Is anyone managing to put over 60 litres into their ''75 litre'' fuel tank? I can't!

[V8LOAD]

For my VY SS wagon, the owner handbook clearly states: ''fuel tank capacity 75 litres'' .

Time and again that figure comes up on the web too when I check.

So why, when the warning light says ''LOW FUEL'' and the range display says ''25km to empty''...can't I manage to pump any more than 60L into the V8 at the servo?

I have stood there for 3min or more, the nozzle clicking and clicking, and the absolute max I have managed to fill with is 60 litres.

Am I missing something?

Also, as an aside, once in a while I use 98 octane at the Shell servo to help the injectors, etc.......otherwise I just use Shell 91 as per the book.

But after reading a very interesting comparison test in The Age newspaper recently, I calculated the range I got out of a couple of tankfulls of 98 ... and just like the motoring writer, I found I got 100km more out of a tank full of 98 - and it's better for the engine. I suppose this is old news to most, but thought I would pass it on.

[jeepers]

I ran my VY tank down to range "0" km many times (oops) - i even drove 30km one day with that on the screen and managed to get about 70 litres into the tank when i finally filled up. I think there is a fairly reasonable "reserve" in these tanks. Theoretically i worked out i could travel a further 50km once it had "o" on the range and never actually ran it dry to find out properly.

[peter b]

a bit of info regarding different fuels
2 cars both done 50 thousand k's there abouts like quite equivalent
1 uses 91
other use 98
both dead stock
the one on 91 intake ports are black and chamber on the head and crown on piston quite carboned
the one running 98 intake ports are quite clean very slight layer of oil like all motors but f**k all buildup chamber of the head and piston have carbon but no where near as much as the engine running on 91
98 is the better fuel

[Gmfan]

They have to leave a safe margin for those people that like to drive for days with the fuel light on, people that drive on roads that have hills/inclines and also to protect the engine from lean out conditions. It makes sense when you think about it.

As an aside you run 91 fuel? I would only run that in old cars that i wasn't to invested in. Never looked because i have run 98 since i bought mine but would have thought they'd suggest 95 at minimum? Maybe that is why you can gain so much from an optimised 98 tune.

[grader]

Can you get a "fuel used" readout on your trip computer? If you can, next time you fill up, zero the trip meter and check what it reads when you get your fuel warning light again. If it reads the same as the amount of fuel you put in to fill it up, then it should be a reliable indication of what's in the tank. You could safely drive on until you get to, say, 70 Ltrs used before filling again. Once you have that established, talk to someone with a tech 2 (sparky, holden dealer) and they should be able to recalibrate your fuel gauge for you.

[VXSS346]

I ran my VY tank down to range "0" km many times (oops) - i even drove 30km one day with that on the screen and managed to get about 70 litres into the tank when i finally filled up. I think there is a fairly reasonable "reserve" in these tanks. Theoretically i worked out i could travel a further 50km once it had "o" on the range and never actually ran it dry to find out properly.

Exactly my experience too with the VX, except I think it was about 66L for me. :goodjob:

[whitels1ss]

I found I got 100km more out of a tank full of 98
I can't see how you could get 100km more out of a tank by using 98. Are you sure?
I use 98 all the time and have done so for a few years and have never noticed results like that:cheers:

Edit.. Also yes I reckon they set up the fuel gauge to read empty when there is still fuel in there so people do not run out.:idea:

[swingtan]

Am I missing something?



Yes....


The search function:

http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?48095-VY-SS-tank-size
http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?39181-Fuel-Tank-Capacity



Possibly the section in the owners manual that describes the function and use of the trip computer.




Think of it this way, I'm sure you'd be a lot more annoyed if the trip computer said "0KM to empty" and the car stopped instantly ( although then it could say "you just ran out of petrol.... ). You can calibrate the distance to empty, although I forget how to now ( it's in the manual ), but it's usually pretty good. Having 15LT left in the tank should give you a good 100KM on the open road, meaning you don;t get stuck in the middle of nowhere.

Simon.

[V8LOAD]

Interesting replies, thanks all. Car makers are clearly more generous towards those who ignore low-fuel warning lights than I had thought.

And yes, the owner's manual does state that regular unleaded is fine. Really. It doesn't even advise running 95.

