How accurate is the fuel gauge ??
Discussion
Just wondering how acurate the fuel gauge is on a Chim ?? On my first tank and i've done about 175 miles and the needle says that there is still a third of a tank left ?? That would mean that i'm on for about 250 miles in a 500 ?? I have been pussy footing around just to see what I could get out of it but does this sound about right ??
simonb9 said:
Just wondering how acurate the fuel gauge is on a Chim ?? On my first tank and i've done about 175 miles and the needle says that there is still a third of a tank left ?? That would mean that i'm on for about 250 miles in a 500 ?? I have been pussy footing around just to see what I could get out of it but does this sound about right ??
If it's like my gauge it seems to fall off the cliff around one-third full on the gauge and then next time you look it's just above 0. Don't drive around waiting for the orange warning light to come on - you can't trust it
By the way don't get caught by the v8 pussy-police - they take a dim view of pussy-footing or, for that matter, pretty much pussy-anything.
If it's anything like mine it will be hopelessly inaccurate! Mine stays on full for 30 or 40 miles then steadily drops until it runs out of fuel with the gauge reading just under a quarter. And recently the needle's started wavering between three quarters and full when the tank is actually full. If you suspect it's reading a bit high, keep a gallon tank in the boot just in case it runs out.
simonb9 said:
Thanks chaps. Whats this about the 'orange' light ?? Must read the hand book before bedtime........
Don't know anything about an orange light, though I never run mine low enough to see if there is a warning light. I fill mine when she gets down to a qtr by which time I've usually done around 160-180 miles. I try to pussyfoot but find it impossible for more than a couple of miles.
chris_chim said:
Just keep an eye on how much you put in each time you fill up and you should get an idea of how close to empty you were. Any more than 55 litres and you were sailing close to the wind!
My gauge is resonably accurate in that when it points to 0 it is close to empty.
My gauge is resonably accurate in that when it points to 0 it is close to empty.
57L the other day now thats empty just.
Phew
Some of the gauges mentioned are entirely different to mine - how strange!
I FILLED the car to the top last night and within 15 minutes was down to the 3/4 mark on the gauge and this is usual for her.
After that, between the 1/4 and 3/4 mark I seem to get good mileage, but again after the 1/4 mark it nose dives.
Anybody got any ideas?
I FILLED the car to the top last night and within 15 minutes was down to the 3/4 mark on the gauge and this is usual for her.
After that, between the 1/4 and 3/4 mark I seem to get good mileage, but again after the 1/4 mark it nose dives.
Anybody got any ideas?
Mine doesn't move from full for the first 75 miles, then it races to half way, after about 180 miles its getting close to the 0 mark and the light starts flashing (depending on how many corners there are). but I dont start to worry until the needle stops moving entirely (even when throwing it around bends). Then I know that I have to fill up in the next 20 miles or so. I usually get around 220-240 miles to a tank. only slightly less when I really give it stick.
Kwacker
Twice I had the car completely ran out. I have a 96 Chim 500. The strange thing is that it only took about 55 and a half litre to fill it up. I always filled it up to passing the flap and you can just see the petrol. I now start looking for petrol station once my gauge shows the last quarter of the tank. Wouldn't risk it anymore.
Bit of a mystery this 'orange light'. First mentionesd by hut49 whose Chim 450 is a late '99. Mine's a May '98 and I don't seem to have any low fuel warning light so the reference to not being on 'later' cars is contradicted by this. Does anyone know when this was phased out (or in?!!)
Edited by nikman on Friday 6th April 14:55
I dont think you can work out a relationship between dates & what components wnet into a particular car. The chassis number may be more accurate - but if chassis were batch built even this may not be sequential. Add in the fact that special coloured dials may be ordered... Some cars may have been sat in showrooms befor registration... It all becomes very difficult to predict what spec a car is, purely from the age - and vica-versa to work out factory changes from known car experiences. Clear as mud
Dave
Dave
I rarely let mine get much below 1/4 tank mark just to be on the safe side.
My garage drinks petrol from mine as sometimes i've taken the car out for a late drive and came home with 1/4 tank and thought i'd fill it up next time i take it out and when i do take it out the next time it's quite a bit below 1/4 tank, luckily i have several local petrol stations to me.
My garage drinks petrol from mine as sometimes i've taken the car out for a late drive and came home with 1/4 tank and thought i'd fill it up next time i take it out and when i do take it out the next time it's quite a bit below 1/4 tank, luckily i have several local petrol stations to me.
im said:
Some of the gauges mentioned are entirely different to mine - how strange!
I FILLED the car to the top last night and within 15 minutes was down to the 3/4 mark on the gauge and this is usual for her.
After that, between the 1/4 and 3/4 mark I seem to get good mileage, but again after the 1/4 mark it nose dives.
Anybody got any ideas?
I FILLED the car to the top last night and within 15 minutes was down to the 3/4 mark on the gauge and this is usual for her.
After that, between the 1/4 and 3/4 mark I seem to get good mileage, but again after the 1/4 mark it nose dives.
Anybody got any ideas?
attached to the fuel sender is a piece of coat hanger with a float on it. Depending on how the wire is bent, the guage readings will vary accordingly. Mine was bent up too high, so the tank read full for 100+ miles then quickly dropped. Easiest "fix" I've ever done on the car (four bolts IIRC) but put that fag out first !!
Mike
Don said:
When we first got the car we were told to fill up when the needle got to the last quarter.
The fuel gauge is notoriously inaccurate - do not trust it ever. It gives a general indication only.
The fuel gauge is notoriously inaccurate - do not trust it ever. It gives a general indication only.
Absolutely...my gauge never seems to go below 1/3rd full (I would have said 2/3rds empty, but I always try to look on the positive side of things
). Consequently, I've got into the habit of filling the tank to capacity, then resetting the trip recorder each time I go to the petrol station. Once 200 or so miles has come up, refilling starts to rise up the priority list (this equates to a pretty conservative mpg estimate, so leaves a decent 'margin of error'...but be aware of your 'driving style' in those preceding miles!).
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