Distance to Empty

scribbly · 22-04-2008, 04:24 PM

Has anyone tested the accuracy of the 'distance to empty' dashboard notification on the Mondeo?

I've got a notification right now of 160km to go and I'm not in the mood to pay country diesel prices. I'm going to do 55km to the office tomorrow and see how it goes.
I know when I had the Territory it would show I had 150KM to go then descend rapidly that was in no way related to the distance actually traveled. Always a bit of a panic to see if I could get to the petrol station.

jared79 · 22-04-2008, 08:59 PM

I found that for the first couple of weeks, it was a little funny. But seems to one the money these days. However I usually fill up once my light comes on, then goes off, then comes on again (2nd time usually)

Dusty1 · 23-04-2008, 11:56 AM

I've never had it come on in mine. Is it a picture of a petrol pump? Is there an exciting tone as well?

In my Futura, I learnt the hard way, if it hits a 1/4, fill up, regardless of the DTE reading. I still do this now. Nothing like being between Kerang and Serpintine and having no fuel. That was a fun day.

scribbly · 23-04-2008, 12:16 PM

Well, would you believe it... The DTE increased over the 55km traveled.
Therefore, I'm much more confident in the accuracy of the fuel gauge in this car. Once again had to use truck nozzle to fill up and I stopped at 64 litres though I suspect I may have filled it a little too much. The search continues for a regular fuel stop that uses the smaller nozzle and has good discounts to boot.

brucel · 24-04-2008, 12:52 PM

On a recent trip the fuel warning came on as I drove into to re-fuel. There was ~8L left with the distance to empty showing 135km (freeway conditions). The distance to empty changes with traffic conditions - wish they had included either litres of fuel used since last refill or litres left (my old TJ magna had this and it was accurate too).

apstar · 24-04-2008, 05:10 PM

Ok then if you do run out of diesel is there any problems once you refill in starting up!

apstar

ajay1940 · 24-04-2008, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apstar

Ok then if you do run out of diesel is there any problems once you refill in starting up!

apstar

Don't know about the Mondeo, but if it's anything like our diesel forklift, it's something you don't want to try. That was a real nightmare to prime.

:

scribbly · 24-04-2008, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucel

On a recent trip the fuel warning came on as I drove into to re-fuel. There was ~8L left with the distance to empty showing 135km (freeway conditions). The distance to empty changes with traffic conditions - wish they had included either litres of fuel used since last refill or litres left (my old TJ magna had this and it was accurate too).

135km to go after fuel light - you beauty! Maybe across the Nullabor would be an issue but that's great news any way you look at it.

bearass · 24-04-2008, 08:39 PM

I have had it reading 0kms but through the next roundabout and into the servo was back to reading 6kms-that the furtherest I have taken a car down to before refuelling. Servo attendant was very happy to see me at $1.64p/l.

thefox3305 · 16-09-2008, 11:01 AM

Mine went form 97s km DTE to 70 to 30 to 14 to stopped all in about 15kms on my first trip this weekend. The light came on about 30Km DTE. Ran about 7kms on 0.

Local ford dealer bought out some fuel. Turned the key on and waited 10 seconds. Started first go and kept running no problems. Much easier than my f250.

After the next fill, i didn't trust the computer. When the fuel gauge was only just under 1/4, and DTE showing 300kms, i filled up ,and it only took 59 litres. 11 litres for 300ks? I think not.

Hopefully it settles down.

Apart from that, a fantastic car. Love the auto wipers.

apstar · 16-09-2008, 11:19 AM

Had my low fuel light come on yesterday then an [ i ] information light came on [between the temp & fuel gauges] filled up low fuel light went out but information light remained on even though there are no message alerts on my computer!! hmmm come to think about it when my low fuel light came on there were no chime which I did set when I got my car went to check now and it still on grrrrrrr

