General How quick does your fuel needle move?

[deano87]

This poll mainly applies to 1.4 16v n/a drivers.

The fuel gauge in my 12v Corsa only used to start moving on about 60-100 miles - then again it would hardly move then all of a sudden drop - old technology I guess

So with the new tech in the GP, seeing the needle drop progressively is bit of a change.

Except it seems to start moving in less than 10 miles after filling to the brim/click - and this is of just sitting on the motorway at 70mph in traffic etc, not revving it hard for 10 miles.

Just seems strange how it moves so quick.

So answer the poll, in 'normal' driving how long does it take for your fuel gauge to move?

 

[howsaboutno]

my stilo used to move after about 5 miles and so does my grande. I have found that for both cars if you travel about 10-20 miles after you have brimmed it the needle goes as far down as an 1/8 less than full tank but then the next day you start the car the needle rises to just a tad off full!

 

[deano87]

Good to know. For a minute I thought I had a problem.

Bit disappointed with my 38mpg average - I was hoping for nearer book figure of 47mpg, so like 45mpg. Hitting the bank balance compared to the 12v.

Any other input would be great.

 

[skinner05]

Got a t-jet and mine drops like a bitch

Drove like a spanner on the way home and managed to get 48mpg but just felt like a numpty driving that way

On the other hand i averaged just under 28mpg over 70 miles on Sunday :slayer:

 

[deano87]

I can't even average that. I don't exactly drive like an idiot. I think there may be something wrong. lol.

 

[skinner05]

I can't even average that. I don't exactly drive like an idiot. I think there may be something wrong. lol.

That was helped by there now being 50mpg average speed cameras between brighouse and m606 turn off on the m62.

I could probably get 40-42mpg over 200+ miles if I really tried i.e sticking to all speed limits, accelerating slowly and banging it in to fifth at the earliest possible opportunity. At the end of the day though, I didn't buy a t-jet for good fuel consumption :slayer:

 

[deano87]

I guess I should realise a n/a 1.4 16v won't be as economical as a 1litre Corsa! Price to pay for comfort and speed. And when I say speed, I mean sitting at 70-80mph, not 60-70mph!

 

[skinner05]

I guess I should realise a n/a 1.4 16v won't be as economical as a 1litre Corsa! Price to pay for comfort and speed. And when I say speed, I mean sitting at 70-80mph, not 60-70mph!

That's the key thing, 60-70 or 70-80...makes a massive difference

I could potter up and down the motorway in the inside lane doing 65 and my t-jet would manage 45-50mpg comfortably. Up it to 75 and it drops to 25-30mpg on the instant consumption screen.

Problem is though, who wants to be going 65mph on the motorway.

On a serious note, you may well have some sort of issue if you can't even manage 40mpg when driving conservatively. Don't know what to suggest though, apart from don't bother asking your dealer as they will just say "it's normal" judging from experience

 

[colin79666]

The needle in my 1.4 8v moves after about 10 miles. Another thing to note though is that the fuel light seems to come on early in GPs (just under 1/4 tank) which is usually about 70-100 miles left.

 

[Mattyk]

yo yo Deano

Mine moves really quickly from full, the top half of the tank seems to get used quicker than the bottom half I think

 

[howsaboutno]

yeah the GP warning light goes on far too early! most cars it deosnt come on until the needle is half way through the red but in the GP it comes on just before the red part. also i used to average 40-42 mpg on 300+ mile journeys in my 1.2 16v stilo and that was at a good pace. In my Tjet i do the same journey and get 35mpg so not bad although the slightly smaller tank on the GP is a little annoying!

 

[death189]

I can't even average that. I don't exactly drive like an idiot. I think there may be something wrong. lol.

My needle normally moves straight away, pretty much, doesn't go up again tho, and driving conservatively i get about 38, revving fairly hard (up to 4500 before changing once its warm) i get 39-40, i dont get it, and its not like i labour the engine when driving conservatively, I've been wondering if there's a problem too...

 

[Kurtis]

Deano i used to get around 36-38 in my T-Jet with Abarth turbo, that was mixed driving but mainly motorway with the Cruise on at 80mph.

In the Type R i managed the same 300 miles to a tank but at 30mpg.. Im paying an extra tenner a tank full roughly

Are you using the instant consumption gauge too? That might help you be a bit more economical.. you need eco drive really

 

[Shauncorwyn]

45 litre or 10 gallon tank is the issue here. Most other cars have 12 to 13 gallon tanks.
If your getting about 35 miles to the gallon thats 350 miles on a tank full.
175 miles half tank.
87.5 miles quarter tank.
43.5 miles half a quarter tank.

If you think of it like that it will seem the needle moves fast but ulimately it is down to the low fuel range in the scale of things.

I have to say i have always found the gauge to be true and accurate and glad i have a diesel that averages around 50mpg.

 

[deano87]

Matt and Kurt

I'm glad it isn't just me then and the tank does seem very small. Thirsty and small can only be a bad thing.

She is fun to drive though