Fuel Gauge Discrepancy

[STT22]

Wondering if anyone else has encountered a similar problem with their fuel gauge accuracy?

Here's what happened: After filling up my tank, the fuel gauge system showed a remaining range of over 330 miles, which seemed off compared to the usual estimate of >270 miles I get after a refill. Over a few days, while driving around 50-60 miles, the gauge strangely didn't show any decrease in fuel. Moreover, the estimated remaining range was inconsistent—initially indicating >330 miles, then suddenly dropping to >300 miles (after driving only a few miles) and then 290 miles.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

 

[Eric]

Wondering if anyone else has encountered a similar problem with their fuel gauge accuracy?

Here's what happened: After filling up my tank, the fuel gauge system showed a remaining range of over 330 miles, which seemed off compared to the usual estimate of >270 miles I get after a refill. Over a few days, while driving around 50-60 miles, the gauge strangely didn't show any decrease in fuel. Moreover, the estimated remaining range was inconsistent—initially indicating >330 miles, then suddenly dropping to >300 miles (after driving only a few miles) and then 290 miles.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

Yes, the gauge indicates range based on your previous driving fuel consumption. For example if I full up during a long journey on decent roads when I'm getting 27mpg (diesel Fieldmaster) then my range is >400 miles
But if my next journeys are low mileage cold stop start journeys it can drop to 300 miles. Then if I do a long journey with good mpg it will increase the range.
So in effect it is indicating your range available if you were to continue your journey driving at your current style and journey situation.

 

[DenisM]

Wondering if anyone else has encountered a similar problem with their fuel gauge accuracy?

Here's what happened: After filling up my tank, the fuel gauge system showed a remaining range of over 330 miles, which seemed off compared to the usual estimate of >270 miles I get after a refill. Over a few days, while driving around 50-60 miles, the gauge strangely didn't show any decrease in fuel. Moreover, the estimated remaining range was inconsistent—initially indicating >330 miles, then suddenly dropping to >300 miles (after driving only a few miles) and then 290 miles.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

There are two issues you raise:
The first is the estimated range based on previous driving habits as Eric has explained.
The second relates to the accuracy of the sensor measuring remaining fuel volume in the tank.
The tank is not of a consistent regular shape therefore the amount of fluid which has to be removed (or added) to produce a consistent change in the fuel gauge reading e.g full to 3/4 or say 1/2 to 1/4 will vary depending on the fluid level.
Many vehicles from other brands share this anomaly.
I asked an Ineos engineer recently about this and he said that they had tried all manner of algorithms to resolve it, but at best it's an approximation... however the latest s/w upgrade xxxxx1946 has improved the issue.

 

[Top Cat]

Hi DenisM,
It has caught me out too travelling through the SA outback which is fairly sparsely populated and fuel supply can be an issue with such a small tank, especially out past Mt Dare or the Trans Continental into WA
It starts off as Greater Than then drops down and says I have around 120kms to fill
then it drops to red in minutes with bingo fuel! I am using average speed via gps to work oput how much fuel via the instant usage amnd average
It is concerning, so need to carry a jerry can or two just in case
I am very interested in the second fuel tank being tried in WA in the rear exhaust area. This will fix my problem where I go, so looking forward to further developments
My personal opinion is that in advertising a built on purpose 4x4 adventure vehicle, fuel capacity would have been one of the first must haves on the design criteria!

 

[DenisM]

That's 'range anxiety' at another level altogether! and especially important with a diesel where the in-tank pump relies on surrounding fuel for cooling...

 

[Gtrain]

Wondering if anyone else has encountered a similar problem with their fuel gauge accuracy?

Here's what happened: After filling up my tank, the fuel gauge system showed a remaining range of over 330 miles, which seemed off compared to the usual estimate of >270 miles I get after a refill. Over a few days, while driving around 50-60 miles, the gauge strangely didn't show any decrease in fuel. Moreover, the estimated remaining range was inconsistent—initially indicating >330 miles, then suddenly dropping to >300 miles (after driving only a few miles) and then 290 miles.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

Yes, from pick up I drove for approx 300kms and fuel gauge did not budge from 50% full. No response from dealer yet (Victoria, Australia)

 

[Coullabus]

Ran my Petrol Fieldmaster close to the line…. The numbers were saying I would reach my destination with 20 miles in the tank. A sudden drop to the system saying I had zero fuel. Drove the last few miles expecting to grind to a halt - no petrol station in sight. Made it. Filled up. Suspect I was ‘running on fumes’ Not good for my blood pressure!

 

[BigJock2024]

Wondering if anyone else has encountered a similar problem with their fuel gauge accuracy?

