Joined
·
81 Posts
I've read some alarming tales here of folks depending on the computer generated Range estimate for fuel, only to run dry on the freeway. So when I picked up my Metris Passenger Van this past spring I kept records for a few fill ups to see just how bad that Range value is.
Using a tank capacity of 18.5 gallons, and my observed town mileage of 25 mpg, I calculated the true fuel remaining after each fill up, and estimated the true range. I then subtracted that value from the displayed Range to get the "Range at Empty" value. So for 9 fill ups I saw:
72 miles
78
70
70
70
72
65
67
61
70
So the good news is that is was at least fairly consistent. But the bad news is obviously that the computer thinks I have 70 miles more range than I do. Kind of hard to understand how that value can be so far off, but that's what I've seen.
Using a tank capacity of 18.5 gallons, and my observed town mileage of 25 mpg, I calculated the true fuel remaining after each fill up, and estimated the true range. I then subtracted that value from the displayed Range to get the "Range at Empty" value. So for 9 fill ups I saw:
72 miles
78
70
70
70
72
65
67
61
70
So the good news is that is was at least fairly consistent. But the bad news is obviously that the computer thinks I have 70 miles more range than I do. Kind of hard to understand how that value can be so far off, but that's what I've seen.