147 Fuel Tank Capacity

Stori · 29-12-2002

I realize that the Official fuel capacity for the 147 is 60 liters.

However is this the actual "real life" capacity?

The reason I am asking, is that today, the fuel gauge was showing slightly over 1/8th full (ie the first mark)
I filled the tank until the Fuel pump automatically cut out and found that I put in 56.5 litres.
This means that theoretally only had 3.5 litres left in the tank (with out any low fuel warning.) If the Fuel gauge was accurate (a big assumption that is probably very wrong

) then I should have had at least 7.5 litres left.

Now the fuel pump nozzle only goes into the car's fuel filler about 2.5 inches so that the filler neck on the fuel tank was almost completely filled.
I was wondering if this adds a noticeable amount to the tank capacity. (Obviously not likely to be 4 litres

)

Banflu · 29-12-2002

dont forget that, apart from those 'official' 60 litres, there SHOULD be about 5 litres of 'reserve' as far as i know?

Ben.D · 29-12-2002

I have filled up before and it has shown 61.5L on the filling pump eek!

Stori · 29-12-2002

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Banflu:
dont forget that, apart from those 'official' 60 litres, there SHOULD be about 5 litres of 'reserve' as far as i know?<hr /></blockquote>Supposedly 7 litres in reserve. But is that inclusive in the 60 litres or extra.

Has anyone put in greater than 60 litres, would therefore, be a relevant question

Banflu · 29-12-2002

no no..it shouldnt be inclusive of the 60 litres..that's why it's called reserve..it's only for emergencies

and BenD answers your question? wink

29-12-2002

jijiji I have filled 62.1 lt last weekend!!!

Stori · 29-12-2002

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Banflu:
no no..it shouldnt be inclusive of the 60 litres..that's why it's called reserve..it's only for emergencies

and BenD answers your question? wink <hr /></blockquote>Even with a genuine reserve of 7 litres it can be a long "tense" way between petrol stations (here in Australia

) This is the reason for the original question. I don't want to run out of petrol, and especially so, in an area where the mobile phone won't work!

Banflu · 29-12-2002

in that case i wont let it run less than 25% if i were you!
better safe than sorry

THROTTLEMAN · 29-12-2002

I think it takes really 60 liters. Anything above that is what goes from the tank to the "entrance" through the pipes.

The 7 liters reserve is included in that 60. wink

Don't let it run out. It's not good to the injection and to the catalyze.
I fill it up every time it goes above 100km range and belive me, we have a fuel station on every corner.

coshh · 29-12-2002

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by blesac:
jijiji I have filled 62.1 lt last weekend!!!<hr /></blockquote>Could it be that the gauge on the petrol pump at the filling station was inaccurate? eek! Do you have Trading Standards Officers in Spain?

Ant · 30-12-2002

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by blesac:
jijiji I have filled 62.1 lt last weekend!!!<hr /></blockquote>Are you sure that the pump was correctly calibrated?

Cheers,

Ant

Ivo · 30-12-2002

Most I did was 58 litres.

With VW (and Seat etc.) there is a little "button" inside the tank opening. It's like an air valve that opens the air expansion space if your press on it. I always was capable of doing +/- 10 liters more of fuel inside my Cordoba or my Golf then was officially the capacity when I pressed this valve with the tank pistol while filling the car. A garageholder told me once only to do this when cold, because you're actually filling the safety margin

Does the Alfa has perhaps also something like that?

30-12-2002

Unlike any other car I've owned the 147's fuel gauge is actually optimistic rather than pessimistic. Likewise the warning light: with other cars you could happily squeeze another 100+ km out of it once the light comes on. Whereas when the Alfa's warning light comes on, it means what it says! I'd count on the whole system holding maybe about 62 litres tops - anyone expecting 60+7 is in for a bit of a disappointment.

Amsterdavid · 01-01-2003

I actually experienced this disappointment... see this topic:

http://www.alfaowner.com/forum/ubb/u...;f=18;t=001783

And i assure you, even in a country with gas stations at every corner.... you don't want to run out of fuel doing 170 km/h on the left lane of a 6-lane highway!!

Ivo · 02-01-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by mr hanky:
Unlike any other car I've owned the 147's fuel gauge is actually optimistic rather than pessimistic. Likewise the warning light: with other cars you could happily squeeze another 100+ km out of it once the light comes on. Whereas when the Alfa's warning light comes on, it means what it says! I'd count on the whole system holding maybe about 62 litres tops - anyone expecting 60+7 is in for a bit of a disappointment.<hr /></blockquote>Actually, I could squeeze out 100 km

03-01-2003

Sorry, I was referring to engines that run on proper fuel, not left-over fat from a deep fryer.