And yes, I really can get 90-100km more out of a tank of 98 octane vs 91 octane with the low-fuel warning on and ''range to empty'' at 25km-30km. The Age motoring writer experienced a similar big gain in range, and calculated that it cost very little more over the course of a year to fill with the far superior 98 octane for this reason.

My 2003 VY SS wagon, incidentally, is bone stock engine-wise and has just a cat-back exhaust system for a lovely burble.

Thanks all.

[whiteknight2211]

Yes....


The search function:

http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?48095-VY-SS-tank-size
http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?39181-Fuel-Tank-Capacity



Possibly the section in the owners manual that describes the function and use of the trip computer.




Think of it this way, I'm sure you'd be a lot more annoyed if the trip computer said "0KM to empty" and the car stopped instantly ( although then it could say "you just ran out of petrol.... ). You can calibrate the distance to empty, although I forget how to now ( it's in the manual ), but it's usually pretty good. Having 15LT left in the tank should give you a good 100KM on the open road, meaning you don;t get stuck in the middle of nowhere.

Simon.

I 'think' that the calibrate function was restricted to the 3 window trip computer.

Holden can also 'calibrate' the fuel sender which was done on my VU very early on because out of town I used to get 200km before the fuel gauge moved off Full, in the end there was a product campaign to replace the fuel sender.

What you've said is also true about the fuel remainder - who would want to have an alarm then instantly run out of fuel.

I guess this is also why the VE has dual senders.

I've used 98 octane in my VU/VY/VE and I reckon I get about an extra 40km to a tank of 98 Octane - although it has been a while since I put 91 RON in my car...

[VRIIClubby]

I have always experienced way way better economy out of the 98 octane, (as you should) even in the Mrs old Laser we would get an extra 100-120km out of a tank on long drives...

the extra cost at the pump is negatable, plus the other "clean burn" benefits that otehrs have mentioned!

[fishman88]

ive driven almost 100km with the fuel light on n telling me 0km left. filled up bout 67L

[Xenon]

Weak efforts from all of you.

http://home.xcs.net.au/temp/fuel.png

[Radikl]

After working in the oil game for over 10 years, next time you fill up look at what the bowser states @ 15 Degrees Celcius. Cannot remember exactly how it is done, forgot it, but will affect the volume therefore space taken in tank.

This may explain some of the questions maybe? Dependant upon temperature when you fill it up, the expansion may vary.

My 5 cents worth.

[Jag530G]

AS per the OP's original post I noticed the same issue when I first got my Monaro. What actually seems to happen is that if you don't run the car down to somewhere near proper empty over a number of cycles for whatever reason the fuel gauge and DTE seem to "accrue" and it takes less to fill the tank each time. Generally the only way to solve the situation is to keep driving, my DTE will get down to about 20kms and and start going up (even in constant highway driving) and I can get a good 50kms-100kms extra if I really push it.

Cheers, Matthew

[Xenon]

As with the advice in most of these posts, under normal circumstances when the car tells you that you have 0 kms left, you probably have another 10-15 litres left. I've driven 50km+ when the readout has said 0kms.

[Wonky]

I can't comment on running 91 vs 98 as I've never run any of my VY onwards v8s on 91 but occasionally I've filled with Synergy 8000 (Mobil's 98) and noticed I get about 50 km less to a tank. Admittedly it's tuned for BP Ultimate but when I use Vortex 98 the car feels identical to Ultimate and gets similar mileage.

I've run my car quite a way on very low fuel warning and when filled got 68 litres in.

[dazzrael]

i very rarely ever put 98 into my LS1 WH and regularly get 600kms out of a tank on 91. I have actually seen MORE than 75L on the pump after driving with the DTE saying 0 for 100kms or so when I got from Werribee to Goulburn on one tank (720kms) I think the pump read 75.5L. I figure once the DTE says 0 I have another 100kms on the highway or 60 around town. Once the trip meter says 0kms, I switch over to the fuel used display and run off that until it gets to 72/73, then I start looking for a servo!

[V8LOAD]

OK ... I am learning.

Today I travelled 20km with ''Distance To Empty'' displaying 0km.

Pulled into a servo and got 67 litres into the fuel tank.

Confirming what people are saying here. I could certainly go 50km on ''DTE 0km'' it seems, but I might choose not to.

