Member Since: 24 Dec 2009
Location: OLNEY
Posts: 42
Disco 4 Strange Problem
Hi I am hoping that someone can shed some light on this mystery problem I have with my Disco 4. This is my second Disco 4 now but this one that I bought private has this problem.
Here goes: The diesel tank holds 86 litres but the very very most I have ever put in the tank from guage reading empty is 69-70 litres. I have had the car for 10 months now and getting fed up with filling up. I do between 80-100,000 miles a year. Any way one trip I thought, I know that there is more diesel in the tank so I kept going, how wrong was I? 3 miles down the road I ran out. I managed to get it a garage and still only got 69 litres in the tank.
So in summary, why is my Disco 4 not using all the diesel in the tank and running out.
My other Disco 4's I could do 400 miles between fill ups - with this one I am lucky to get 300, but I know the MPG is ok, it is just not using all the diesel in the tank.
PS have checked tank and it is not from a mini!! LOL!!
Please someone help - frustrated owner
Many thanks and look forward to any replies that are helpful
Derek
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12th Aug 2014 6:13 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
I tend to fill mine at around 500 miles but I am also surprised as to how pessimistic the fuel gauge is compared to my D3.
Not all the fuel tank volume is usable fuel as the system hides 4 litres or so to keep everything primed. The car 'fakes' running out of fuel whilst keeping the swirl pot, pumps and lines full.
Getting only 69 litres in the tank after running out is unusual so I wonder if you have a gauge issue that is tricking the vehicle and causing it to quit too early.
Looking at RoadTrip my biggest fill so far was 74.5 litres on 25 Jun 13; longest interval between fills was 532 miles on 4 Oct 13 (just 73 litres that time). On these occasions the range to go would have been in single digits.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 14 Oct 2005
Location: Somerset
Posts: 1146
I would agree with Robbie. My guess is the fuel senders are inacurate, thus the ecu will introduce a misfire, then a shut down, but allow a restart for a mile (if I remember rightly).
If you drop the tank when showing empty, chances are there will be fuel in the tank.
not sure what the total capaciry is though.
regards Steve
12th Aug 2014 7:47 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
It's 86.3 litres with 82 litres usable (allegedly).Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26779
I must be heavy footed.
2013 D4 lux, I get about 380 between fills and its usually down to single digits remaining. I once did about 20 miles with it on 0 miles, and got 73 litres in.
My old D3 would be doing about 400 miles, but would be accepting 80 litres at the pump.
12th Aug 2014 9:12 pm
crews control
Member Since: 18 Mar 2007
Location: Dorset
Posts: 5011
Mine's like yours Derek... most I've ever squeezed in is 72 litres and that was when I had 0 miles left on the gauge. Never been able to work it out? Maybe someone on the production line left his hammer in the tank?
12th Aug 2014 11:30 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
I wonder if the sensor system has been incorrectly calibrated on the D4 as it does seem excessive to indicate zero and shut the car down with 10 litres in the tank?Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 09 Feb 2014
Location: Truro
Posts: 2407
I have a similar problem with mine as well, as most of the time I run mine from full to the warning light and only manage to fit in approximately 64-66 litres.
However, after a long run I did once manage almost 79 litres in so I guess it does probably have the stated capacity, but there must be be some issue with gauge, but then with the cars own mpg figure always being so optimistic even that doesn't seem right.
Does anyone else find their low fuel warning doesn't come on until their range is very low? The lowest mine has come on was about 14 miles to go and yesterday it came on at 19 but that was only because I was parked on my in-laws drive which makes Everest look like a slight hill.
I think I might try and be brave today with a little range roulette as it is clearly (I hope) holding onto lots of diesel, but let me know if any of you are in Cornwall with a jerry can!
13th Aug 2014 6:41 am
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
The mpg calculation is very accurate but the displayed values as standard are not. I have tweaked mine and the displayed mpg is bang on - which can be a painful read at times.
The warning light and range calculation are calculated separately. The light is triggered at a set contents and the range value is weighted between the longer term average mpg and the medium term values. If your long term value is reset, say by a software reload, it can be massively pessimistic for quite some time.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 09 Feb 2014
Location: Truro
Posts: 2407
Thanks for that Robbie, I suspect mine was only reset a couple of weeks ago when the audio/sat nav etc failed and had to be reset as I noticed the trip mileage etc had all been lost at that time.
13th Aug 2014 7:07 am
harvey6480
Member Since: 30 Apr 2012
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 116
100k per year! That's some going, I do 60k per year and I'm exhausted!
18th Aug 2014 7:27 pm
AndrewS Tarquin of the Desert
Member Since: 06 May 2005
Location: Y...... because I can
Posts: 10442
100k per year is what they are designed for In the Beginning there was nothing, which exploded.
19th Aug 2014 6:43 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73123
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