Distance to Empty=0. how many litres left

[GTom]

I've had mine with even driving at 30kms, and it took 52L or something. So for me, thats a tad close. Especially with the FSI engines that run high pressure, I would feel the potential of a fuel surge could be quite high, more so on the turbos.

I dunno, for the sake of it, I dont like risking it. And hey, with a full tank its what $5 tops the difference between filling up on the exxy day, and the 'cheap' day.

That's a bit Dangerous Daveo

[dangerous_daveo]

There is actually a word for it. Its petroulette.

[Mrk_Mickey]

I have a 55L tank (supposedly) in my VR6, and just before I lost my licence (petrol=172.9), if I got to the edge of the last indicator I'd fill up with about 75 bucks. That's only about 42 litres which has always stumped me. With the petrol prices I've seen at about 158.9, it's about 47 litres. There isn't much jump in price when you're filling up your tank, but I still hate filling up on the expensive days

[THR]

Do diesel really have expensive or cheap days though?

I rarely let mine get below 100km to go (i.e. never let it get close enough to be even near dry). I'd rather bay $2.50 - $5 more for the tank than run the risk of having an empty tank.

But of course, some people think $5 is the world, despite the fact they've spent $40k+ on their car

[POLARBEAR666]

Remember kids.

A half full tank is as good as a surge tank almost.

An almost empty tank and your chances of having the fuel slosh to one side and your pump to suck air or run lean increase.

I dont know what the design of the VW pumps is but in Subarus even the STI's which have a mini surge tank built in, can run dry on high speed cornering if your tank is almost empty.

I would not thrash the golf around corners if you are not more than 2 or 3 notches above the totally empty.

[zz2]

my guestimate is approx 40km after the computer says 0km. i have put 57litres in my tank once. im not proud of it but it was one seriously screwed up day i had

as for this so called 'crap' in the bottom of the tank.. well i have talked to many long time mechanics and most of them recon they have never seen this 'crap' for them selves. modern fuel filtering and refining techniques means its something of the past. that said im not saying it doesnt exist but im not worried about it

[PaulM]

Have been thinking about the so-called sludge issue.

I guess I have 2 schools of thought - obviously the first immediate one was don't let a tank get below half (which at best is impratical esp. on long trips). But then again wouldn't it better draining a tank regularly so that the sludge doesnt form in the first place???

[gareth_oau]

I honestly dont know if sludge really is an issue - it could be just an ald wive's tale from when cars ran leaded and fuel quality was lower.

Ive got two relatively new cars which only run 98, so I dont think its an issue for me.

However, if yr running an older car, with potential for rust in the tank it might be an issue.

I suspect if you check the fuel filter near yr tank, if its dirty, then that might suggest you have a problem

[VW Convert]

I honestly dont know if sludge really is an issue - it could be just an ald wive's tale from when cars ran leaded and fuel quality was lower.

Ive got two relatively new cars which only run 98, so I dont think its an issue for me.

However, if yr running an older car, with potential for rust in the tank it might be an issue.

I suspect if you check the fuel filter near yr tank, if its dirty, then that might suggest you have a problem

I'm with you Gareth, cars have come a long way over the years, when tanks were steel they were prone to collecting rust and crap. These days fuel quality is better and unless you did manage to pick up a dirty load of fuel I doubt it would be an issue.

Cheers

George

[funky_chilli]

I get to the servo & the 55L tank takes 55.59L using the 3 click method.

what's the 3 click method?

my guestimate is approx 40km after the computer says 0km. i have put 57litres in my tank once. im not proud of it but it was one seriously screwed up day i had

bloody hell 40km!?!?! i had my MINI in the negatives once - so i'm sure there is a reserve in these cars - but then i also ran out of juice TWICE in my MINI - and this was with the thingy at 12km and 8km so i dunno how accurate they are!!
btw does the golf gauge go below 0?? i've been close but haven't gotten there yet....nowadays i usually put petrol in way before i even get close due to my two experiences walking to the nearest servo to get some juice....

[Maverick]

what's the 3 click method?

Continuing to fill the car after the first click off.

A stupid practice that results in fuel being vented out of the tank as you drive along.

[brad]

what's the 3 click method?

Fill to the auto-shutoff, count to 10 to allow the fuel to settle & the air to burp out; fill to auto-shut off, count to 10; repeat.

Continuing to fill the car after the first click off.

A stupid practice that results in fuel being vented out of the tank as you drive along.

The fuel tank is a closed system - where is the fuel venting to?
Sure, fuel tanks used to vent to atmosphere in the old days. In my old ZD Fairlane, Superbug and other assorted crap earlier than 1980 - you'd be crazy to fill those to the brim - but I've never had a fuel vent issue in anything built from the late '80s onward. I've never seen any fuel spilled on the ground, I've never smelt any fuel. The 3-click method never gave any signs of leakage or atmospheric venting in my '89 Barina, '93 Bluebird, '98 Liberty or '98 Golf - I've also had a dozen 1988+ company cars through the household and none of them gave signs of leakage or venting. My Skoda has given 6.6L/100km for the last 2 tanks so I can't see that the fuel is going anywhere but into the combustion chamber.

I think ADR37 is the evaporative emissions standard that made the 3 click method workable without being socially irresponsible or wasteful.

I get the feeling that the only reason the 3 click method is "stupid" is because you don't agree with it personally.

[gregozedobe]

Continuing to fill the car after the first click off.

A stupid practice that results in fuel being vented out of the tank as you drive along.

Or a way of ensuring your diesel fuel tank is nowhere near full, reducing the distance you can travel before needing to refuel again, plus making all your fuel consumption records and calculations inaccurate

[funky_chilli]

Fill to the auto-shutoff, count to 10 to allow the fuel to settle & the air to burp out; fill to auto-shut off, count to 10; repeat.

cool thanks

[Maverick]

Fill to the auto-shutoff, count to 10 to allow the fuel to settle & the air to burp out; fill to auto-shut off, count to 10; repeat.

Yep the stupid method.

The fuel tank is a closed system - where is the fuel venting to?
Sure, fuel tanks used to vent to atmosphere in the old days. In my old ZD Fairlane, Superbug and other assorted crap earlier than 1980 - you'd be crazy to fill those to the brim - but I've never had a fuel vent issue in anything built from the late '80s onward. I've never seen any fuel spilled on the ground, I've never smelt any fuel. The 3-click method never gave any signs of leakage or atmospheric venting in my '89 Barina, '93 Bluebird, '98 Liberty or '98 Golf - I've also had a dozen 1988+ company cars through the household and none of them gave signs of leakage or venting. My Skoda has given 6.6L/100km for the last 2 tanks so I can't see that the fuel is going anywhere but into the combustion chamber.

So because you can't see it or smell it means it's ok does it?

Did it ever occur to that by filling the car past the first click (which is recommended by everyone except a few people ) that you are defeating the evaporative emissions control system?

Fuel vapors are recovered via the vapour separator and charcoal canister, if you fill the tank so that it's overfull liquid can work it's way into the vapour separator and charcoal canister which can damage them and also leave no room for the fuel vapour as the fuel heats and cools which ends up being vented to the atmosphere.

I think ADR37 is the evaporative emissions standard that made the 3 click method workable without being socially irresponsible or wasteful.

I get the feeling that the only reason the 3 click method is "stupid" is because you don't agree with it personally.

You are being socially irresponsible and wasteful and the 3 click system is STUPID.

RTA Reducing Petrol Emissions
"# Don't fill the petrol tank past the first click -expansion of the fuel can result in increased emissions."