MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Modifications & Technical Area => Technical Workshop => Topic started by: rdfcpete on June 09, 2009, 12:09:22 pm

Title: Fuel Gauge - Red area, how much left?
Post by: rdfcpete on June 09, 2009, 12:09:22 pm
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  :happy2:

Thanks,

Peter.
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge - Red area, how much left?
Post by: WhiteGTI on June 09, 2009, 12:33:55 pm
This may help you:

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1805.0
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge - Red area, how much left?
Post by: rdfcpete on June 09, 2009, 12:39:08 pm
Thanks fella.

Searching "fuel gauge" and "fuel dial" was silly then :(
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge - Red area, how much left?
Post by: john_o on June 09, 2009, 04:19:33 pm
or here  :happy2:
http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2968.0

24 miles !
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge - Red area, how much left?
Post by: WhiteGTI on June 09, 2009, 04:22:15 pm
^^^ Ahh that was the thread that I was looking for! Just couldn't find it! Good man!
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge - Red area, how much left?
Post by: rdfcpete on June 09, 2009, 04:29:52 pm
Cheers lads.

So once the fuel light is on and it hits a quarter or so, its not yet panic time = win  :smiley:
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge - Red area, how much left?
Post by: RedRobin on June 09, 2009, 04:35:32 pm
....

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.
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge - Red area, how much left?
Post by: WhiteGTI on June 09, 2009, 04:36:07 pm
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)  :smiley:
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge - Red area, how much left?
Post by: john_o on June 09, 2009, 04:41:20 pm
indeed its good to know if 'needed' but dont use it as a general rule  :grin:
thrash the car from 0 miles and you aint go very far  :grin:
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge - Red area, how much left?
Post by: rdfcpete on June 15, 2009, 09:09:40 pm
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.
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge - Red area, how much left?
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on June 29, 2009, 09:22:12 pm
....

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?  :wink: