Ok

Really 55.75 litres, but I still had 20 miles in reserve, the needle was VERY near abs zero mind.

Getting a bit twitchy I was.

That really is running it low!!! I think that the most I have ever put in is 49 litres. I get jumpy when it gets into the red zone.

I left "Senior Managment" at home btw!

(i) the 20 mile figure was based on 58mpg, per the trip computer.

(ii) The miles left fig decreases rapidly going downhill and increases on the flat, or going uphill, obviously on the downhill the fuel runs away from the float.

(iii) I like to live dangerously.

Edited 19 February, 201511 yr by dieseldogg

Managed 52.56 in my last tank

I spent 7 miles driving my E Class with the range reading 0 once , SWMBO was bouncing off the roof , the experience was so traumatic I would never do it again

I regularily drive 20-40 miles with my octy saying nil point on the computer.

 

get abit twitchy after that but i reckon there is probably at least a gallon in the bottom of the tank sloshing around when the float is bottomed out + 12ft of fuel pipe n the filter etc.

 

I think 50 miles max possibly would be the limit of safety :-)

Many moons ago, I used to check the empty level by filling a can of fuel and then running the tank dry. It gave me a good idea of the empty tank tolerance.

 

Saved me a few high heart rate moments  

I despise the moment mine drops below 1/4 full. A full tank is such a nice feeling!

My ex boss was always telling me don't let the diesel fall below quarter full on the dial.  Not only is it a PITA to get a diesel going again once it has run out but you are sucking up all kinds of cr4p from the bottom of the tank and potentially blocking the fuel filter.

My ex boss was always telling me don't let the diesel fall below quarter full on the dial.  ....... you are sucking up all kinds of cr4p from the bottom of the tank and potentially blocking the fuel filter.

 

Not that old myth again. The fuel pickup is at the bottom of the tank (or you couldn't use all the fuel) so any contaminants will go through anyway.

My old civic wouldnt show the fuel light until it hit below the bottom of the red line. I thought for ages it didnt have one until i ran it seriously low lol

Just like most of you though, once it hits the red "management" says it has to be filled lol

Just checked my Fuelly records and I've managed 58.78!

Most of them are around 55-57.

Fin

Just checked my Fuelly records and I've managed 58.78!

Most of them are around 55-57.

Fin

Doesn't the scout have a bigger tank though? I'm sure I've managed around 59 in mine!

Scout and 4x4 have 60ltr tanks, the 'poverty spec' Octavias have 55 ltr!

Fin

55.00 litres is the most fuel I have added in one fill-up.  That was in France when I forgot that many petrol stations there close on Sundays.  Although plenty of fill-ups have been over 50 litres.  I aim not to let the remaining range drop below 50 miles.

56L for 779 km

55L for 800km

54L for 841 / 818 / 822 km

 

I assume anything 55L+ is due to the pump being out of calibration (despite all the rules & regs) and temperature and how sensitive the auto-off is on the fuel filler handle.

 

I have been told there's a 9L reserve but have never been able to work out if that's after you hit the 1/8th mark (red zone / "refuel now!" on maxidot) or after you hit Empty.

 

Any ideas?

I thought 9 litres is what's left when the warning light comes on. I can do 80-100 miles with the light on, so it's about right. I must run too low, I regularly get 56-57L (first click)

So, if the standard spec Mk2 Octavia has a 55 litre tank, how are people managing to get 57 litres in - just asking :think:

Maybe the 55l does not include the full volume of the filler neck which is 30mm dia and what a foot long? = about 900ml roughly? maybe more? thats pretty much 56l for a basic start.

 

and you can fill them right up until the fuel is sat on the lip of the filler neck too.lol

Fuel volume alters with temperature , thats why F1 cars use weight

The fuel capacity quoted by manufacturers is usually the capacity of the tank itself. Any extra that can be crammed in is due to the filler neck.

good point.

Especially diesel more than petrol i would have thought too. colder = denser = more compact = more volume possible into a tank ?

I filled over 45 litres in the fabia Mk1 before without using the expansion tank. was surprised I hadn't ran out of fuel by time I got to the garage 

But 55 litres is still 55 litres, hot or cold. Yes on a cold day those 55 litres will be more dense and therefore contain more energy than on a hot day, but that doesn't mean you can fit more than 55 litres of fuel at a given temperature into a 55 litre tank.

Edited 20 February, 201511 yr by nick74

But 55 litres is still 55 litres, hot or cold. Yes on a cold day those 55 litres will be more dense and therefore contain more energy than on a hot day, but that doesn't mean you can fit more than 55 litres of fuel at a given temperature into a 55 litre tank.

Ahh no , volume increases with temperature

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-measure-volume-expansion-due-to-temperature.html