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The top of the gauge appears that it will refuse to be accurate. Have you heard of the "7/8ths issue?" There are those who *fill* and only get 7 bars, then after 50 miles or so read a full 8 bars.
Your mileage cannot be calculated with the smart's fuel gauge.
Agree. This car's fuel gauge response is not linear. Many a time I've been excited over a 100 mile first bar drop, thinking I'm on the way to a SOCA mpg record, only to find the bars synching in more accurately at 4 bars, more rapidly near 7th, to average around 44 mpg at fillup.
I guess the only way to read your mpg, if you can't wait for fillup, is the ScanGuage II.
Removing the nozzle after first click can give you wild numbers. I know when mine does that, I can usually force feed another gallon.
If I have one of my smart-bashing friends in the car, I stop pumping at first click then ask him to do the math.
I know the numbers are wrong, but I enjoy hearing him go "Holy crap !!" when he sees the numbers on his cell phone calculator.
I just sit in my seat, start the car, smile and say, "Yeah, you're right. Smart car. What a piece of junk."
Isn't that what you'd call "topping off"?
Not to get controversial here, but I believe smart recommends against topping off and its against the law in some states. (Actually, in Oregon, where we also cannot pump our own).
I have always filled only to the first click. As long as you do this consistently, you will have accurate mpg calculations.
Not to get controversial here, but I believe smart recommends against topping off and its against the law in some states. (Actually, in Oregon, where we also cannot pump our own).
I have always filled only to the first click. As long as you do this consistently, you will have accurate mpg calculations.
Nah, I don't keep filling up until I can see gas in the neck, I just fill up to round out the cash numbers, ie; if it clicks at $12.26, I try to get it to 13 bucks even; it's a guy thing. Sometimes the pump I'm using clicks off 4 or more times when filling up, I go by the gallon numbers, not the auto-shut off. If I stopped at first click, I'd get, oh, half a gallon.
Topping off was deemed "wrong" because if you keep pumping, you can have overspill, creating a fire hazard and eventually polluting the water supply.
The logic against topping off that I was always told by the auto folks at EPA was that by filling too high you ran the risk of reaching the vent line that allows the gasoline vapor from the tank to be absorbed by the charcoal canister, from which it is recycled. Saturating the charcoal tank was explained as a bad thing, at least by the guy (and gal) from the EPA national office.
Bet if someone tried using a lower grade,they might see this. (lower mileage)
As Gershwin said, "It ain't necessarily so."
I have a friend who bought his Smart brand new (in America) and has used ONLY regular grade since new. His average lifetime mileage is pretty close to mine... mid 50s.
Perhaps if one drove the snot out of it on regular, the timing MIGHT drop back a few degrees, but just driving around (often together on light trips to scenic places with our wives, often through the mountains), no difference noted.
Notice I didn't suggest to anyone what fuel he should use. Smart has its recommendations, and my buddy (one of the more gifted mechanics I've ever run into) has his reasons. On regular, his car runs just like mine too. I can't tell what's in the tank from driving it.
Just thought I'd jump in with this factoid. YMMV... but his doesn't.
This is odd, because I have had the same issue as the OP recently, about the time my car reached 7000 miles. Before, the first bar dropped at 120+ miles, now suddenly it drops at 90 or so miles, and continues to drop at a higher rate of speed. HOWEVER, even though the car only had under 300 miles on the trip odometer, the last bar came on. I went to Shell on my way home, afraid I wouldn't make it home, and it only needed 7 gallons. Then it happened again this week, same scenario, and it only needed 7 gallons again.
then ask him to do the math.
but I believe smart recommends against topping off and its against the law in some states. (Actually, in Oregon, where we also cannot pump our own).
Today
Linear Mode
