I did a little experiment with my gas mileage last time I filled the tank up. I didn't run my air once and saw that I got about 100 miles on the first quarter empty, then about another 100 on the second quarter, now, i'm right above 1/4 tank and I've only gone like 40 miles? Why is that?

I thought I was going to get a 400 mile tank but it doesn't look like it now... was the first half tank just a bad approximate?

 

the gauge in any car is a good estimate at best....when I take it easy on the car I get similar results........but my milage is pretty constant regardless.

 

Gas gauges are pretty inaccurate. Don't base any calculations on them. Some cars are worse than others, but in my experience the needle moves slower when it's near F and faster toward the E.

Fill your tank until the gas pump clicks off. Then perform your test -- drive your test route or for a week or whatever. Then re-fill your tank. The number of gallons (or liters, for our metric friends) you put in is the number of gallons (liters) you burned.

I suppose you could increase the accuracy further by refilling your tank at the same pump at the same station, to remove any variability due to pump sensitivity settings.

 

also, keep in mind that the A/C also comes on (not selectable with the little switch) in the defrost, defrost/floor, and floor positions.

 

For even more info on the topic of fuel gagues and why they are sporadic, see this website...

http://www.howstuffworks.com/fuel-gauge.htm

K

 

That's what I was thinking.....

 

Cool tips everybody, thanks... the guage in this car is no where near as annoying as my old firebird guage, that thing would go towards E when slowing down and then back towards F when speeding up... very annoying....

 

This question has crossed my mind many times, I haven't done much testing, but my guess is that the shape of the gas tank is not a perfect cube, as you use more gas from a full tank, the level gets lower and lower, and my guess is that towards the last 1/2 to 3/4 of the bottom of the tank is gets smaller.... just my guess

 

I believe by law the gas guage has to be accurate at the bottom 1/4 tank and below. The reasoning would seem to be it is more important to have an accurate reading when you are low on gas than when the tank is full.

 

Not trying to diss you or anything, but where did you hear this? i cant see it saying this in the manual? i see no reason why it automatically selected.

 

I read it on this board and was a non-beliver as well... so I went out, popped the hood, and played with the settings. On all the ones I mentioned the A/C clutch was engaged even though the A/C button was "off".

I'm still sore about the whole thing... as I do not like my car thinking for me... but at the moment I am not brave enough to hack up the wiring on the controls to get around it.

 

well that friggin sucks.. but at least now i know i can get more than 650km to a tank then.

 

Ummmmmm. Your car thinks for you all the time.

It's very common because people aren't smart enough to read the manual and actually learn (or remember) how to defog their windows. Refigerated air units are natural dehumidifiers.

 

I realize this..... BUT, i have seen in previous cars, IF the AC is automatically selected, the Light WILL be on.

 

is A/C on with the heat slide all the way on hot bad?