Fuel gauge

General General Lotus Talk
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Hi everybody, just been out for a run in the Exige and the fuel gauge seems to be very innacurate, is this normal? I filled up after 150 miles and put 22ltrs in, the fuel gauge said I had 20 left or was it 16 or maybe 22? it wasn’t sure! anyway what I’m asking is whats the usual range of the car before a petrol station visit is neccesary? Oh, and one last thing apart from Shell Optimax what other fuel that tends to suit the car? sorry to ask so much at once but still buzzing from the trip!Peter

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Yep, the fuel gauge is pretty naff. I put fifteen litres in earlier in the week, and it read an additional nineteen!Range of car - depends how you drive it! 240 on a tank is the best I’ve had (motorway cruising, v boring)Stick to Optimax if you can, super unleaded if you must, and unleaded if you want it to run roughly!General consensus seems to be Optimax.HTH, DJ

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Buzzin PeteTank holds 36 litres ie 8 gallons. Depending on right foot use, you will get between 150 & 200 miles per tankful.(On track you’ll be down to about 13mpg!!).Fuel gauge displays “Refill” when there’s about 10 litres left. I try & fill mine when it reads 12 litres to be on the safe side.My car definately runs best on Optimax (98 octane), although I occasionally use Super Unleaded (97 octane).PS Hope to collect your sunstrip tomorrow [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]

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I also add a bit of octane booster [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image] - but dont get it on the paintwork and if your vent pipes broken … you can get very high indeed - trust me on both counts …

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quote:Originally posted by Miniman:I also add a bit of octane booster [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image] - but dont get it on the paintwork and if your vent pipes broken … you can get very high indeed - trust me on both counts … What’s the point of octane booster?Surely with the Exige engine this will have no effect whatsoever. Isn’t the only benefit of using Super in general that it guarantees a RON of at least 95 whereas normal unleaded is SUPPOSED to be the 95 that the Exige requires, but in practice might not be.(Optimax obviously has other benfits other than RON rating though)

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Miniman, how much more stress does that put on the engine?

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BT52, I thought Super should be 98. I believe Optimax is standard 95 but the additives make it act like 98. In Japan the fuel is 100 I understand (I don’t in fact actually know anything you see!) and you can use octane booster to increase the Bang (a technical term!).I can certainly feel the difference between 95 and 98/Optimax.Ian [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif[/image]

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quote:Originally posted by IDG:BT52, I thought Super should be 98. I believe Optimax is standard 95 but the additives make it act like 98. In Japan the fuel is 100 I understand (I don’t in fact actually know anything you see!) and you can use octane booster to increase the Bang (a technical term!).I can certainly feel the difference between 95 and 98/Optimax.Ian [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif[/image]You only get a bigger bang if the ignition timing is changed as well. Imprezas do this (and change the max turbo boost levels as well) but the K-series doesn’t. It’s set up for 95.

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I thought in standard 177bhp guise normal unleaded was recommended, while for the 190bhp upgrade super unleaded was recommended. I am sure this has been answered on the Nick Adams thing on the Lotus Cars website, although I do not have access.BT52 - are you at Donington tomorrow?Cheers

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Whats the point in octane booster ?Well … I call it insurance - I know that the octane will be high enough to eliminate any pinking ( audible or not )- it wont increase the stress because it really cant make more power thats true BT52, it just gives me peace of mind in case I got some lower octane for any reason.Also bear in mind not many people buy Super 'cos of the extra cost … so how long does it sit in the tanks ? - Always buy from a motorway station or one that has a lot of regular traffic - I have suffered in standard cars with poor super unleaded especially in Germany and Italy … and thats with management systems that CAN adjust themselves for knocking (pinking) … where they state different power outputs for 95 and 98 octane.

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Oh I agree that it seems better on Optimax, but I reckon that the 98.5 (or 97 from other SUL) is enough to ensure 95 or more without needing further boosters.At least, I hope it is…Japanese Scoob STi imports are set up to run on 100RON and the owners buy huge amounts of Millers stuff to prevent ‘detting’.I have actually found a Q8 which sells 98RON rather than 97, but guess how much it costs…96.9 p/litre !!!That’s at Thaxted in Essex. Ridiculous.

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Thanks for the replies guys, I was just wondering what happens when I go to france in it, for example and maybe have to put normal unleaded in. Will it be a nightmare or is that that the time to use the octaine booster?? Actually, do they sell Super Unleaded or Optimax in Europe?Peter

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You will need ‘Sans Plomb’ Someone correct my French !!

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oi Phil, tres bien… [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]...I’m stunned…you speak the language of the french froggs… [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image] [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image] [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image] [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]a bientot… [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]later,Bruno

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PeterSUL (98 Ron I think too)is readily available in France.Bon Voyage [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]

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oui…une petite parlais francais …pardon moi lol [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]Peter, Pesky - Sans plomb is SUL

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Monsieur PhillippeSacrebleu!“Sans Plomb” just means without lead. Like us Anglais, they also have a “Super” version, as well as the normal (merde for Exige) stuff.Merci et bon nuit [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]

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Phil/Rob…you nutters… [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]

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aah oui! so if I said avez vous SUL and they say oui naturelmont then 'appen I’m in business! bonswarrr!Pierre l’exige

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quote:Originally posted by Pesky:…I try & fill mine when it reads 12 litres to be on the safe side…GOOD ADVICE!I ran out of petrol yesterday. Ironically right outside a petrol station [which was shut]! All sorted now.Any idea if I could have damaged anything?Ian [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif[/image]