I am noticing with my SM, model as below, that I have to really fill the tank to its limit to get the gauge to truly register full, which it sort of does. And then it starts to register fuel usage pretty much immediately, with the needle showing movement quite quickly. This is a bit in contrast with my Golf which used to register full at any point, really, that the pump switched off - regardless of how deep the pipe had been inserted, and waiting for the inevitable diesel foam to abate, and there was a distinct delay in seeing any needle movement. Theoretically, of course, the Yeti could be spot on. But I haven't done any real testing to see how mileage compares with the scale etc (it has always amazed me how manufacturers seem to have failed to be able to deliver accurate, linear, fuel monitoring. A friends new top end Merc is apparently no better..).

I wondered what experience other owners are having with their fuel gauges?

I am noticing with my SM, model as below, that I have to really fill the tank to its limit to get the gauge to truly register full, which it sort of does. And then it starts to register fuel usage pretty much immediately, with the needle showing movement quite quickly. This is a bit in contrast with my Golf which used to register full at any point, really, that the pump switched off - regardless of how deep the pipe had been inserted, and waiting for the inevitable diesel foam to abate, and there was a distinct delay in seeing any needle movement. Theoretically, of course, the Yeti could be spot on. But I haven't done any real testing to see how mileage compares with the scale etc (it has always amazed me how manufacturers seem to have failed to be able to deliver accurate, linear, fuel monitoring. A friends new top end Merc is apparently no better..).

I wondered what experience other owners are having with their fuel gauges?

When I first got the Yeti, I was also surprise of how quickly the needle move, ie after 20 miles, the needle would move. However, I believe this is accurate, unlike the older designs, where the needle might stay for 50 or 60 miles, then a sudden drop and dropping quite quickly. I think you will find the drop is similar whether you have a full tank or 1/4 full.

I have found that the fuel gauge is pretty damn accurate. Every large dividing mark equates to 75 miles travelled - in a 170 bhp diesel.

I have monitored this over nearly 13000 miles and found it to be a good estimate both of distance travelled and distance to be travelled.

I fill up to brimming every time, taking a bit more care over the last 1/4 litre or so.

Edited 3 November, 201015 yr by Freshacre

I suppose the fuel gauge measures fuel level in the tank in a linear fashion. Either with a pressure sensor or actual float . The Yeti tank has pretty much a rectangular crosssection, so it is pretty accurate - also my experience. Many fuel tanks change crossection as the level drops, so inaccuracies are related to tank shape - rounded off bottom as an example.

Fuel gauges are pretty accurate these days. They used to use what was basically a rheostat and ammeter with a 2 point calibration (full and empty) that was assumed to be linear for the purpose of interpolating the intermediate levels. This is fine in a rectangular tank but hopeless when the tank is not a uniform shape.

The output from a modern fuel level float is fed to the computer system that holds a multipoint calibration of the tank so inaccuracy is much reduced.

BTW a mate of mine had a 1964 Beetle as his first car. The fuel tank was in front of the windscreen and the fuel gauge was mechanical - operated by a cable!

Thanks for the responses folks - I am only just getting familiar with the beast, so it is good to get a view from those with more experience. Yes, tank shape is obviously a contributing factor to inaccuracy, I hadn't really considered that. Good - looks like the Yeti will be more accurate than previous cars in that respect!

I also got the same initial reaction to the quick decrease of fuel according to the gauge compared to earlier cars, but I have also realised that it really is quite accurate (just over 7000 km covered so far in 4 months). Also the scale is quite large (over 270 degrees), so there is quite some distance for the gauge to travel from full to empty!

On a 1.2 TSI DSG, one major tick is very close to 100 km, with a total range of 800 km if I don't drive too much in cities or do very much high-speed highway cruising.