General Panda fuel tank capacity ?

[jakelleo]

I know that a few years ago the question about tank capacity came up. at that time it appears that the quoted 35 litres was not achievable.
Well I have a July 09 100hp and today after the low warning light came on I continued for a further 15 miles,, dangerous I thought, but when I came to fill up to the brim I took on some 34.75 litres.. I think that due weather and temp the fuel has changed in density.. Or have Fiat fitted a different fuel tank..? By the way am getting 37 mpg and I have a lead foot, as anyone trying to follow me can confirm.
Just add that the 100hp continues to amuse me and upset others with larger more expensive motors... Regards to all and although a bit late I wish all fiatistics a happy 2010,, JAKE

 

[rossmanfiatfan]

I know that a few years ago the question about tank capacity came up. at that time it appears that the quoted 35 litres was not achievable.
Well I have a July 09 100hp and today after the low warning light came on I continued for a further 15 miles,, dangerous I thought, but when I came to fill up to the brim I took on some 34.75 litres.. I think that due weather and temp the fuel has changed in density.. Or have Fiat fitted a different fuel tank..? By the way am getting 37 mpg and I have a lead foot, as anyone trying to follow me can confirm.
Just add that the 100hp continues to amuse me and upset others with larger more expensive motors... Regards to all and although a bit late I wish all fiatistics a happy 2010,, JAKE

I filled up today and I wasn't on the orange low band bit yet and I put in just over 31 litres. So 35 litres should be about right.

My manual for my 1.2 Dynamic Eco says -

Fuel tank 35L
including a reserve of 5L

So take it that means the tank is 35L not 40L ?

 

[udtrev]

I filled up today and I wasn't on the orange low band bit yet and I put in just over 31 litres. So 35 litres should be about right.

My manual for my 1.2 Dynamic Eco says -

Fuel tank 35L
including a reserve of 5L

So take it that means the tank is 35L not 40L ?

That sounds about right, although you can get a bit more in with the capacity of the filler pipework


Trev

 

[AskCy]

I've not tried it in the panda (yet) but my works van is good for 50 or 60 mile after the warning light comes on !

Steve

 

[hairyjim]

As Trev points out, the pipework adds a bit too - I've managed to get 36 litres in once after leaving it a little too long before looking for a petrol station...

 

[udtrev]

I've managed 35 litres, regularily going over 30

There's a guys with a 500 who managed to get over 40 litres,

 

[SurreyAlan]

and of course we all trust those pumps at filling stations are 100% accurate. In my yoof I used to see weights and measures about filling up gallon measures to check but don't suppose it's ever done much now they're probably all on elf and safety. And how accurate are the scales at the airports?

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

I find I can squeeze more in if the front of the car is pointing downhill -- once put nearly 32 litres in (to a 4x4 with a 30 litre tank) at a very sloping filling station near Watford.

And, if the yellow light comes on, can at best go 50-60 miles. But did once reverse car onto drive (so nose pointing uphill) having gone 30 miles with yellow light on and it wouldn't start in the morning. You could hear that the fuel pump wasn't in the petrol! Now fill up asap after light comes on (or avoid parking 'uphill')

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Fitted 37L into a 32L tank on a Classic Panda.

In Sister Active fitted about 38L iirc

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

and of course we all trust those pumps at filling stations are 100% accurate. In my yoof I used to see weights and measures about filling up gallon measures to check but don't suppose it's ever done much now they're probably all on elf and safety. And how accurate are the scales at the airports?

All pumps are tested every 2 years: in fact, see this story from just a couple of days ago in the Hartlepool mail -- the same scheme for marking test dates is rolling out across England... (note, it is the labelling scheme, not regular testing, that is the 'new' thing here) http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/No-short-change-at-petrol.6022001.jp

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

and of course we all trust those pumps at filling stations are 100% accurate. In my yoof I used to see weights and measures about filling up gallon measures to check but don't suppose it's ever done much now they're probably all on elf and safety. And how accurate are the scales at the airports?

All pumps are tested bi-anually iirc, and if a suspission is reported said pump is tested within 48hours

 

[hmallett]

I think that due weather and temp the fuel has changed in density..

Even if the density of the fuel had changed (and I think it will hardly vary), it wouldn't matter, because you're dispensing by volume, not weight....
...unless you're suggesting that the tank has expanded in the cold. :chin:

 

[SurreyAlan]

did once reverse car onto drive (so nose pointing uphill) having gone 30 miles with yellow light on and it wouldn't start in the morning. You could hear that the fuel pump wasn't in the petrol! Now fill up asap after light comes on (or avoid parking 'uphill')

Saw James May in a Model T Ford on tv other night explaining that you sometimes had to reverse up hills so the fuel would flow to the engine, see the Panda has a great heritage.

 

[SurreyAlan]

Even if the density of the fuel had changed (and I think it will hardly vary), it wouldn't matter, because you're dispensing by volume, not weight....
...unless you're suggesting that the tank has expanded in the cold. :chin:

I thought that petrol expanded as it got warmer, so if you filled up from a cold storage tank on a hot day you would end up with more in your tank than you put in. Certain this is true but I expect the quantity involved is amazingly small.

 

[306maxi]

I've managed 35 litres, regularily going over 30

There's a guys with a 500 who managed to get over 40 litres,

That's meeee.

Can't see the Panda being any different tbh. I brim it till the fuel is riiiiight almost ready to overflow and I run it for 30 miles after the range hits zero. Did this yesterday and had at least 2l of fuel left.

6 of my 19 fuel ups have been over 40 litres as you can see.

http://www.fuelly.com/driver/306maxi/500/log

 

[babbo umbro]

Saw James May in a Model T Ford on tv other night explaining that you sometimes had to reverse up hills so the fuel would flow to the engine, see the Panda has a great heritage.

It was the same in the original 500 - the side-valve Topolino - the petrol was gravity-fed from a tank in the scuttle. As Turin's so near the Alps there was no problem with loss of fuel pressure even when running low on very steep hills. However, it would run out with a few cupfulls still visible in the tank and you could manage a few miles by tying a piece of wire round a handfull of spanners and dropping them in the tank.

 

[rd27]

A few days ago I drove my car 10 miles with the needle on the empty stopper, brimmed the tank and got 38 litres in my 35 litre tank... The fuel lines must hold quite a lot!

 

[306maxi]

Another 4 litres in her yet I reckon That's the good thing about a digital gauge, it does seem pretty accurate and if I drive it till the range goes to 0 and then another 30 miles I will get between 40-42 litres in typically. If it had an analogue gauge I'd always be second guessing it and running out like I used to do in my 504.

 

[Tom100hp]

I know that a few years ago the question about tank capacity came up. at that time it appears that the quoted 35 litres was not achievable.
Well I have a July 09 100hp and today after the low warning light came on I continued for a further 15 miles,, dangerous I thought, but when I came to fill up to the brim I took on some 34.75 litres.. I think that due weather and temp the fuel has changed in density.. Or have Fiat fitted a different fuel tank..? By the way am getting 37 mpg and I have a lead foot, as anyone trying to follow me can confirm.
Just add that the 100hp continues to amuse me and upset others with larger more expensive motors... Regards to all and although a bit late I wish all fiatistics a happy 2010,, JAKE

yeh iv had just under 35l in it, 37mpg is pretty good as i thrash it all time from fill up to fill up im getting bout 28 at min i think. to much fun not to