I have a Scout 1.2 TSI 105PS and have had it from new since August 2011. I noticed starting after the last three fills that the display showing how many miles to go before a petrol refill is needed are suspiciously large.

For example when the tank is full the display shows more than 550 miles to go. This does not go down and nor does the bar gauge until I've driven 150 miles or so as shown on the trip display.

Right now the corresponding display figures are 330 and trip 267 which add up to 597 miles for a full tank of 55 litres.

The car averages 45mpg or 10m/litre so I calculate that the sum of the two numbers on the display should not be greater than 550.

Is it possible that the fuel gauge sender unit is now faulty?

I don't think so. I also originally had concerns regarding the fuel gauge (check the comments here: http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/200568-new-roomster-tsi-fuel-gauge-off/) It seems that the tank is a lot wider at the top than the bottom, and the gauge displays linearly to the level of fuel meaning that in the beginning the fuel gauge does drop very slowly (if at all) and after half tank it goes down very quickly. If you have VCDS (or know anybody that has) you can tune the gauge a bit to be less optimistic. I guess this is really a feature of this car, and yours is not faulty in any way.

For comparison: I drive mostly on A-roads (albeit shorter distances sometimes and I get around 38 MPG. The onboard computer gives me a total range of about 680 miles in the after fill-up, but towards the end of the tank it usually drops to around 500 miles. I have never tried a full 500 miles on one tank, but at least on A-roads longer distances it should not be any problem.

Mines exactly the same, I can put say 4 gallons in and itll say I have a range of 270 miles which just isnt possible. Just ignore it, wait for the fuel to get low and put more in when you need it.... like we used to!

Thanks all for your replies. Incidentally I filled the tank this morning and the range showed 530 miles so I've cancelled the booking with the Skoda garage here.

Have to say having just done some driving around Loch Ness, lots of 60mph roads I have achieved my best range from 1 tank of fuel 556 miles which for a petrol car I think is pretty good. As well as the fuel in the tank is the range not updated based upon the last few miles of driving (mpg) so if you have been sitting at traffic lights rather than cruising at 60mph the range can vary as can the estimated range after a fill up.

On my fuel gauge 1st bar usually gives me between 100 and 150 miles, from 2 bars to 1 bar about 50 miles, last bar about 30 miles.

is the range not updated based upon the last few miles of driving (mpg) so if you have been sitting at traffic lights rather than cruising at 60mph the range can vary as can the estimated range after a fill up.

I think that's what's supposed to happen but mine always gives a range of 450 miles when I fill up but it only manages 300 to 320 at about 27/28 mpg with our stop/start journeys over here. In the UK or France towing a caravan and only averaging the low 20s it still says we can go 450 miles ona a fill and it says the same if solo average g the upper 30s mpg.

Also when the reserve warning pings it says we have 35 miles to empty but within 2 or 3 miles it's down to 25.5

I just ignore the range readings.

Edited 9 July, 201213 yr by Calomax