Fuel Gauge - Red area, how much left?

[rdfcpete]

Guys,

Had my 2006 Grey 3 door Gti since last Weds.

I'm curious to find out about the Red line' area on the fuel gauge - Losing just under quarter of a tank to it is perhaps normal on most 'newer' cars and obviously the light comes on at this point when into the red. I'm not planning on running it down to the penny grind each time on the 97 stuff, but was interested to know if when it's in the red and says only 40 miles left on the trip, is that 40 miles left till literally empty, or 40 miles left till the emergency fuel tank (should it have one?!) kicks in?

I know many of the Diesel VAG group have an emergency fuel tank, perhaps the petrol Golfs don't?

In an emergency, it'd be nice to know how far I can go on with steady driving before it really will run out of fumes 

Thanks,

Peter.

[WhiteGTI]

This may help you:

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1805.0

[rdfcpete]

Thanks fella.

Searching "fuel gauge" and "fuel dial" was silly then :(

[john_o]

or here 
http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2968.0

24 miles !

[WhiteGTI]

^^^ Ahh that was the thread that I was looking for! Just couldn't find it! Good man!

[rdfcpete]

Cheers lads.

So once the fuel light is on and it hits a quarter or so, its not yet panic time = win 

[RedRobin]

....

Bear in mind though that it's not a good idea at all to run your car much less than 1/4 full - You don't want the residue stuff.

[WhiteGTI]

Correct! Once the fuel light comes on you should have an indicated range of about 35miles, although from my experience this range goes down very very very quickly to 0 - even though I am driving very economically. Then when the range reads '0 miles', you should have about 15-20 miles left until you really run out (obviously dependent on how you drive)  

[john_o]

indeed its good to know if 'needed' but dont use it as a general rule 
thrash the car from 0 miles and you aint go very far 

[rdfcpete]

LOL indeed. I just found it firstly bizarre that the fuel light came on just under 1/4 of a tank, but then with a heavy right foot, that's not much driving left as you say at 35/40 odd miles.

Must admit I can't complain at all with the MPG I get really. Never less then 29mpg overall and means I don't have to fill up more than £30 a week.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

....

Bear in mind though that it's not a good idea at all to run your car much less than 1/4 full - You don't want the residue stuff.

So what is the fuel filter for?  And why does the fuel pick up from the very bottom of the tank?