how low does it go?

username · Post by **username** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 8:42 pm

just curious how far past "E" will the delica go before running out of fuel? not that i'd ever chance it, but it would be a good thing to know.
when the vehicle is off, the indicator rests about a centimeter below the "E" mark. would that be how low it would go before running out?

39Ronin · Post by **39Ronin** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:29 pm

You don't want to find this out! It isn't good to run your diesel to empty as the crap lies at the bottom of the tank, besides if you run out of fuel in a diesel you better be prepared to bleed the engine of the air that it sucks in. Diesel engines don't like air or water.

username · Post by **username** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:42 pm

i'm not planning on running it dry. just wondering where the bottom of the tank is.

Post by **Mystery Machine** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 6:56 am

I would have to agree that running it low could lead to some rather nasty consequences!

There is a warning bulb that comes on when the tank is low.

All L300 4WD tanks are 60litre (twin AND single single tanks!

)

One possible idea is to run tank down until the orange light comes on then immediately fill up to the brim and note how many litres it takes. This will then tell you how many litres are left in the 'reserve' part of the tank..... :D

I have only ever hit the warning light twice in 4 years, generally I try and add fuel as soon as I get near the 'empty' mark on the guage.

Regards,

Bruce.

Green1 · Post by **Green1** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 9:54 am

All L300 4WD tanks are 60litre

hrmmm... then it must have at least a 4litre fill pipe... 'cuz my last fill was 64litre...

to be honest, the fuel tank size is my one major disappointment with this vehicle, my last vehicle was more efficient (not by much) and had a larger tank... so combined it got me used to over 700km range on the highway, now I'm down to about 600km range... I'm considering getting someone to build me a custom oversize fuel tank...

Kuan · Post by **Kuan** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 10:57 am

HI GUYs,

Thought I would chime in on this one. :D

I have the Delica owners manual (translated one from MDOCK) and it says fuel capacity for 4wd A/Tis 75L, M/T 2400 is 75L, and M/T [excl. 2400] is 60L.

Also, its says the that the low fuel warning light comes on when there is approx. 7L left. (refuel asap!)

So if it is 75l, not 60l I guess our mpg is that much worse!

Green1 · Post by **Green1** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 11:07 am

So if it is 75l, not 60l I guess our mpg is that much worse!

no... my MPG is calculated by the amount I put in, not by "a tank" if it is 75L then the light comes on with more than 10L remaining, but if it's 60L I seem to over-fill it... maybe it's 70L with a big dent in it?

Post by **Mystery Machine** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 11:16 am

Official Misubishi Motors workshop manual figure:

P25W (aka L300 4WD Diesel) - 60 litres/15.8 US Gal/13.2 Imp Gal

Will double check/reference against specific VIN data when I get back (heading out for a while....) but there are 200+ pages just on VIN data alone, so might take a while.

Regards for now,

Bruce.

surferboy · Post by **surferboy** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 12:25 pm

:D i have been running the tank as low as i can latelly to figure out how much fuel the bitch takes.. i get about 540 km's from full to the point where the fuel warning light comes on.. so then i fuel up and it takes roughly 65 liters.. i was told that the automatic models have a dual tank which i know mine has, i read in another topic on this site that the second tank has a 15L capacity.. some sort of reserve.. if thats the case, my asumption is that the first tank is 60L than the second tank 15L.. i didn't know that it was bad to run the van that low, but had to figure it out as i didn't want to start paniqing for no reasons while down in Baja.. (i WAS gonna bring a 5 gallon jerry can with me in case..) it seams like we are getting roughly 10 liters per 100 km so it sounds like once the low fuel warning light comes on, we should get at least another 100 kms before she is dry empty.. anyways thats my to bits but then again, what does a frenchy knows!!!

..Le french!

Adrock · Post by **Adrock** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 12:32 pm

i get about 440kms before the light comes on. Do I blame the small tires and manual transmission gearing? I hope so.

Maybe I am a tad heavy footed. Any suggestions for improvement though?

And, I ran mine fresh out. Well, it wasn't quite like that, i rolled into a driveway with the light on, figured i'd gas up in the morning. Unfortunately it wouldn't start in the morning, the driveway was slanted (down to the front) I got a ride down to the gas station and threw some diesel in a gas can, went back up, and with the help of my manual found out what to do to get all the air out of the system. It wasn't fun, and the worst part was I didn't even know if it was working. But after about 10 minutes of pumping a pump with no travel it spewed up some diesel. Tightened the bleeder bolt and gave it a few more pumps, and she started.

Not a fun experience, but I am very very glad I know how to do it, because shit happens.

username · Post by **username** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 7:41 pm

yeah i don't know about a 60 liter tank. i filled mine up today and it took 64 liters, and the indicator was still above E... maybe i should be concerned with the accuracy.

josh · Post by **josh** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 9:52 pm

I have put 68 liters in my tank before... and it was pretty empty. So I figure mine is 70-75 liters. My Delica is a P35 though

Josh

docsavage · Post by **docsavage** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 8:03 am

Adrock,

If you live or fuel up where they have winter diesel, you will notice a significant fuel economy deceline. In January (coldest here) the fuel I get has lots of antifreeze or something. I get about 20% less on a tank than before and notice more smoke and lower power. This was typical for the other diesels I drove in the North as well. Can't wait for summer diesel again, fuel ups every two days hurts the wallet.

James

BTW I have put 70 litres in at once so I assume dual tanks are 75 L

Post by **BCDelica** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:59 am

Both our vehicles tool kits include small suction guns, http://www.hartleige.com/suction-guns.htm. In the early times of starting to running on WVO we had too prime to diesel when we shut down on the grease too long and ran out of one fuel more often then. By carrying around a small suction pump, and a nut driver with rubber cap to fit on the pump side, we are up and running in under a minute.

Tell ya, nothing like having to catch a ferry at 6 am, in -6°c, running late and you forget to shut down on diesel to speed up the 'purge'. A year ago I did it a few times with even getting out of the vehicle, only in a Delica. Of course with WVO you can purge air out of the lines using your mouth. Harmless, with a after taste of stale french fries. Yumm.

argo · Post by **argo** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 9:34 pm

Winter diesel contains less BTUs per pound an account of the fact that it's composed of a higher percentage of light hydrocarbons to assist cold ignition.

Summer diesel conversly has more heavy fuel in it and therefore gives a more sustained burn. This means more pressure acting on the top of the piston during the power stroke.

In regions that experience wide seasonal temperature variation the fuel companies will change the formulation of the gas and diesel as many as four or five times a year.

Just like the filter, your fuel tank has a drain to remove water which has accumulated in the system. Most water in fuel is the result of condesation. If you run your tank down to the E you risk sucking up any nastiness which has settled out at the bottom.
Be on the safe side and just crack the drain loose. If there is any water in there it'll come out before the diesel does.