Here's what happened: After filling up my tank, the fuel gauge system showed a remaining range of over 330 miles, which seemed off compared to the usual estimate of >270 miles I get after a refill. Over a few days, while driving around 50-60 miles, the gauge strangely didn't show any decrease in fuel. Moreover, the estimated remaining range was inconsistent—initially indicating >330 miles, then suddenly dropping to >300 miles (after driving only a few miles) and then 290 miles.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

This sounds like every Range Rover I've ever had! If I fill up, then coast down a very long slip road, my range goes to 999mls. I hit the gas and hit up the V8 and a few minutes later... 450mls.
I frankly don't really use it. Once I know the vehicle, I just watch the fuel gauge and know basis its position and my driving style when I am going to need to be filling up. I fill up at passing quarter-full anyway, never does any good to run the level down if you can avoid it.

 

[Shaky]

This sounds like every Range Rover I've ever had! If I fill up, then coast down a very long slip road, my range goes to 999mls. I hit the gas and hit up the V8 and a few minutes later... 450mls.
I frankly don't really use it. Once I know the vehicle, I just watch the fuel gauge and know basis its position and my driving style when I am going to need to be filling up. I fill up at passing quarter-full anyway, never does any good to run the level down if you can avoid it.

Surely you or rather the car is quoting instant MPG rather than average MPG there. My Amarok has both available, and like you say, coast down a hill and I am easily doing 999mpg on the instant reading.

I have never took any notice of range if I am honest on any car. I do play a game where I drive and try to get the range to go up (little things ). All the IG is doing is just working out how far you can go based on how you are driving over a few miles and how you are consuming fuel. I have always taken more interest in what the fuel gauge is saying tbh, however on the IG (I have not had the software update yet), the gauge and the range calculator do seem to be erratic to say the least.

 

[BigJock2024]

Surely you or rather the car is quoting instant MPG rather than average MPG there. My Amarok has both available, and like you say, coast down a hill and I am easily doing 999mpg on the instant reading.

I have never took any notice of range if I am honest on any car. I do play a game where I drive and try to get the range to go up (little things ). All the IG is doing is just working out how far you can go based on how you are driving over a few miles and how you are consuming fuel. I have always taken more interest in what the fuel gauge is saying tbh, however on the IG (I have not had the software update yet), the gauge and the range calculator do seem to be erratic to say the least.

Yes totally, I am sure the computer is using the MPG from the current trip, or the MPG of some previous set period of time, then just using that value against the reading from the tank sensor. I would doubt it's being smart enough to calculate some sort of combined figure based on predicted driving style, but maybe.
The fact I get a material increase when driving gently, suggests the former. Anyways, I just know I'm not going to get more than 500 miles out of a tank, and I refill 25% anyway.
The miles left is only any use if you're thinking "do I fill up here, or leave it another 60 miles because it's cheaper there" sort of thing.

 

[DaveB]

Wondering if anyone else has encountered a similar problem with their fuel gauge accuracy?

Here's what happened: After filling up my tank, the fuel gauge system showed a remaining range of over 330 miles, which seemed off compared to the usual estimate of >270 miles I get after a refill. Over a few days, while driving around 50-60 miles, the gauge strangely didn't show any decrease in fuel. Moreover, the estimated remaining range was inconsistent—initially indicating >330 miles, then suddenly dropping to >300 miles (after driving only a few miles) and then 290 miles.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

Like most vehicles it works out the remaining range based on your average fuel economy.
This will change greatly depending on your current and recent driving characteristics.
My vehicle is a diesel and after filling last week it showed >560 kms remaining
Then I drove in some twisty uphill roads and it dropped to 420 kms.
After coasting down the other side it went back up to >560 kms.
It seems to draw the line at 560 kms.
I am averaging around 12 Litres per 100 kms so in theory 750 kms per tank.

 

[Sarven]

Wondering if anyone else has encountered a similar problem with their fuel gauge accuracy?

Here's what happened: After filling up my tank, the fuel gauge system showed a remaining range of over 330 miles, which seemed off compared to the usual estimate of >270 miles I get after a refill. Over a few days, while driving around 50-60 miles, the gauge strangely didn't show any decrease in fuel. Moreover, the estimated remaining range was inconsistent—initially indicating >330 miles, then suddenly dropping to >300 miles (after driving only a few miles) and then 290 miles.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

I'm having similar problems
I don't thing the fuel gauge is accurate;
after a fill up, the fuel gauge and distance to empty does not change for at least 50 to 60 miles. In addition, at my last fill-up, my check engine light came on. I checked the codes with a scanner which produced code P0461 (fuel level sensor performance issue). I re-set the codes, all looks well, I'll keep you posted when I go for my next fill-up. I'm hoping someone from Ineos will respond to mine and other posts. I haven' seen them chime in yet and it would be really helpful if they would.
Finally, I'm also finding the altimeter is off by 100ft roughly. I'm hoping a software update will fix it, but I don't know of any such update out yet.