apstar

TonyDragons1 · 16-09-2008, 07:13 PM

Hi folks, I thought I would share some info from the "other" side of the ditch - you know the far Eastern State of Australia! I am an Aussie currently on assignment in NZ where Mondeos roam in bountiful numbers. our company has just upgraded a fleet of 40 Mondys' to the new model - I picked up my spanking new Bright Colorado Red Zetec Hatch last Friday (the last car of the fleet to be replaced).
One of my colleagues who lives in Hamilton (a bit over an hr sth of Auckland) had 60km showing on the DTE whilst driving up the Motorway and the thing just stopped! Ran out of fuel! On its first tank of gas! It should be said the whole fleet are petrol models, majority are standard sedans, with the one in question being a Zetec. He phoned one of his team to get some fuel in a jerry can and come to the rescue, guess what?? Capless fuel filler didn't want to know about the jerry nozzle did it! Enter one tow truck and a VERY embarrassed new Zetec driver! Having said that the guy who rescued him had 12km showing on the DTE read out today as he pulled into a BP - running a bit too close to the wind for comfort!
The moral of the story is fill your car up with a reasonable buffer.

scribbly · 17-09-2008, 08:21 PM

G'day Tonydragons1. When I was over in Auckland recently I was beginning to think there weren't any Mondys around but then I saw an Estate. It looks great.
Did you get to test drive the range before you got the Zetec?

TonyDragons1 · 18-09-2008, 08:56 PM

Plenty of Mondys' here folks (although that may just be due to heightened awareness now I have one!)....
I drove a standard sedan prior to getting the Zee, however mine is a Co. car so I didn't get a choice... (i know hard luck story hey!!) ...
Our fleet Mgr and another person got to drive the whole new Ford range in a day to sample their pros n' cons. The XR series got a big thumbs up but the bean counters don't like such extravagances so it was the relatively sedate versions that got the nod. Still I can't complaign, this is my 10th fleet car and I love it!
Just trying to get some iPod trickery sorted out, tint and a tow bar and I am sorted.

Zippy7 · 18-09-2008, 10:19 PM

Mine seems okay at the moment. I think it fudges an estimate based on your last 10 mins (or distance) of driving to determine the DTE.
Mind you, I don't like leaving the car nearly empty before I fill up. I will admit it here - I prefer to get fuel on tight--tuesdays

apstar · 18-09-2008, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zippy7

I will admit it here - I prefer to get fuel on tight--tuesdays

So would I but there is no such thing for diesel prices the same every day..high!

apstar

bathurst77 · 19-09-2008, 09:27 AM

I let my DTE run to zero. Used to on my BA before too.

I cant be bothered with half fills I run it to empty and fill it two or 3 clicks.
I watch the needle more then the DTE, and base it on getting at least 700-720 minimum out of the tank (zetec), and if im in a good mood or feeling tight or what phase of the moon or how high the tide is in timbuktu.

It quite often goes to zero then comes back to about 20 then bounce around.

scribbly · 19-09-2008, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bathurst77

I let my DTE run to zero. Used to on my BA before too.

I cant be bothered with half fills I run it to empty and fill it two or 3 clicks.
I watch the needle more then the DTE, and base it on getting at least 700-720 minimum out of the tank (zetec), and if im in a good mood or feeling tight or what phase of the moon or how high the tide is in timbuktu.

It quite often goes to zero then comes back to about 20 then bounce around.

I can tell you from 'dirty' experience that you don't fill the diesel past the first click. After doing this for years in conventionally fuelled cars it takes a great deal of discipline not to do it. The reason being that the diesel leaches out and down the side of the car and over the rear tyre.

thefox3305 · 22-09-2008, 04:37 PM

Had a call from my service manager today. A batch of Mondeos, including the wife's, have incorrect fuel gauge calibration. Requested to bring it in for half hour fix.

He was unaware that i had ran out the week before.

wjf · 22-09-2008, 05:05 PM

I have now filled up my third tank of fuel on the car and I am less and less thrilled with my DTE readings (I initially statrted whining about this issue in the other thread 'Problems').

By the time the fuel light came on to the time I could reasonably and conveniently get to a service station would have been less than 35kms, but when I filled up I put in 70.2L (in a 70L tank!!!).

I am approaching my 3K service and I have no complaints about my car aside from this issue. I will make sure to ask them about fuel gauge calibration when I take the car in.

warren77 · 22-09-2008, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefox3305

Had a call from my service manager today. A batch of Mondeos, including the wife's, have incorrect fuel gauge calibration. Requested to bring it in for half hour fix.

He was unaware that i had ran out the week before.

What is your build date?
Would be good to know which batch it was.

