Fuel level warning light A3 - how much left?

[kalniel]

Anyone happen to know how many litres (roughly) I've got left when the fuel light comes on an A3 2.0 tdi sportback (non-quattro)?

Don't have my handbook with me, want to figure out which station I can make it too (and yes, I know usual sludge/pump temp. warnings are in my head already).

Thanks

[Saracen]

Over the years, and in everything from a VW Polo to a BMW M3, I've had about 1.5 gallons or so of usage, and still not actually run out, though I suspect I may have cut it pretty close.

As for the A3, I've no idea, never having had one.

So .... were it me, I wouldn't panic, but nor would I delay refuelling unnecessarily.

And, as the saying goes .... your mileage may vary.

[kalniel]

Hehe thanks, that's a lot more than I was expecting!

My preferred station is ~25 miles away (directly on route home), which is half a gallon. I might wimp out at the Tesco ~13 miles away though. As long as I can avoid the BP rip-off just around the corner

[Saracen]

25 miles wouldn't give me a moment's hesitation. I'd go for it. But ..... as I said, I've never had an A3, so I really don't know. I'd be very surprised if, the light having just come on, you didn't have a lot more than that left. It would seem close to useless for the manufacturer to calibrate the warning light that late. But hey, surprises happen.

Suggestion .... when you do fill up, compare the fuel volume purchased to tank capacity. It'll give you a good guide for the future.

[Saracen]

Bear in mind the whole point of the light is to give you ample warning before you run out, and if, for example, on a motorway or a quiet rural road at night, you could well be 30 miles or more from the nearest chance to fuel up. 25 miles ought to be no problem, but ...... ???????

[this_is_gav]

Agreed with Saracen, but if there's a filling station just up the road, why not pop in and just stick in a few quids worth, just to be sure?

[kalniel]

25 miles wouldn't give me a moment's hesitation. I'd go for it. But ..... as I said, I've never had an A3, so I really don't know. I'd be very surprised if, the light having just come on, you didn't have a lot more than that left. It would seem close to useless for the manufacturer to calibrate the warning light that late. But hey, surprises happen.

Suggestion .... when you do fill up, compare the fuel volume purchased to tank capacity. It'll give you a good guide for the future.

Good suggestion, though this was going to be the 'fill only half the tank' round (my fuel consumption is usually fairly constant, so I only brim-to-brim sample every few visits).

I can't decide if I turned into a tight arse as a result of driving a diesel, or if I bought a diesel because I was a tight arse already..

Remarkably hard to find the information on the interwebs though. I've seen some suggestions it's 7 litres, which fits with the 1.5 gallons very well.

[finlay666]

If it's like my A4 it'll be 1-2 gallons left

[badass]

My A3 sportback is a quattro but I think they have the same fuel tanks TBH.
I've had the miles left counter down to 5 miles before and that was at least 25-30 miles after the light came on. Since the 3.2 is really, really rubbish on fuel on the motorway I'd say 1.5 ish gallons.

[kalniel]

My A3 sportback is a quattro but I think they have the same fuel tanks TBH.
I've had the miles left counter down to 5 miles before and that was at least 25-30 miles after the light came on. Since the 3.2 is really, really rubbish on fuel on the motorway I'd say 1.5 ish gallons.

Quattros have a 5l bigger tank (for reasons you've discovered), but I'd presume that doesn't affect the warning light.

[Stringent]

I've had my BMW 325 go down to --- on the estimated miles left in the tank and kept going for another 2 miles. I was running around trying to find a petrol station though!

Don't forget if you don't run the tank down often, you get all the junk at the bottom of your tank go through your system.

[kalniel]

Don't forget if you don't run the tank down often, you get all the junk at the bottom of your tank go through your system.

Eh? It takes fuel from the bottom anyway. The only problem regarding sludge is that you're providing less volume for junk that doesn't make it through the filter to float around in, making it more concentrated and more likely to cause problems. But with plastic tanks it shouldn't be much of an issue. Pump overheating is the one I'm more wary off, as fuel is a nice heat sink.

edit, though I've just read the tank pump isn't really used for TDI engines - it just initialises the pressure pre-ignition before turning off, and the injector pumps do the rest.

[badass]

I've had my BMW 325 go down to --- on the estimated miles left in the tank and kept going for another 2 miles. I was running around trying to find a petrol station though!

Don't forget if you don't run the tank down often, you get all the junk at the bottom of your tank go through your system.

Old wives tale.

[jim]

Didn't Jeremy Clarkson drive for a stupidly long distance in an A6 on a warning light once during a run to Scotland and back or something similar?

[kalniel]

Either that or a jag, can't remember. But yes, of course, even the ~25mile run was fine. Didn't do the complete fill but I must have been some way off the bottom still as 25l took the dial well past the half full mark. I suspect a roundabout triggered the light a bit early this time (Can't help it, it really likes roundabouts...)

And having checked the handbook, for the google robot:
An Audi A3 2.0 tdi's fuel level warning light comes on when there are 7 litres remaining in the tank.

[Aimvpr]

It's usually around 35 - 40 miles left. But it is really dependant on how you drive it. Drive like a penile and you'll probably get 15 out of it.