Does the NB "exaggerate" your low gas warning?

[savethebluths.org]

I have been meaning to ask this forever but never remembered too


Is it just me or when your NB gives you the BEEP that your gas is low does it drop from the top of the red to resting on the pin in less than 25 miles?

Is it a liar liar gauge or is it really THAT low?

I mean, I know its bad to run with low gas but I dont need my beetle to lie to me to make sure I dont run too low.

[miffmole]

Mine drops awfully fast after it hits the red...I think that's about the 1.5 gallon mark. That would make the last "1/4 of the tank" not really be that...or at least with my car.
I generally get about 120-125 miles for the first "quarter," 100 for the second, 100 for the third, and then about 75 for the final "quarter" until it looks dangerously low.
I've never given out of gas, but I've seen the needle look as low as it could go.

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by savethebluths.org

I have been meaning to ask this forever but never remembered too


Is it just me or when your NB gives you the BEEP that your gas is low does it drop from the top of the red to resting on the pin in less than 25 miles?

Is it a liar liar gauge or is it really THAT low?

I mean, I know its bad to run with low gas but I dont need my beetle to lie to me to make sure I dont run too low.

25 miles is about right, about a gallon. It really is that low when the chirp sounds and then the light illuminates. Next time, just to check, immediately set your odometer so you know how far it is to the gas station, and then fill up. Easy to calculate, based on your MPG, and the gallons it takes to fill, how much gas or approx. how many miles you have left.

Analog fuel gauges are very inaccurate as far as 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 marks. I have never had a vehicle with an analog gauge that did not travel faster between marks as the fuel level lowers. Digital guages with fuel level, or computers that indicate miles till empty (based on your current speed/current mpg) on the other hand are very accurate. Besides, unless you are fueling a full tank weekly or so, you want to keep the tank full anyway (because of condensation), and as a fuel pump ages, you don't want to run it below about a 1/4 level because the fuel pump has to work harder with a lower level, AND you are more likely to pic up sediment in the tank which builds with vehicle age.

Tracking your MPG is an easy way to monitor when you have an engine performance issue. Every time you get gas [make sure the tank is full and not just at the first automatic pump shut off (every pump is different, some will shut off at full, some you may be able to put in another two gallons, you should be able to see the gas in the neck)], get a receipt and write the odometer reading on it. Create a simple spread sheet that does the MPG calculation for 1) since last fill-up, and 2) a running MPG since the first entry, this way every time you make an entry, you will get a better average MPG. Miles per tank is stupid and gives no accurate MPG or engine performance monitoring.

I have this on both MS Works and MS Office (Excel). Any one who wants the spreadsheet already done, p/m me your real world email, and I will send the the spread sheet already formatted, where all you have to do is save it to a file and then make the entries. You have to have one of the two software programs or what I send will not open.

MORAV

[miffmole]

Here's where I keep track of my MPG:
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=garage

I have every tankful I've purchsed listed here since 2/27/2008. The entire list of purchases can be downloaded from the site.