3k miles into ownership of my car now (last of the 275s). Like it with all of its quirks. One thing that completely confuses me is this guessing gauge for fuel. Whenever the gauge is in the dark red with the reserve light on (range is then already in --- on the trip computer), it's just a guessing game of what's left. On most occasions I could only fill around 50l (into what I believe is a 59 or 60l tank?). So this would suggest it is being very conservative? After a more enthusiastic drive on the continent yesterday, same happens. Needle low. Light on. Me thinking I can still go on a bit. I then still stopped. And refilled the bastard with 57l! Anyways: same on all cars? Are they just that inaccurate?
I know of 2 people running out of fuel, because they thought they could still drive a decent distance after the low fuel light, both were a 250. So I wouldn't 'test' how far you can go if I was you.
Don't plan to! Thanks! It's just random that sometime 'empty' according to gauge means 10l left, some other time 2l left. Bit inconsistent and big fluctuation.
Really silly keep driving on empty, I know a car that new should not have loads of crap in the bottom of the tank, but would still not do it
I'm with you! And can only agree. But even besides fuel filters that's not really the point. If I know that the car is consistent you can make sure that you fill it up on time. If the gauge shows anything between 2(!) and 10l with the same level, it's just weird.
All Renaults have done this with the range for quite a while. I think it's done because the gauge isn't the most accurate, and the best way to ensure you don't run out of fuel is to stop displaying the range, rather than letting the driver perhaps falsely believe they've got x-miles left. The range calculation is based on 2 numbers don't forget, these being fuel left in tank and recent fuel consumption. The consumption can change wildly depending on how you've driven over the time the calculation takes into account. I find the system pretty simple, not confusing at all. When the light comes on get, fuel soon
Yes, I do agree Xanda! But "light on" on mine could be anywhere between 2 and 10l! Will just stick with filling up sooner rather than later
Just thought I'd add to this thread. My megane rs250 fuel gauging seems buggered. Warning light comes on. Says 50 miles. 3 miles later it becomes - -. - - and I have no idea of range. Now after filling the needle seems to have stayed full for a bit longer than usual which is weird too. Damn French electrics.
They're supposed to change to --.--, it's probably because at that low it's no longer accurate at all. The physical guage will stay high for a bit because you're driving on the fuel in the filler neck.
But surely it shouldn't go from 50 range to - -. - - 3 miles later. That should be somewhere in the region of 40-50 miles with steady driving. How can it's accuracy have suddenly turned to shit. It was okay until recently. It would countdown to 10 mile range or so with no issues.
The accuracy relies on your driving, as well as the fuel left, and the software cannot know how you plan to drive in the future. This means that as the fuel level approaches empty, the accuracy level or predictability (range) becomes increasingly more unreliable, so below a certain point you get "--" on the display. As above, it's supposed to do this as a means of stopping you running out of fuel. It will go down to around 35 miles I think with very careful driving, but once it's gone to "--", you never get a reading back. If you suddenly start driving really aggressively, it will throw the dashes up from around 60 miles.
Mine has always gone from 50km to ----, guess it doesn't display lower then 50km. Usually fill up around 51 liters after the --- was displayed.
iirc it's not the range left but the amount of fuel where it cuts off, so if you average a higher mpg it'll switch to --- showing higner km/miles. It's supposed to do it when you have 1 gallon left I believe.
