Author Topic: Fuel gauge inaccurate  (Read 21005 times)

chrisc

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Re: Fuel gauge inaccurate
« Reply #15 on: April 25, 2012, 04:03:17 PM »
Those clever folks at Honda...  despite building in the safeguard of pessimistic fuel level & remaining distance readings they also remembered to tell the same computer to give an optimistic fuel economy reading :)

Yes, you are spot on with this one.  Its not by much however, maybe 3% in cold weather and 2% in warm weather.  Equates to an extra 0.5 litre or less each time you fill up.
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guest4405

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Re: Fuel gauge inaccurate
« Reply #16 on: December 04, 2013, 06:00:52 AM »
The Honda Jazz has a big problem with the fuel gauge.  I believe it is a resul of the fuel tank being under the front seats, being very shallow and running longitudinally across the car.  Therefore for all the computed electronics Honda put into the cars system, the fuel readings can never be accurate - they don't put a float style measuring instrument of sufficient sensitivity in.

This annoys me because, with a 42 litre tank, the larges fuel fill I can achieve is 30.22 litres.  Okay, you might say, but when you travel out West in NSW it can be a long way between fuel stops and one becomes quite paranoid.  You cannot trust the cars instruments.

Honda refuse (through their dealer) to do anything about this.  They argue that the same applies for all cars.  However I beg to differ.  My experience with Mitsubishi models, Toyota models, BMW models and even the Honda Accord is that I have NEVER encountered such inaccuracies.  Also, many of my cars have had various trip computers and in no circumstances have they proven to be inaccurate or unreliable.

Honda have made a gross error in design and they refuse to front up on this.  So tough luck everybody.  My next car to replace e this Jazz with be either Toyota or Audi.  I never go back if the experience is bad and the manufacturer will not front up to their responsibilities.

guest1521

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Re: Fuel gauge inaccurate
« Reply #17 on: December 04, 2013, 10:24:42 AM »
My 'UK' 2009 GE Jazz has the same inaccuracy. The other evening gauge showing empty, warning light 'on' and 'computer' counting down (from about '50') to '0' miles left in the tank. Filled again when only '4' miles remaining but even then it took just 34.2 litres. I could (p'raps should) have filled sooner but was aiming for a particular refreshment stop. P'raps Honda intend us to fill according to the gauge needle to avoid sediment and water being sucked up - possibly to avoid a starving petrol pump overheating, too. (Many in-tank pumps rely on the petrol flow and 'slosh' for cooling.)

Maybe the problem is from the fuel tank's shape and Honda's unique (Jazz/Fit - Civic too, I think) location however that does give us unusual passenger accommodation and cargo advantages... for the size of car. Possibly better for safety, too.

I'm well used to the gauge's foibles... however UK filling stations are not far apart.

chrisc

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Re: Fuel gauge inaccurate
« Reply #18 on: December 04, 2013, 03:35:40 PM »
I was surprised last weekend, coming back on a very hot day (39 deg when we left) and 4 in the car with the aircon turned on all the time and doing 110-120km/hr.  The trip was 198km long and at the outset, the fuel remaining said 285km.  When I was still 25km from home, it read 30km.  Then I watched as, every 500m or so, it dropped by 1km increments and with still 20km to go, it read 0km.

I got home and went to fill up, to find only 36 litres filled it up.
If music be the food of love, play on

culzean

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Re: Fuel gauge inaccurate
« Reply #19 on: December 04, 2013, 07:00:55 PM »
well i for one would certainly want the fuel gauge to be reading on the side of caution and have more fuel left than I thought - it is the same in the Civic and from what I have seen on other websites most cars seem to be going that way now.   Garages are not as far apart in UK than in other countries,  but car makers do not put different tanks and electrics in for every country (the domestic voltage and frequency  may change between countries but cars are all 12 volt as far as I know).

one other point, normally the smoother your driving the more accurate the MPG reading - because most 'rate' instruments (ie miles per gallon, litres per minute, miles per hour etc ) have a sampling frequency (your MPG display takes a snapshot of the data and updates about once every 10 seconds,  so anything extreme (sudden acceleration) that happens within the 10 second window may be missed, but you have used the fuel, it just may not register properly.  also the more miles on the trip the slower the mpg reading changes with driving style.

The digital speedo will also have a sampling rate built in (probably measured in parts of a second) to steady the display and stop the numbers jumping around too fast).   
Some people will only consider you an expert if they agree with your point of view or advice,  when you give them advice they don't like they consider you an idiot

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