Tank Range and reserve - 2.2dCi

TheJoker · October 26, 2006, 09:21:41 AM

Guys,

I seem to be getting about 550 miles out of a tank of diesel on my 2001 2.2 dCi Grand Espace - I was just wondering if this is normal.

Also, how long can I go on reserve; since the fuel-pump-icon shows up? Does the sign change once I'm getting close to running out or is the icon there permanently visible switching between icon and "service"... ?

Thanks! Loving the car so far

Lennart Sorth · October 26, 2006, 01:46:54 PM

Quote from: TheJoker on October 26, 2006, 09:21:41 AM
550 miles out of a tank of diesel

our car (2002 2.2 dci The Race, 103.000km) regularly passes 1000km (620 miles) on a tank, - by which time we pour some 75-80 litres into it.

Provided our tanks are equal size (which they of course should be) 550miles seems a bit short - something close to 33 mpg. We get 36-37 as the norm. But then again, thats within 12% so maybe its just topology and driving style ?

I have a good measurement of 300 km strictly 125 km/h (GPS) steady (sort of boring) motorway-driving with a constant speed - where our car apparently did just over 15 km/l (42 mpg) - which probably is as good as it gets. This is derived from the notoriously inaccurate tripcomputer, corrected with the knowledge of how much diesel I pour into the tank etc.

Driving 90 km/h will probably make it slightly better, but changing speed is the costly part. Seen from a fuel-economy viewpoint, it just doesn't like queues/traffic.

Quote from: TheJoker on October 26, 2006, 09:21:41 AM
Also, how long can I go on reserve

dunno, - and since its a diesel, I haven't been so brave to actually find out - so we fill it up either before or just after it reminds us to.

I think it is normally 5 liters, i.e. 40 miles or so?

TheJoker · October 26, 2006, 02:03:03 PM

Thanks Lennart. I think the last tank ended up at 580 miles, but this one a bit shorter. I'm probably getting a bit used to the car meaning that I'll probably drive it a tad more aggressively - which I should stop of course. I'm also commuting through some horrible traffic from time to time, sometimes only crawling at 20-40mph (A34 north of Oxford). I'm sure I'll get better economy out of it if I'd run a bit more continious motorway speeds without acceleration/slowing down.

I asked about the reserve because, just as you mention; it's a diesel, I don't want to experience running out!

Thanks again!

Lennart Sorth · October 26, 2006, 03:52:30 PM

Quote from: TheJoker on October 26, 2006, 02:03:03 PM
crawling at 20-40mph (A34 north of Oxford).

Is that the one towards the north-east, which passes Silverstone ? - or is that A43 ?

I recently had my dose of UK traffic when I naively thought I could drive from Reading in the morning traffic, and arrive in Dover in good time ... HA HAHA - silly me! - it took us the best part of 4 hours (!) - but we got to see Windsor Castle, as we attempted to cut the troubled M4/M25 corner. As it happened, half of Berkshire had decided to do the same. :-)

/Lennart

TheJoker · October 26, 2006, 03:55:46 PM

The A43 goes past Silverstone - my previous commute route - which is much better... A34 is one junction down on the M40 then towards Oxford.....

UK traffic is generally silly...

Will Falconer · October 26, 2006, 07:44:33 PM

Quote from: TheJoker on October 26, 2006, 09:21:41 AM

Also, how long can I go on reserve; since the fuel-pump-icon shows up? Does the sign change once I'm getting close to running out or is the icon there permanently visible switching between icon and "service"... ?

As I've actually run my 24v out of petrol I can tell you that the gauge goes to 0 orange bars and then cheekily goes back to 1 bar shortly before running dry! I can't remember how long it went on the -1 bar for but I think 0 bars is equivalent to about 5 litres.

TheJoker · October 27, 2006, 07:01:08 AM

Thanks Will! Hope running out didn't cause too many problems!

Martin Tyas · October 27, 2006, 10:23:29 AM

I once did 50 miles in my 2.2dCi Grand after the last bar had gone out and when I filled up it took 79.8 litres. According to the specifications it has an 80 litre tank capacity.... Needless to say I haven't pushed my luck that far again.

In my experience 550/580 miles on a tank is OK for commuting in UK traffic. Mine quite often does less than 500 on a tank when used solely for local running but then I've also had 680 miles when motorway driving.

Martin

TheJoker · October 27, 2006, 10:29:38 AM

That's excellent info Martin!

I've done some 40 miles I think - but unfortunately I went for the pay-at-pump at Tesco this time which mean that I was only able to fill up with £60 worth of sludge... So I couldn't tell a) how much I could get in, b) what my MPG was... $:-\$

Next time...

Will Falconer · October 27, 2006, 01:57:46 PM

My wife saw me parked beside the road as she drove past but didn't think...so I persuaded her to come back and collect me (but only because I had our 4 year old with me!) . I was able to cycle back to the car with 5 litres so we soon got going again.

Lennart Sorth · October 27, 2006, 02:58:15 PM

Quote from: Will Falconer on October 27, 2006, 01:57:46 PM
we soon got going again.

heh - are you talking about the car or your wife here, Will ? :-)

/Lennart

TheJoker · October 27, 2006, 03:01:12 PM

Quote from: Lennart Sorth on October 27, 2006, 02:58:15 PM
Quote from: Will Falconer on October 27, 2006, 01:57:46 PM
we soon got going again.
heh - are you talking about the car or your wife here, Will ? :-)

but 5 liters of what...