Having said that, I haven't gotten below a quarter of a tank since I bought the car and just clocked over 5000km.

thefox3305 · 25-09-2008, 11:00 AM

Warren:
What is your build date?
Would be good to know which batch it was.

Dunno. Had a bit of a look under the bonnet and can't locate it.
Picked it up virtually straight of the boat six weeks ago.

Trevor

cammag · 09-10-2008, 01:40 AM

I always worry about letting the fuel get that low in the tank.

Firstly, the tank maybe 71l but how much of that is usable.

Secondly, you just don't know if or how much muck there is on the bottom of your tank. This can cause a constriction/blockage of fuel lines or other damage along the fuel system. This is even more important for the TDCi owners.

I use my fuel gauge. The DTE is just a guide for me.

wjf · 09-10-2008, 01:28 PM

I dont see how you save $$$, you're just delaying the inevtiable so thats not the reason.

I tend to fill up when the light comes on which in previous cars was around 50 to 60 kms to go. After this recalibration the fuel light now appears to come on around 50 to 60 kms to go so I cant really complain about that.

I love my Mondeo, best car I've owned by a mile, but my previous car the Mazda6 was very good at prediciting DTE and I guess I got used to it.

Dusty1 · 24-12-2008, 01:10 PM

Distance to empty, just after a fill up.

wjf · 07-01-2009, 05:11 PM

Dusty, you and I are both driving around the Melbourne western suburbs IIRC, if you tell me you get anything close to 1100kms out of a tank of fuel then I will need to hang myself.

I keep reading on these fourms about our fellow Mondeo drivers getting 900 or 1000kms out of a tank and wish I was out in the country or up on the coast somewhere!!!

apstar · 07-01-2009, 05:25 PM

I think that reading of Dusty must be filling up after a long trip! on long trips I can magically get free diesel from the heavens e.g. DTE 650km after a fill up in the city to 1100km DTE after the long hiway trip

apstar

Dusty1 · 08-01-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wjf

Dusty, you and I are both driving around the Melbourne western suburbs IIRC, if you tell me you get anything close to 1100kms out of a tank of fuel then I will need to hang myself.

I keep reading on these fourms about our fellow Mondeo drivers getting 900 or 1000kms out of a tank and wish I was out in the country or up on the coast somewhere!!!

I've been doing a few trips to Geelong, so it's basically straight down Geelong Road and onto the freeway and off at Fyansford My last fill up saw me do 785 kms. Pretty happy with that.

That photo was probably 70 kms after I filled up. I've got others at 100 kms, which freaked the boss out a bit. The N95 does a pretty decent job of photos.

NZ XR6 · 17-01-2009, 06:43 AM

Was driving back into Auckland from the south yesterday. The DTE said about 65 km when the low fuel light came on. I drove up the Bombay Hills (about 3 km)and the DTE dropped to 25 km! The car's due for it's first service next month, so I'll ask them to look into this.

And then after I filled up, it was reading 860 km DTE after 20 km on the motorway cruising at 110 km/h! Is this a record for a petrol Mondeo?

ian b · 18-01-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NZ XR6

Was driving back into Auckland from the south yesterday. The DTE said about 65 km when the low fuel light came on. I drove up the Bombay Hills (about 3 km)and the DTE dropped to 25 km! The car's due for it's first service next month, so I'll ask them to look into this.

And then after I filled up, it was reading 860 km DTE after 20 km on the motorway cruising at 110 km/h! Is this a record for a petrol Mondeo?

The DTE is calculated on the real time fuel usage and tank contents.

If you are driving on a level road the real time fuel usage will be low, but when you climb a gradient the real time fuel usage will rise. Therefore the same fuel level could give you differing DTE numbers if you are driving in different conditions as it is simply a multiple of fuel use by fuel in the tank.

As a previous member said it simply tells you if you keep driving this way, this is as far as you will get.

To satisfy yourself watch the DTE drop if you drive hard or hold the gear lower than you normally would or rise as you drive if you take it easy.

To demonstrate I have seen a DTE reading of 1200kms after filling up halfway down the GWH from the Blue Mountains because I am running in 6th but with hardly any throttle so the real time fuel use is low and available fuel is high. I can see the numbers increase as I drive along!
Going uphill on the same road sees the reverse occur when the DTE drops by more than the kms travelled.

I treat the DTE reading as a bit of a toy and rely on the gauge to tell me when to fill.