Cantankerous

I have a new S3 on its second tank full of fuel. Driving on the A1 with almost a quarter tank on the gauge and 65 miles left on the fuel range & no low fuel warning light on, the car came to a sudden stop. The RAC suggested putting fuel in, even though I had only done 270 miles on a 60-litre tank of fuel. The car started straight away. It took 47 litres of fuel to fill the tank including the RAC fuel that meant there was around 3 gallons left before filling up. The trip computer had advised over 28 mpg, confirmed by my calculations. The first tank of fuel ran down in the usual way with the gauge dropping to low and the warning light then coming on. I am therefore convinced the car was not out of fuel but am at a loss to understand what may have caused the problem.

Asked on 10 January 2009 by

Answered by Honest John

I tested this at www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=260 You will definitely enjoy this test. And, as you will see, I got a very expensive 52.37 litres of V-Power into it. So, if from registering empty, you are only getting 47 litres in, then there is something wrong. You might not be getting 28mpg. Give it some stick and you'll drop to around 20. Though I doubt you'll be seeing the sort of speeds I saw on my deserted early Sunday morning drive through border country. Maybe the fuel pick-up inside the tank has come adrift.

Tags: fuel economy trip computers technical issues owning range

Similar questions

Eco worrier

I have just bought a 2004 manual BMW 320 diesel ES Tourer. I switched on the computer at the start of a run largely in 6th gear of 130 motorway miles. At the end I had done no better than 45mpg according...

Why is the fuel gauge in my Vauxhall Zafira not accurate?

I recently bought a 2006 Zafira 1.6, fully serviced. It idles perfectly and runs smoothly. I filled half a tank and at the first notch on the gauge it had done 50 miles, which meant with a total of four...

Could you do a long range economy test on a hybrid vs a modern diesel?

I love diesels as they suit the terrain here in southern Spain; lots of steep hills where you do not need to change to a lower gear to easily get up them, but we have to go with the flow I guess. I have...