Fuel tank capacity

[johnloaderuk]

As usual I ran my car until the low fuel warning light came on today. By the time I reached a fuel station it showed a range of 50 miles left, or about 4.5 litres (assuming 50mpg).

According to the handbook the fuel tank holds 70 litres (approx). I don't usually check but today I noticed I was charged for 72.5 litres, (£92) after I filled up. That added to the roughly 4.5 litres left in the tank comes to 77 litres altogether, a fair bit more than the 70 litres (approx) VW state.

So, was the fuel pump mis-reading, or is the fuel tank nearer 80 litres than the 70 VW quote.

Has anyone else ever noticed this ?, or could it be a case for trading standards. The fuel station was a newly refurbished station with new pumps on the M5.

[billythetidd]

I thought the tank was 62ltrs plus 10ltrs for reserve. You have probably filled up the pipe, right to the fuel cap almost.

[johnloaderuk]

I thought the tank was 62ltrs plus 10ltrs for reserve. You have probably filled up the pipe, right to the fuel cap almost.

70 litres stated in the handbook, I checked today. I always fill it up until you can see it in the filler neck.

[Deval]

As usual I ran my car until the low fuel warning light came on today. By the time I reached a fuel station it showed a range of 50 miles left, or about 4.5 litres (assuming 50mpg).

According to the handbook the fuel tank holds 70 litres (approx). I don't usually check but today I noticed I was charged for 72.5 litres, (£92) after I filled up. That added to the roughly 4.5 litres left in the tank comes to 77 litres altogether, a fair bit more than the 70 litres (approx) VW state.

So, was the fuel pump mis-reading, or is the fuel tank nearer 80 litres than the 70 VW quote.

Has anyone else ever noticed this ?, or could it be a case for trading standards. The fuel station was a newly refurbished station with new pumps on the M5.

Hi,
The light came on, the message flashed up and the thing went boing. After doing about 5 miles and using say 0.5 litres [50mpg = say 1/10 gallon or about 0.5 litres for 5mls] I reckon I had 7.5 litres left of the 8 litres reserve according to the manual. I topped up and the receipt says 61 litres (for £71.40) so, this would give 7.5 plus 61 = 68.5 litres tank capacity. With a bit of leeway in the actual reserve capacity when the light comes on, this seems about right for the 70 litre tank.
Your bill for 72.5 litres has got to be way out as it wouldn't be possible to get this volume in if the tank was bone dry! Don't know where you live but £92 for 72.5L is nearly £1.27/litre compared with my £1.17. Ripped off double whammy or what? Go for the throat mate.

[turbine2]

I wouldn't just advise trading standards about it. HMCR would also be interested.