Accuracy of "Distance to empty"

[Canadian]

Does anyone know if this display will adjust itself based on real-world conditions? Between leaving my office and home, I drove 12km (7.5 miles). My "distance to empty" display dropped 42km (26 miles) overe the same period. I wasn't driving fast or stuck in traffic. In fact, while stopped at a light for about 10 seconds, it dropped 4 km. What use is this guage if it's only accurate to +/- 200%? I've never had a car with this feature before and thought it would be great for highway trips. But now I don't trust it at all. Any thoughts?

 

[ctrcbob]

The computer estimates your distance to empty calculating what your average milage was for the past X number of miles. It may calculate using the last 800 miles, (like my last car did) or it may be the last 500 or even the last 1000 miles (or kilometers). Don't know, but it must have somekind of base to go from, so it uses the average of past gas milages.

Example. On previous cars. If I had been using the car only in the city, then took a trip, when filling the tank, the reading would start out saying I would run out around 375 miles. On my return, because I had only been driving on the open road, when filling the tank, the reading would start out saying I would run out around 500 miles.

 

[ImInPA]

On my current car, the distance to empty varies as I drive. I currently have a Passat TDI. When I first fill up, the DTE says 575 mi. If I drive on the interstate this will usually go up to 650 to 680 (I get about 44mpg on the highway). In town it drops back down. It is based on calculations of avg mpg, instantaneous mpg, solar flare activity, and the position of the robotic arm on the space shuttle.

 

[DanTheMan]

...and the position of the robotic arm on the space shuttle.

Can you show (or advise on) the influence of the space junk floating around up there on the DTE factor? I think it's causing my Cheerios to line up in the morning!

Dan :>)

 

[ctrcbob]

As for the regular fuel gauge, I notice that it is very accurate down to the half mark.
The gauge starts to go down as I drive earlier than other cars I've had. When it reads that I have used a quarter tank, it only takes five gallons. When it reads I have used a half tank, it takes ten gallons. (tank holds slightly more than 20 gallons - I forget exactly how much, but the V8 holds slightly more than the V6) Have not gone below a half tank yet, but I will when I go on my trip in another few weeks.

 

[ImInPA]

Dan, space junk is what causes the car to bounce down the road wildly. You already know the effect it has on your cheerios.