified mechanic and perform the whole retrofit and check out if you desire. Just request and schedule a generic service such as fuel pump service and the mechanic will come to your location and estimate the parts and labor required. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Transmission fluid leak, power loss, extremely high fuel usage.
ANSWER : Hello – I would focus on the transmission issue first. If you have the transmission fluid back to its proper level, check for problem codes, whether the Check Engine light is lit or not. An auto parts store will read these codes for you for free. Low fluid level can easily result in poor performance and burned clutches, and can cause foaming out of the filler dipstick and onto the engine. If after refilling transmission fluid, there are no problem codes, I would recommend having a Transmission Fluid Service completed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, to diagnose this problem, get an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs. If there are transmission codes, and/or the "Wrench" symbol is still illuminated, I would recommend taking your vehicle to a reputable transmission repair facility for a thorough diagnostic analysis. The "high fuel consumption" indicated in the instrument cluster is likely a secondary indicator of the transmission issue. Resolve the transmission performance problem first, then check fuel mileage.
