☰
GET A QUOTE

Q: Fuel range indicator says I can drive 180 miles until empty. I drive half a mile and the indicator already says 165 miles left. What's wrong?

asked by on November 03, 2016

My 09 passat, just started to give me what I think wrong fuel readings? I put some gas, indicator says I can drive for 180 miles til empty, 1 Mile later, it indicates 165 miles left? What's wrong? Is it using gas like crazy or is sending the wrong info?

My car has 101000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Recommended Services

Car is getting worse gas mileage Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote
Or For Any Other Auto Repairs Get a Quote

This calculation your car performs is a constantly varying calculation due to a couple of things. One part of this calculation is based upon the driving habits of the driver and how the throttle is used in combination with how much fuel is left in the tank. The computer calculates a running average of the fuel used relative to how much fuel is in the tank. As you use more throttle consistently, this average mileage to empty calculation goes down. However, if you feel something is definitely out of the ordinary, have a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, diagnose your car’s fuel mileage issue.

Volkswagen
fuel
fuel economy
2009
L4-2.0L Turbo
gasoline
Passat CC
The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How often should I have my steering system checked?
Just like your brakes (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-do-i-know-if-my-brakes-need-replacing), your steering system (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-often-should-the-steering-system-be-inspected) is an essential part to the control and safety of your vehicle. Safety is a huge concern with both of these systems since a brake failure can keep you from stopping...
Read more
How do side curtain air bags work?
If your Accord has side curtain air bags, they’re designed to deploy during a moderate or severe impact. They will inflate and deflate very quickly, curtaining off the entire side of the vehicle (window edge to window edge). The air...
Read more
How do I turn off a remote vehicle start?
If you want to turn off the vehicle after a remote vehicle start, follow these instructions: 1. Press the remote vehicle start button on the remote keyless entry (RKE) transmitter. Hold the button until the parking lamps turn off. 2....
Read more
Engine misfiring.
A misfire can be caused by a lot of things, from a worn spark plug to an internal engine problem. The first step is to retrieve the diagnostic codes associated with the check engine light. These codes will provide a...
Read more
Rough idling
Hi there. Most of the time, this is caused by a dirty throttle body (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-throttle-body). If there is build up in the throttle body bore, then the throttle plate will have trouble racing the correct location keeping the engine from...
Read more
Would a clogged catalytic converter make a car smoke?
Hi, thanks for writing in. If you are getting white smoke from the exhaust of your vehicle and you have trouble codes related to the catalytic converter (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-catalytic-converter) it is likely that your vehicle is burning oil. The oil getting...
Read more
Coolant leak from behind the intake manifold. 2000 Saturn SL
Hello - yes, this is one of the heater hoses, and a leak (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-coolant-tube) at that hose connection is the most likely source. I would recommend a heater hose replacement (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/heater-hoses-replacement) (for both heater and radiator hoses if they haven't...
Read more
Misfiring Cylinder after replacing the plugs three months ago. Is it a chance that the whole batch of plugs may have been defective?
Hi there. The best thing to do is switch the coil over from cylinder 3 to cylinder 1 and see if the misfire continues with cylinder 3 or if it changes to cylinder 1. If the misfire stays with cylinder...
Read more
Door lock problems
Hello. The door lock issue at hand is likely due to a faulty door lock timer module. The door lock timer module is located inside of the dashboard and happens to be a common failure on Subaru vehicles. If requested,...
Read more

Related articles

How Does Fuel Injection Work?
When When it comes to engine performance, there are few things more important than fuel delivery. All of the air you can forcefully induce into the cylinders will do nothing without an appropriate amount of fuel to burn. As engines...
Read more
What Does It Mean When an Engine "Knocks"?
If your engine is making a knocking noise it means there's a problem. The wrong fuel octane, carbon buildup, and bad spark plugs can cause knocking.
Read more
5 Essential Things to Know About Idling
Everyone Everyone does it, whether waiting for the kids to get out of school or someone running into the store for an item or two. The problem is, idling, which occurs when you sit with your vehicle running but not...
Read more

Browse other content

Maintenance
Estimates
Services
Cars