Fuel gauge doesnt seem to be doing much

Jamesyboyjim

Jamesyboyjim

Jamesyboyjim

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Hi all, my 2010 Seat Ibiza is being a bit naughty at the moment, the fuel gauge doesn't appear to be doing a lot, its been nearly two weeks since I filled up, the trip says I've done just shy of 200 miles yet the fuel gauge has only dropped by two bars (its digital) and the range still reads 300 miles until empty. This is obviously way off as I normally fill up around 330 miles.

This problem has only started to occur since I last re-fuelled, the car has always been a pain to fill actually, you have to hold the nozzle in half way at a specific angle while gently squeezing the trigger or it'll constantly click off, perhaps I've overfilled it a bit? For now I'll just fill up as per what the trip says but what is going to be the likely culprit and will it be expensive or a pain to fix?
 
Tbh this is relatively normal when you brim a tank, my Corsa Diesel will do 100+ miles before the gauge moves and I can drive my 44t Scania Articulated truck from Stoke to London before the gauge moves after brimming it's twin tanks.
 
Scania said:
Tbh this is relatively normal when you brim a tank, my Corsa Diesel will do 100+ miles before the gauge moves and I can drive my 44t Scania Articulated truck from Stoke to London before the gauge moves after brimming it's twin tanks.
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Thanks, for the reply hopefully that's all it is then, the tank I'd say is about two thirds empty now though so I would have hoped it might have sorted itself out by now, we'll see I guess..
 
Stick a jerry can in the boot and run it until it dies that'll give you a better idea of what's going on.
 
Lashout_UK said:
Put some fuel in it, see how much it takes. Better than running out...
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I know how much is in there, going by the trip which I reset every fill, that's how I know the gauge is completely wrong. :)

tom_e said:
Stick a jerry can in the boot and run it until it dies that'll give you a better idea of what's going on.
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not a bad idea actually, although I wouldn't fancy running out on the motorway / busy A road!
 
I always brim my tank, and I get about 450 miles from a tank. If I believe the fuel gauge I'd get 300 miles out of the first half, and around 150 from the second half. In essence, fuel gauges are garbage and if you know roughly how many miles you get to a tank just fill up when you've done that mileage (or 3/4s of, etc).
 
it has a 45 litre tank, plus an extra 8 litre reserve, as mentioned in the book. venting the tank at fill up involves pushing the petrol pump along the right hand side of the filler opening, where you will see a switch - around the "3 o clock" position. that is the venting switch.
i have on plenty of occasions filled up 50 litres or more.
usually i get to around 150-180 miles before the first block goes out on the gauge. I can get to around 400 miles if im well behaved on mine - 2011 skoda facia vrs so same car
 
My leon does this.

First 100 miles or so the fuel guage doesn't move off full. Reckons i'll get 650 + miles out of a tank, then quickly comes back down to its usual 550 ish range once it cottons on to the fact there isn't as much fuel in there as it thinks there is.

Likely just one of those quirks you'll learn to live with.
 
This gives them the illusion that they are getting better fuel mileage or at least not immediately burning through that expensive tank of petrol they just bought, even if they quite literally are.
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Are people really that stupid? The car isn't magically traveling once you fill the tank :/
 
It used to be pretty accurate, its only just started playing up where I do think I put a bit too much fuel in, the nozzle kept dribbling for quite some time after I took my hand off the trigger too.

It's just as well I know how many miles I can do to a tank, but seeing as the problem has only just occurred, there's something not quite right.
 
The fuel gauge on my Ibiza is pretty bad too (2012 1.2TSI) - will do about 100-120 miles before the first "block" disappears, then rapidly downhill from there.

Like grudas said, first "half" on the gauge will be about 200-250 miles, then the last "half" only about 100. It's annoying; I generally reset the odo every time I fill up since I know I will get around 350 miles before filling up again.
 
tom_e said:
Stick a jerry can in the boot and run it until it dies that'll give you a better idea of what's going on.
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Better to just refill than rely on a Jerry can in modern diesels as some don't come with a priming hand pump, which can make restarting a nightmare at the side of the road,
 
230-250 miles to a tank :(

Starts dropping from full after about 70miles.
Aparrantly the first quarter of my take does 100miles easy, then it just dissappears xD
 
Abraxaz1 said:
Better to just refill than rely on a Jerry can in modern diesels as some don't come with a priming hand pump, which can make restarting a nightmare at the side of the road,
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No modern diesel will, they're all self priming - just put the ignition on and wait a while, repeat that a few times and start.
 
nicRob said:
No modern diesel will, they're all self priming - just put the ignition on and wait a while, repeat that a few times and start.
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Even diesels with lift pumps can take an age to start again after running out without priming it. Get air in the high pressure side and you can easily flatten a battery trying to get it going.
 
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