 

[rbarsk]

I'm having similar problems
I don't thing the fuel gauge is accurate;
after a fill up, the fuel gauge and distance to empty does not change for at least 50 to 60 miles. In addition, at my last fill-up, my check engine light came on. I checked the codes with a scanner which produced code P0461 (fuel level sensor performance issue). I re-set the codes, all looks well, I'll keep you posted when I go for my next fill-up. I'm hoping someone from Ineos will respond to mine and other posts. I haven' seen them chime in yet and it would be really helpful if they would.
Finally, I'm also finding the altimeter is off by 100ft roughly. I'm hoping a software update will fix it, but I don't know of any such update out yet.

I am having the same issue. My fuel gauge is at 260 miles and won’t change until after 100 miles of driving.

 

[Peter_s68]

First time I've put fuel in my Grenadier (diesel). Gauge said I had 2/3 of a tank but it took 45 litres to fill it, which is supposedly 50% of capacity. Either the fuel station has been fiddling the pumps or the gauge is not giving a good read on how full the tank actually is. I imagine this has implications for the forecast remaining range too?

 

[Top Cat]

First time I've put fuel in my Grenadier (diesel). Gauge said I had 2/3 of a tank but it took 45 litres to fill it, which is supposedly 50% of capacity. Either the fuel station has been fiddling the pumps or the gauge is not giving a good read on how full the tank actually is. I imagine this has implications for the forecast remaining range too?

Hi Peter,
As all the above comments - add to mine the issue with remote travel. So I am about to install the Brown Davis second tank.
Attached is the excellent link to the product.

INEOS GRENADIER- BROWN DAVIS LONG RANGE FUEL TANK – Brown Davis- Long Range Fuel Tanks, Underbody Protection, Roll Cages and Motorsport

www.browndavis.com.au

Will be covering the instal late July with pics

 

[DenisM]

Hi Peter,
As all the above comments - add to mine the issue with remote travel. So I am about to install the Brown Davis second tank.
Attached is the excellent link to the product.

INEOS GRENADIER- BROWN DAVIS LONG RANGE FUEL TANK – Brown Davis- Long Range Fuel Tanks, Underbody Protection, Roll Cages and Motorsport

www.browndavis.com.au

Will be covering the instal late July with pics

@Top Cat: despite my initial reservations, a recent highway trip to FNQ has convinced me of the practicality of an auxiliary fuel tank. I look forward to reading about your install and shall follow with much interest...

 

[trobex]

My fuel gauge is not too far off... the remaining range read out is not even close to accurate - no matter what type of trips before are recorded. It will say 0 remaining range, and I have 15L of fuel in the tank based on what is required to full up.

 

[Clark Kent]

Hi Peter,
As all the above comments - add to mine the issue with remote travel. So I am about to install the Brown Davis second tank.
Attached is the excellent link to the product.

INEOS GRENADIER- BROWN DAVIS LONG RANGE FUEL TANK – Brown Davis- Long Range Fuel Tanks, Underbody Protection, Roll Cages and Motorsport

www.browndavis.com.au

Will be covering the instal late July with pics

Hi @Top Cat Have you installed the BD tank yet? I'm curious to hear about your experience with the added fuel weight with standard suspension.

 

[DenisM]

Hi Peter,
As all the above comments - add to mine the issue with remote travel. So I am about to install the Brown Davis second tank.
Attached is the excellent link to the product.

INEOS GRENADIER- BROWN DAVIS LONG RANGE FUEL TANK – Brown Davis- Long Range Fuel Tanks, Underbody Protection, Roll Cages and Motorsport

www.browndavis.com.au

Will be covering the instal late July with pics

Me thinks BD need to review the misprint in their ad at the end of the blurb re. the Grenadier application......... that's a big increase!!!

240 LITRE BROWN DAVIS LONG RANGE FUEL TANK	1504.80km	75.6% INCREASE

 

[whiterabbit]

My fuel gauge is not too far off... the remaining range read out is not even close to accurate - no matter what type of trips before are recorded. It will say 0 remaining range, and I have 15L of fuel in the tank based on what is required to full up.

Same with my grenadier. I have only filled up once so far, but I wonder if the remaining kilometers might refer to reaching the tank reserve?