V50 General : - Volvo Fuel Gauge Paranoia

Fast Reg · Nov 7th, 2008, 16:24

Hi Chaps,

Am still getting the feel for my new V50 2.0D SE, but am a little confused about when it might need feeding.

I've already worked out that the analogue fuel gauge on the dash is a pathological liar. It's the biggest "doom and gloom" merchant to have had the misfortune of crossing my path. I've already been caught out once putting in just a whisker over 30 litres when the needle was heading into the red.

I've also watched how the "miles to go" readout drops, but the distance to go on that obviously varies depending on how hard you're driving. I've joked with SWMBO that the engine is actually putting fuel BACK INTO the tank as the miles to go miraculously increase.

This time I thought I'd wait for the low fuel light. This was normally a good indicator on my previous car (SEAT Toledo) that it needed a top-up, and I'd usually be putting at least 50 litres at a time into it's 55 litre tank. It came on as I was making my way to work this morning, so I made a mental note to visit a petrol station on the way home. The miles to go on the dash was showing 70, which I thought was either a touch optimistic or that the light came on way too early. I mean, that's only a shade under an average week's total mileage for me just driving to and from work.

It seems that the latter was the correct diagnosis. When I filled up I got 41.23 litres into the tank after 382.3 miles on the trip meter. This ****ed me off a bit because I don't like to fill up until it's actually needed and will then brim the tank.

I've checked the book and this car is supposed to have a 52 litre tank, right...? I've done the maths. The last tank was consumed at an average of 42.15 mpg (I've not been sparing it the rod since I last filled up, in case you think this looks like a poor return). A 52 litre tank works out at roughly 11.44 gallons, so draining the tank at the same rate should have taken me 482 miles. I guess I could have run down the "mile to go" to zero without concern and still have had more than enough left to make a leisurely foray to a petrol station.

I appreciate that Volvo don't really want people running dry in their cars, but is this typical? At what point do you fill up? How will I know when I have extracted the maximum range that is safely achieveable without running dry?

TIA

Harvey1512 · Nov 7th, 2008, 18:44

Quite spookily I have also gone from a Seat Toledo but to an S40. I assume the tanks are the same though as my light comes on at around 400 miles, I have a 2.0D. After a couple of times of waiting until the light comes on and then filling up instantly I can confirm that there is around 2 gallons/9-10 litres left when the light comes on. It does seems a little excessive, also the tank is a bit puny in the first place. A car of this ilk should really get 550-600 miles out of a tank. The competitors do.

I could usually get well over 500 miles out of the Seat but equally the tank level dropped pretty quickly at the end which could be scary at times.
I suppose we should not be surprised that Volvo are overly cautious when it comes to filling up, after all they are generally over cautious about everything.

Fast Reg · Nov 8th, 2008, 05:00

Hi Harvey,

I think the SEAT has a slightly bigger tank than the Volvo, with 55 litres to the Tolly and 52 litres to the V50. Anyhow, what your saying confirms that my car is at least no more paranoid than anyone else's.

Thanks.

Marmoset · Nov 10th, 2008, 12:38

There's a 7 litre 'reserve' tank on the diesels so effectively the car thinks it's empty after about 45-47 litres has disappeared from view.

I've only run out of fuel once and I thought I had loads left - the car likes to give a lttle cough if it's getting really dry in the tank. My fuel light is usually on with 70-80 miles to go and I fill up at about 430 on the trip, currently getting 44mpg on the motorway.

bryand · Nov 10th, 2008, 13:02

Last time I filled my C30 2.0D I got 47.5 litres into a 52 litre system, with "50 miles to go". At about 50 mpg, that's spot on.

Flugzeugler · Nov 10th, 2008, 14:29

I think diesel engines have big problems if the fuel runs out, so presumably the manufacturer make sure that the systems err on the side of caution.