[saaz]

The fuel guage and distance to empty seems to work on 68 litres rather than the full tank capacity (WL statesman)

[V8_Power]

OK ... I am learning.

Today I travelled 20km with ''Distance To Empty'' displaying 0km.

Pulled into a servo and got 67 litres into the fuel tank.

Confirming what people are saying here. I could certainly go 50km on ''DTE 0km'' it seems, but I might choose not to.

Car manufaturers do this for legal reasons. If you were to run out of fuel with the gauge reading more than empty, they could get sued if something happened to you.

[OMR346]

I have put over 70Ltr in to my 75Ltr tank many times. I almost cry when i get to the counter though lol

[Jag530G]

OK ... I am learning.

Today I travelled 20km with ''Distance To Empty'' displaying 0km.

Pulled into a servo and got 67 litres into the fuel tank.

Confirming what people are saying here. I could certainly go 50km on ''DTE 0km'' it seems, but I might choose not to.

And this time you will go further before getting to DTE = 0, the system seems to "learn" that there is more fuel.

[Wonky]

DTE depends on current driving. I've seen mine at say 90km after going through peak hour then travel 70km home at midnight on the freeway at 100kmh and when I get home DTE is 150km, not 20.

[ls1chevy]

Hi mate, same here, filled up today and it only took 55 litres, the tank was nearly empty, distance to empty said 50 km, I can't understand it, Holden say it is a 75 litre capacity, I think that is wrong, it is more like 60 litres, does anyone else know why I can't get 75 litres in the tank, very strange.

[white lie]

Holy thread bump Batman!

But as said 5 years ago, there is a decent safety margin between it reading empty and actually being completely empty

[SASLS1]

The temp of the fuel makes a noticeable difference, and this is why "All" petroleum companies deliver fuel to servo's still at a well elevated temp above ambient, from the refining process and don't let it totally cool down before delivery... As Fuel expands as it gets hotter... So your paying for more than you get, compared to if the fuel was at ambient temp.

This is most noticeable just after a servo has been refilled by a tanker with hot fuel, and while filling your car, put your hand on the metal swivel coupling where the hose connects, and your'll be surprised how warm the coupling is while filling your car, compared to other days where it is cold at ambient temp as it should be... Even on super cold nights, the coupling is "So Warm...." its obvious the servo tanks have just been refilled by a tanker...

Your getting Ripped with hot fuel!!!...

Obviously, this won't make a huge difference each tank fill, but the petroleum companies do it to maximize profit, and are absolutely milking the crap out of it, with all the small amounts you pay for and don't get each fill.... with the millions of cars being refilled everyday across the country...


I can do and easy 40kms + (on fwy) once the distance to empty reads zero, before the very low fuel warning comes up, and the fuel cal reading in engineering mode reads about 12 - 15 from memory. Fuel cal reads 255 when full..

My VZ ute has a 70 liter tank, never put more than 61 liters in it ever... even once the very low fuel warning come up, and having driven 40kms + after distance to empty reads zero.

The only 100% way to know how far you can go, is keep driving till it dies, then see how much it takes to refill it.

Then the difference between how much you refilled it, to the tank's listed capacity, your'll know Exactly........ how much Un-useable fuel there is in the tank, which can never be accessed.

[Micks]

With my VZ I calibrated my fuel guage/sender with software so it's accurate down to approx. .2L, tested this using my three window cluster that gives fuel used & check this against
what I put in at the servo. Each time comes within the figure above.

[SASLS1]

With my VZ I calibrated my fuel guage/sender with software so it's accurate down to approx. .2L, tested this using my three window cluster that gives fuel used & check this against
what I put in at the servo. Each time comes within the figure above.

How low have you run it down too, and what's the most you have ever filled the tank up, at a servo?

[IJ.]

Easy solution, put 20L in a jerry can drive till the car stops, put the 20L in proceed to the nearest petrol station and top it off..

E38 cars have a full calibration section in the tune so can be adjusted to be "accurate" in EFI Live.

[Micks]

How low have you run it down too, and what's the most you have ever filled the tank up, at a servo?

Run it down to about 5L & no worries, My VZ has the smaller commercial 67L tank. With my testing I could run it down lower but prefer not to ;)

[izaks]

78L many times in my old VX.
Need to have your gauge calibrated