Fuel Gauge

[IJD]

Anyone have an issue with the D4 fuel gauge accuracy, the tank capacity stated is 82L, when on empty I can only get about 70-5 litres onto it. I am about to start towing a caravan so I am not sure if I will need to carry additional fuel.

[Russrobe]

Anyone have an issue with the D4 fuel gauge accuracy, the tank capacity stated is 82L, when on empty I can only get about 70-5 litres onto it. I am about to start towing a caravan so I am not sure if I will need to carry additional fuel.

I would get 78L in on average from empty, prior to fitting the long range tank, now get 170=D. I'd be looking into the gravity fed 50L tank someone added to where the 3rd row seats and foot well live. Great alternative to adding 300kg to the rear with a LR tank and RWC if you're towing a caravan. IMO 82L is at least 40L too little for touring.

[LRD414]

Anyone have an issue with the D4 fuel gauge accuracy, the tank capacity stated is 82L, when on empty I can only get about 70-5 litres onto it.
That's normal and one of the most common discussion points in here.
There's a reserve capacity to prevent running the system dry.

Scott

[DiscoJeffster]

As Scott says, which is a feature of pretty much every car. They leave what typically amounts to around 80-100km of fuel after reading 0 km to go.

[BobD]

Maybe petrol's are different but the gauge on my son's V8 D3 is much better than the D4 and allows a decent range because you can use the whole tank. It's also the same on my TDV6 L405. As well as using much less fuel than my D4 the gauge is accurate and you don't seem get a massive reserve that is unusable.

Maybe the difference is that the 85l in the L405 is actually useable and there is a reserve volume on top of that or that the D4 useable volume is not the actual useable volume. Either way, I need the long range tank on the D4 but the L405 is fine without one, despite the specs saying that both have the same sized tank. I've never managed to get even 70l into the D4 tank at zero km to go and below empty.

[Chops]

Unfortunately I've just thrown out a great wad of fuel receipts from the glove box,, but I would normally run to empty, at which point the car tells me I have anywhere between 50-80 klms to go. It has run down to about 35-ish "to go", at which point the screen says it will look for the nearest fuel station [bighmmm].
It's never gone into any sort of limp mode that I can tell of, or shutting/slowing down.

But alas, I have a gravity fed tank as well, so its been a while since I've filled right up to tell how much I'm actually using, but there were a few full fills in the receipts,, so sorry, but I can't help with those figures.

[kenl]

I would say that if you're banking on that last 10 or so litres, then best you take a jerry can.

No good being stuck on the side of the road explaining to the wife that you did the calculation but didn't account for the head wind, or what ever, if you're cutting it fine have backup.

[loanrangie]

I would like an auxiliary tank of 40ltrs to fit in the spare well instead of the usual 100ltr or so tank.

[orville]

I towed a caravan for 6 months. Took a 20L Jerry can and only used it 3 times. Filled up when we stopped for a coffee. The most I ever put in was 65L. I agree the gauge is wrong but so it is on every vehicle I have owned.

[BobD]

I would say that if you're banking on that last 10 or so litres, then best you take a jerry can.

No good being stuck on the side of the road explaining to the wife that you did the calculation but didn't account for the head wind, or what ever, if you're cutting it fine have backup.

That's not the point. Because of the gauge you can only use about 55 to 60l because it shows empty too early and you don't want to use the last 10l which is actually 20 or more litres and fill up. It would be good if it was like the L405 where there is an actually useable 80 litres or so until the gauge reaches empty and there is still a reserve left. The D4 says useable 82l but its not useable, which is the main complaint.

On the L405, half full means you put in 40l, quarter full means you put in 60l and empty means you put in a bit under 80l, which effectively gives you a much greater range because you know exactly what is going on. The fuel range is also pretty accurate, unlike the D4.

[DiscoJeffster]

It’s because they REALLY don’t want you to run out of fuel. It’s not great for the engine and can lead to issues restarting and priming. Anyhow, I think it’s done to death.

[DieselLSE]

I would like an auxiliary tank of 40ltrs to fit in the spare well instead of the usual 100ltr or so tank.
Then talk to Brown-Davis.
Late last year I wandered into their workshop and asked if there was a possibility of making a shallower tank than the 106 litre standard one. I was worried they might throw me out into the street like a scene from a wild west movie! Can't see why not was the response and after a few minutes working on the CAD system, they felt quite sure they could make a tank 50mm narrower (in depth) to give me the clearance I wanted. It was subsequently made at no extra cost and I fitted it a few weeks ago. BD said it would hold 87 litres and guess what? It holds exactly 87 litres.
I've just returned from a trip to Sydney and back via Port Albert. It works brilliantly. I wait until the main tank is half empty and then fill it up from the BD tank. Twice, obviously.
136785 136786136787

[DiscoClax]

At the risk of thread-hijack.... Any more details on this custom version DieselLSE? This sounds exactly like the sort of thing I'd be interested in. I'm both surprised and pleased that they had a can-do attitude and didn't slug you extra. Excellent! More pics please, especially from the side :) I assume (?) that they lifted the flat bottom by 50mm but also made the 'departure angle' more shallow as well? Any idea on weight reduction over their standard one? Does their aux gauge still read correctly?

[BobD]

It’s because they REALLY don’t want you to run out of fuel. It’s not great for the engine and can lead to issues restarting and priming. Anyhow, I think it’s done to death.

Just for completeness and I know its been done to death, they really don't want you to run out of fuel in a RRV either and even have the same note in the manual re cutting power when getting close to empty and then cutting the engine out to prevent it running out of fuel. However, it actually has a decent useable range with the standard 86l tank, as does my son's V8 D3 also, unlike my D4 which is useless without a longrange tank.

[Lockee]

Another hijack.
My D3 fuel light works but not gauge. Heard two senders and one not replacable

[Lockee]

LANDROVER DISCOVERY FUEL TANK 3 03/05-09/09 TDV6 - WITH SENDER | eBay (https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0'mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fulk%2Fitm%2 F132410389839)

[Lockee]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/1.jpg

[DieselLSE]

At the risk of thread-hijack.... Any more details on this custom version DieselLSE? This sounds exactly like the sort of thing I'd be interested in. I'm both surprised and pleased that they had a can-do attitude and didn't slug you extra. Excellent! More pics please, especially from the side :) I assume (?) that they lifted the flat bottom by 50mm but also made the 'departure angle' more shallow as well? Any idea on weight reduction over their standard one? Does their aux gauge still read correctly?
Unfortunately I'm away from the car for another week or so, so can't take a side on pic. But I suspect the 50mm was taken off all along the bottom. It certainly sits much higher than the spare did and you'd have to go out of your way to hit it. I can't imagine there would be much weight difference. Best to call Brown Davis and ask for Steve. Tell him you're after the D4 87 litre tank that they made for Don. He told me it is now in their product line.
The guage is pretty vague but the way I use the tank (topping up the main tank from 50% to full) means I only need to see if the aux tank is full, half full or empty.
Whilst I like where I mounted the gauge, it is a bit too bright at night. I'll look into dimming it some day.