General 50 litres??!

[larkim]

Since getting my B about 4 months ago, I've been putting in about 30 litres of fuel every week, on the basis that if I let it go one day over I get the fuel light coming on. I read in the manual that the tank is a 50 litre tank (and that ties up with the fuel gauge in the car which also says "50 lt"), so does the fuel light really come on with about 2/5 of the tank still full? I don't want to run her to empty, but it would be nice to have confidence in how much is left in the tank!

What's everyone elses experience with this? If I do use 30 litres a week, I'd like to be able to drive the car with a few less litres in the so I'm carrying less weight!

Matt

 

[Alex]

I thought most modern cars have a reserve tank. I can't imagine a reserve tank would hold 20 liters though.

 

[docorangepeel]

I take it the 30 ltrs you put in fills the tank to the top ?

 

[larkim]

Yes (see my other post about fuel leaking out of the tank too in hot weather - solved that by parking a different way around!)

I always fill up to the point that the fuel nozzle cuts off.

I'm getting about 240 miles for the 30 litres that I'm putting in - how does that tally with other's fuel rates?

Matt

 

[doogal]

240 miles on 30 litres is 36MPG in old money. That's pretty impressive for a 1.8 VVC petrol engine. I know the B doesn't weigh much, but it's still a good MPG. Do you use the pedal on the right at all?

I will report back with my fuel economy next time I fill up. Expect something in the region of 20MPG!

Cheers
Doog.

 

[docorangepeel]

I will report back with my fuel economy next time I fill up also.
Doc Orange Peel

 

[larkim]

I'll have to double check the fuel economy next time I fill up, as 36mpg does sound good (too good??!). I don't hammer the car, but it does get two c. 20 mile trips per weekday on a mix of some dual carriageway and some proper twisty country lanes.

Matt

 

[EvilJaxx]

The HGT punto gets around 27 MPG so I assume it should be very similar to the B??

Adam

 

[dantmjones]

HHmm... interesting.

My B takes about 30 litres to fill the tank as well which has puzzled me a little...

As for fuel consumption... I can report two things. Until a month ago I was driving a 1.5 diesel 106 which cost £30-£40 to fill up once a week.

Doing pretty much exactly the same mileage in the B I am filling up twice a week at a combined cost of £60 - £70... (£28 - £35 per tank).

About twice the fule consumption for the B.

The 106 was doing 55 - 60mpg giving the B figures of 27 - 30... which i figure is about right. I take it easy when driving to and from work and when i do occasionally go berserk (late for work, p****d off or just fancy a burn out) i always consider the effect of heavy footedness on fuel consumption.

Actual mileage for the working week is about 220 miles, plus weekend which are usually about 180-200.

best figures would be £60 for 450 miles, worst would be £70 for 390 miles... ish. be interested to know if this is consitent with what u guys get.

Still puzzled about the 50L tank thing... Matt what reg is your B? Mines a 96 on a P plate. The previous one was a 98 (R).. and I'm sure that it took more fuel.

 

[doogal]

DanTMJones - 450miles on £60 is 33MPG assuming 98p per litre.

Still not got around to filling up my B - shows how often I use it

However - off to Le Mans to the Classic on Wednesday next week so I should get some good fuel economy data on the run down.

Doog.

 

[larkim]

Mine's a 97 'R' plate.

Matt

 

[doogal]

Righty-ho - 306kms on 36 litres = 190miles on 8 gallons = 24mpg!!!

Got me worried now that there is something amiss

OR it could be because of how I drive... :slayer:

In answer to the original post, my 95/96 Barcheta pops the fuel lamp on at approx 36 litres.

Doog.

 

[magicmole]

I've only had the petrol light go on once. In France, on a Sunday, when the only pump I had found refused all my plastic. I drove another 5 miles before finding an attended pump. It took 46 litres to fill the tank so the light probably came on at approx 45 litres. That was cutting it a bit close.
My b is a 55-registered. I was getting 28 or so to the gallon during the Winter but it's now up to about 33-34. I get smoother running and better consumption on Tesco 99 but the nearest Tesco selling that is 11 miles from my normal route so I usually fill with 95. I did 1600 miles or so through France at the end of May and filled with 98 all the time - 86p per litre!!
Incidentally, if anyone is going to France, the petrol stations will take English plastic but you have to sign. The automatic pumps don't seem to accept it at all.

 

[doogal]

Funnily enough we found exactly the same problem last Sunday on the way up to San Malo from Le Mans - no fuel and nowehere open. The only petrol stations selling fuel were unattended and only took French plastic (obviously a benefit of being in the EU).

I managed to get to the campsite in San Malo and then on to the ferry on the vapour left in the tank and filled up when we got back to Blighty. My mate in his Frogeye Sprite was less fortunate as he only has a 4 gallon tank In the end we persuaded a nice young French lady to put €20 on her credit card in exchange for the cash.

Doog

 

[Alan.D]

Just travelled 750 miles and used 19 gallons approx so about 37 mpg

 

[ellboomer]

My reserve light goes on while i have about 10 liters in tank (manual says 5) but running a car with less than half tank loaded causes faulty cooling for the fuel pump. So avoid driving with less than 25 liters in tank or the fuel pump will have problems sooner. (Its a fiat after all)

 

[KC3]

Hi i just traveled 1240 miles to germany, round trip to london.

i filled the car up 5 times and each time it took around 40 litres . aprox 173.2 litres of fuel used.

not sure how that works out. if thats good or bad. was traveling with my foot to the pedal most of the way.

 

[ricky952]

I get around 450km for £37 at 101 a litre for optimax ,tank just below quarter to full approx 37 litres
on the scottish tour back in may i managed 530km from a tank which took £38
dont know how it works out in mpg

 

[doogal]

Ricky - 450km on 37l = 35mpg.

Cheers
Doogal