How Much Fuel Left When Warning Light Comes On.

[jamies]

As the title says, How much fuel is generally left when the warning light comes on and tells me to refill.

I have a 03plate Ghia 1.9 TDI Galaxy.

 

Thanks

[Scorpiorefugee]

This is difficult to predict. Personally, I have done 50 miles and survived but it very much depends on the slope as the tank is on the OS and is fixed lengthways with channels caused by the design for the fixing straps.

I have just drained my tank via the tank unit hole in the top and it is obvious that there is a serious problem on slopes. I started with the gauge showing about 3/8, normally enough for 150 - 200 miles if I live dangerously. My drive is about 1 in 5 nose down and I could see a fair amount of fuel. After removing about 5 litres the level had dropped below the point where the fuel could have been sucked out by the tank unit. I continued to empty the tank and put the fuel into my other Galaxy leaving I guess about a gallon which was too much trouble to get out.

 

I went on a long trip the following day and reckon that the fuel I took out took me 300 - 350 miles being 6 gallons or more.

 

This is a problem which others have reported and my own experience is that, with 1/4 tank on my drive, if I leave it ticking over, it stops and is difficult to restart even on level ground with an extra 10 liters added.

 

Added to this, fuel gauges vary. On my '98 one I could get it down to the red before the light come on. My '52 seems to come on at just below 1/4. Also, on the level the gauge can read 1/4 tank more than on my drive.

 

The tank is nominally 70L but I have put as much as 75 at one go in both of mine.

 

Confusing, isn't it?

 

My advice is "Don't push it or you may end up doing just that."

[jamies]

My Light comes on when the gauge hits the red, where I park is on the flat, reason I am asking is that if it comes on on a Sunday, my nearest garage is about 6 miles away

[Scorpiorefugee]

In that case, provided you do not sit in any traffic queues on a downhill slope for too long you have nothing to worry about. Just remember that little quirk. When I first got mine I got stuck in a queue in central London with the gauge showing between red and 1/4 and still made the 120 miles home as I'd left my wallet at home. I'll never know how close that was but I did manage 745 miles on a tankful.