Nov 7th, 2008, 16:24	#1
Fast Reg It's NOT a damn Focus!! Last Online: Jun 20th, 2011 22:53 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Essex	Volvo Fuel Gauge Paranoia Hi Chaps, Am still getting the feel for my new V50 2.0D SE, but am a little confused about when it might need feeding. I've already worked out that the analogue fuel gauge on the dash is a pathological liar. It's the biggest "doom and gloom" merchant to have had the misfortune of crossing my path. I've already been caught out once putting in just a whisker over 30 litres when the needle was heading into the red. I've also watched how the "miles to go" readout drops, but the distance to go on that obviously varies depending on how hard you're driving. I've joked with SWMBO that the engine is actually putting fuel BACK INTO the tank as the miles to go miraculously increase. This time I thought I'd wait for the low fuel light. This was normally a good indicator on my previous car (SEAT Toledo) that it needed a top-up, and I'd usually be putting at least 50 litres at a time into it's 55 litre tank. It came on as I was making my way to work this morning, so I made a mental note to visit a petrol station on the way home. The miles to go on the dash was showing 70, which I thought was either a touch optimistic or that the light came on way too early. I mean, that's only a shade under an average week's total mileage for me just driving to and from work. It seems that the latter was the correct diagnosis. When I filled up I got 41.23 litres into the tank after 382.3 miles on the trip meter. This ****ed me off a bit because I don't like to fill up until it's actually needed and will then brim the tank. I've checked the book and this car is supposed to have a 52 litre tank, right...? I've done the maths. The last tank was consumed at an average of 42.15 mpg (I've not been sparing it the rod since I last filled up, in case you think this looks like a poor return). A 52 litre tank works out at roughly 11.44 gallons, so draining the tank at the same rate should have taken me 482 miles. I guess I could have run down the "mile to go" to zero without concern and still have had more than enough left to make a leisurely foray to a petrol station. I appreciate that Volvo don't really want people running dry in their cars, but is this typical? At what point do you fill up? How will I know when I have extracted the maximum range that is safely achieveable without running dry? TIA __________________ 2005 (55) Volvo V50 2.0D SE - Barents Blue / Off-Black Leather / Winter Pack / Comms Pack / Volvo RTI Satnav (aka Lars) / Rear Parking Assist / Prancing Moose Sticker

Nov 8th, 2008, 05:00	#3
Fast Reg It's NOT a damn Focus!! Last Online: Jun 20th, 2011 22:53 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Essex	Hi Harvey, I think the SEAT has a slightly bigger tank than the Volvo, with 55 litres to the Tolly and 52 litres to the V50. Anyhow, what your saying confirms that my car is at least no more paranoid than anyone else's. Thanks. __________________ 2005 (55) Volvo V50 2.0D SE - Barents Blue / Off-Black Leather / Winter Pack / Comms Pack / Volvo RTI Satnav (aka Lars) / Rear Parking Assist / Prancing Moose Sticker

Nov 7th, 2008, 18:44	#2
Harvey1512 Premier Member Last Online: Jan 30th, 2021 12:00 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Northumberland	Quite spookily I have also gone from a Seat Toledo but to an S40. I assume the tanks are the same though as my light comes on at around 400 miles, I have a 2.0D. After a couple of times of waiting until the light comes on and then filling up instantly I can confirm that there is around 2 gallons/9-10 litres left when the light comes on. It does seems a little excessive, also the tank is a bit puny in the first place. A car of this ilk should really get 550-600 miles out of a tank. The competitors do. I could usually get well over 500 miles out of the Seat but equally the tank level dropped pretty quickly at the end which could be scary at times. I suppose we should not be surprised that Volvo are overly cautious when it comes to filling up, after all they are generally over cautious about everything.

Nov 10th, 2008, 12:38	#4
Marmoset Senior Member Last Online: Feb 26th, 2012 13:12 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chester	There's a 7 litre 'reserve' tank on the diesels so effectively the car thinks it's empty after about 45-47 litres has disappeared from view. I've only run out of fuel once and I thought I had loads left - the car likes to give a lttle cough if it's getting really dry in the tank. My fuel light is usually on with 70-80 miles to go and I fill up at about 430 on the trip, currently getting 44mpg on the motorway.

Nov 10th, 2008, 13:02	#5
bryand C30 devotee Last Online: Jan 2nd, 2012 09:59 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Loughborough View Photos By: bryand	Last time I filled my C30 2.0D I got 47.5 litres into a 52 litre system, with "50 miles to go". At about 50 mpg, that's spot on.

Nov 10th, 2008, 14:29	#6
Flugzeugler New Member Last Online: Nov 19th, 2009 20:30 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Leeds	I think diesel engines have big problems if the fuel runs out, so presumably the manufacturer make sure that the systems err on the side of caution.

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