Diesel fuel gauge erratic/fauly?

grivas · 20th April 2024, 14:23

Today I went for a drive with my wife and I was aware that I had a little over a quarter of a tank full of diesel as indicated by the gauge, but about a couple of miles of travel and I noticed the low fuel warning light come on and the gauge needle had dropped to less than an 1/8th or less full indicated, as I was near an Esso station I decided to fuel up, so I stopped and put in 20 litres where upon the gauge needle moved to 3/4 full. On our way back home, approx. 35 miles later I stopped at Sainsbury's for some shopping and decided to top up the fuel, but I was only able to put in a further 16 liters approx. before the tank was brimmed, what I don't understand is if the tank has a 65 litre capacity, the warning light should not have come on when it did as I would have had at least 30 litres in the tank at the time the warning light illuminated, at least that is what I estimate.
What is happening?, I do know the gauge in these cars is stupidly inaccurate?, any ideas?.

20th April 2024, 14:23	#1
grivas I really should get out more....... Rover 75 CDT Club Tourer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Milky Way Posts: 2,393 Thanks: 105 Thanked 513 Times in 382 Posts	Diesel fuel gauge erratic/fauly? Today I went for a drive with my wife and I was aware that I had a little over a quarter of a tank full of diesel as indicated by the gauge, but about a couple of miles of travel and I noticed the low fuel warning light come on and the gauge needle had dropped to less than an 1/8th or less full indicated, as I was near an Esso station I decided to fuel up, so I stopped and put in 20 litres where upon the gauge needle moved to 3/4 full. On our way back home, approx. 35 miles later I stopped at Sainsbury's for some shopping and decided to top up the fuel, but I was only able to put in a further 16 liters approx. before the tank was brimmed, what I don't understand is if the tank has a 65 litre capacity, the warning light should not have come on when it did as I would have had at least 30 litres in the tank at the time the warning light illuminated, at least that is what I estimate. What is happening?, I do know the gauge in these cars is stupidly inaccurate?, any ideas?.