Problem with fuel gauge?

[jps]

Hey guys

I think there might be something wrong with the fuel gauge on my 255.

When I picked it up and drove it home last week, I reset the MPG and fuel mileage calculator. It told me I would comfortably get to my destination - that I had 100 miles of fuel in the tank (I had about 40 to go and was cruising at 65) yet the needle went right down to the red very fast and the petrol light did NOT come on. Worried I was going to run out, I found somewhere to fill up and brimmed her. It only let me put in 45 litres of fuel. Am I right in saying that a full tank would hold 61 litres?

I thought at first it might be because the computer needed to re-calibrate itself with me resetting the digital fuel gauge, but the same thing has happened again now. It was saying I had loads of miles left in the tank yet I was down to one bar - which will obviously not get me 100 miles.

I had one bar left and I just filled it until it clicked and it let me put in 43.6 litres of fuel. It sounds like there might be something wrong with the fuel gauge and the sensor for it?

Has anyone heard of this before? Or am I just wrong about the size of the fuel tank and this is normal? Do your digital "until empty" miles usually work out about right? Like I said the strangest thing was no petrol light coming on.

Thanks in advance and I am intrigued to see what you guys think.

Josh

 

[Duncan]

Sounds pretty normal to me. The fuel gauge is not linear.

I always found the number of miles to be relatively accurate.

 

[GPH]

Duncan - I'm surprised you didn't know the "technical reason"
Josh - Welcome to the quirks of V6 ownership. Don't worry, your car is the same as everyone else's. Renault didn't bother to recalibrate the gauge reading when they fitted the 10 litres larger tank than a regular Clio, into the Vee! so when you get onto the red you will still have at least the usual 5 litres reserve plus your Vee bonus 10 litres. Hence you were only able to get 45 litres in. Therefore at least 60 miles left when its on the red.
The trip computer read out is correct. It's part of the "Brave pill" training that Clarkson joked about in his review , to keep driving while the fuel gauge is on empty.

 

[jps]

Duncan - I'm surprised you didn't know the "technical reason"
Josh - Welcome to the quirks of V6 ownership. Don't worry, your car is the same as everyone else's. Renault didn't bother to recalibrate the gauge reading when they fitted the 10 litres larger tank than a regular Clio, into the Vee! so when you get onto the red you will still have at least the usual 5 litres reserve plus your Vee bonus 10 litres. Hence you were only able to get 45 litres in. Therefore at least 60 miles left when its on the red.
The trip computer read out is correct. It's part of the "Brave pill" training that Clarkson joked about in his review , to keep driving while the fuel gauge is on empty.

This is amazing knowledge and just what I wanted to hear! I really wasn't sure if there was something wrong or not - that's great to know, thanks Graeme :salut: Bonus 10 litres haha

So just to be clear.....the petrol light would eventually come on if I was to keep driving? And also, that means the digital readout of miles until empty is *about* correct? Just that the fuel gauge will be incorrect?

 

[® Andy]

So I've always joked about the non-linear nature with the first half going slowly and the second half in the blink of an eye, along with fact that it heads well south of the red mark before the light comes on, but I never knew the reason! Fascinating extra bit of insight ... thanks Graeme :approve:.

 

[Jamesv6]

Why Scott always brimmed my Vee for when I collected it.

 

[GPH]

So just to be clear.....the petrol light would eventually come on if I was to keep driving? And also, that means the digital readout of miles until empty is *about* correct? Just that the fuel gauge will be incorrect?

Exactly. The light will come on and I always drive using the mileage left readout. I wouldn't let it drop to less than about 25ish then you know you have at least a gallon left.

 

[jps]

So just to be clear.....the petrol light would eventually come on if I was to keep driving? And also, that means the digital readout of miles until empty is *about* correct? Just that the fuel gauge will be incorrect?

Exactly. The light will come on and I always drive using the mileage left readout. I wouldn't let it drop to less than about 25ish then you know you have at least a gallon left.

Awesome. But scary. Everything in you says stop driving when that needle is on red. Now I understand what Clarkson meant!

 

[DaveL485]

So I've always joked about the non-linear nature with the first half going slowly and the second half in the blink of an eye, along with fact that it heads well south of the red mark before the light comes on, but I never knew the reason! Fascinating extra bit of insight ... thanks Graeme :approve:.

My 172 does this as well. As soon as the needle gets below half it drops to 1.5 marks above empty so fast I used to worry about a fuel leak, but then that last little bit lasts for aaaaaaaaaaaaages.

I think it must be a Clio Quirk.

 

[Lankan]

Pretty normal indeed as far as the Vee is concerned, which I considered to be one of its quirks, but interesting to hear that that this seems to happen with the 172 as well. Cannot remember if I experienced this 'issue' with the 182 Trophy though.

 

[mehere]

Duncan - I'm surprised you didn't know the "technical reason"
Josh - Welcome to the quirks of V6 ownership. Don't worry, your car is the same as everyone else's. Renault didn't bother to recalibrate the gauge reading when they fitted the 10 litres larger tank than a regular Clio, into the Vee! so when you get onto the red you will still have at least the usual 5 litres reserve plus your Vee bonus 10 litres. Hence you were only able to get 45 litres in. Therefore at least 60 miles left when its on the red.
The trip computer read out is correct. It's part of the "Brave pill" training that Clarkson joked about in his review , to keep driving while the fuel gauge is on empty.

cooo - how very interesting.

I also get alarmed at the way the gauge sinks so fast to red...

I even felt the need to dash out to refill between runs at Prescott last week as I was scared of running out on the hill.

From now on, I will try very hard to ignore the gauge lower quarter.

 

[rustedandrotten]

We have some very interesting moments on runs when people were convinced they were about ot run out but managed another 50 or so miles then only got 50-55 litres in! :rofl:

 

[Duncan]

Duncan - I'm surprised you didn't know the "technical reason"
Josh - Welcome to the quirks of V6 ownership. Don't worry, your car is the same as everyone else's. Renault didn't bother to recalibrate the gauge reading when they fitted the 10 litres larger tank than a regular Clio, into the Vee! so when you get onto the red you will still have at least the usual 5 litres reserve plus your Vee bonus 10 litres. Hence you were only able to get 45 litres in. Therefore at least 60 miles left when its on the red.
The trip computer read out is correct. It's part of the "Brave pill" training that Clarkson joked about in his review , to keep driving while the fuel gauge is on empty.

haha!! brilliant! every day is a school day with these cars!