93 Gas Range
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 251
Likes: 3
From: Corona California
93 Gas Range
Hello everyone,
I've been having an issue with my gas range being off in my Vette. Found a few threads, but there was one I was looking for that I read years back that I can't seem to find. It was something that needed to be cleaned near the fuel pump? I don't remember exactly.
Anyways, the problem I am having is lets say I put four gallons of gas, it will say my Range is only 40 miles, but the bar measurement seems to be correct.
What can cause this? I know it's a problem because this wasn't an issue before.
The Fuel Pump is fairly new.
I've been having an issue with my gas range being off in my Vette. Found a few threads, but there was one I was looking for that I read years back that I can't seem to find. It was something that needed to be cleaned near the fuel pump? I don't remember exactly.
Anyways, the problem I am having is lets say I put four gallons of gas, it will say my Range is only 40 miles, but the bar measurement seems to be correct.
What can cause this? I know it's a problem because this wasn't an issue before.
The Fuel Pump is fairly new.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 251
Likes: 3
From: Corona California
^ Need to try that.
Also, I believe I found the thread. Could be the floater that needs to be cleaned? Sucks because the threads pictures do not work anymore. Guess it's been a few years since I last checked it.
Also, I believe I found the thread. Could be the floater that needs to be cleaned? Sucks because the threads pictures do not work anymore. Guess it's been a few years since I last checked it.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 609
Likes: 239
From: Franklin NC
I was told by a Corvette dealership once that putting several cans of Chevron Techron in the gas tank can help immensely with faulty readings. I have no personal experience but certainly no harm in using this product anyway. Good luck!
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
That "Range" value is based on the average fuel economy value which you can display in the DIC. Drive the car hard and gas mileage goes down. The poor mileage from driving hard will be part of that average figure.
Four gallons of gas in a stock 93 should allow you to drive a good 75-80 miles at a cruise speed of 70 MPH. You could get even more distance at something like 60MPH and using the cruise control.
The fuel gauge float is part of the assembly that holds the fuel pump. I just went thru replacing the entire assembly although I did transfer the pump to the new assembly. My fuel gauge was reading something like 3/4 full when the tank held about 3 gallons. Turns out the gauge assembly was broken. $220 later for a new unit from Amazon, it now works like it should! Only took about 30 minutes to swap the assembly including 1 beer break....
Four gallons of gas in a stock 93 should allow you to drive a good 75-80 miles at a cruise speed of 70 MPH. You could get even more distance at something like 60MPH and using the cruise control.
The fuel gauge float is part of the assembly that holds the fuel pump. I just went thru replacing the entire assembly although I did transfer the pump to the new assembly. My fuel gauge was reading something like 3/4 full when the tank held about 3 gallons. Turns out the gauge assembly was broken. $220 later for a new unit from Amazon, it now works like it should! Only took about 30 minutes to swap the assembly including 1 beer break....
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
OP, "Range" is calculated primarily from your Ave mpg and tank level. My guess is your average is really low due to not being reset and "around town" driving. JrRiflecoach's advice is good. Another way to check it is just look at your current ave mpg and displayed tank level...then do a little math;
1/2 tank (~9-10 gal) * 20 (for example) mpg should = a displayed range of 180-200 miles.
In reality, the bottom 1/2 of the tank is totally unreliable for range display (shows more range than you have) since the bottom half of the gauge is representing something more like the bottom 1/4 of your actual fuel volume.
^That's why "fuel used" feature is way more useful. Unfortunately, our cars don't display that info.
.
Last edited by Tom400CFI; Nov 3, 2016 at 09:33 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 85
From: socal
OP said his gauge is working.
OP, "Range" is calculated primarily from your Ave mpg and tank level. My guess is your average is really low due to not being reset and "around town" driving. JrRiflecoach's advice is good. Another way to check it is just look at your current ave mpg and displayed tank level...then do a little math;
1/2 tank (~9-10 gal) * 20 (for example) mpg should = a displayed range of 180-200 miles.
In reality, the bottom 1/2 of the tank is totally unreliable for range display (shows more range than you have) since the bottom half of the gauge is representing something more like the bottom 1/4 of your actual fuel volume.
^That's why "fuel used" feature is way more useful. Unfortunately, our cars don't display that info.
.
OP, "Range" is calculated primarily from your Ave mpg and tank level. My guess is your average is really low due to not being reset and "around town" driving. JrRiflecoach's advice is good. Another way to check it is just look at your current ave mpg and displayed tank level...then do a little math;
1/2 tank (~9-10 gal) * 20 (for example) mpg should = a displayed range of 180-200 miles.
In reality, the bottom 1/2 of the tank is totally unreliable for range display (shows more range than you have) since the bottom half of the gauge is representing something more like the bottom 1/4 of your actual fuel volume.
^That's why "fuel used" feature is way more useful. Unfortunately, our cars don't display that info.
.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
So at 1/2 tank, if you've been averaging 20 mpg, then 1/2 tank should be about 9-10 gallons, so 9*20=180 miles left. Your range would show that, but in reality, your tank only has something like 5-6 gallons in it.
.
Last edited by Tom400CFI; Nov 3, 2016 at 01:46 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 85
From: socal
Not sure. My '92 has a what I would call a "typical Chevy/GM" gas gauge; you can go something like 250 miles from "Full" to 1/2...and only, say, 100 more miles from 1/2 to Reserve/Empty. My Silverado and wife's CTS-V both do the same thing. The Silverado is the worst; I can go 300 miles from "Full", to "1/2 tank" (according to the gauge), but then from 1/2 to empty I'm pushing it to go another 120 more miles.
So at 1/2 tank, if you've been averaging 20 mpg, then 1/2 tank should be about 9-10 gallons, so 9*20=180 miles left. Your range would show that, but in reality, your tank only has something like 5-6 gallons in it.
.
So at 1/2 tank, if you've been averaging 20 mpg, then 1/2 tank should be about 9-10 gallons, so 9*20=180 miles left. Your range would show that, but in reality, your tank only has something like 5-6 gallons in it.
.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 451
Likes: 14
From: Okehampton Devon
Hello everyone,
I've been having an issue with my gas range being off in my Vette. Found a few threads, but there was one I was looking for that I read years back that I can't seem to find. It was something that needed to be cleaned near the fuel pump? I don't remember exactly.
Anyways, the problem I am having is lets say I put four gallons of gas, it will say my Range is only 40 miles, but the bar measurement seems to be correct.
What can cause this? I know it's a problem because this wasn't an issue before.
The Fuel Pump is fairly new.
I've been having an issue with my gas range being off in my Vette. Found a few threads, but there was one I was looking for that I read years back that I can't seem to find. It was something that needed to be cleaned near the fuel pump? I don't remember exactly.
Anyways, the problem I am having is lets say I put four gallons of gas, it will say my Range is only 40 miles, but the bar measurement seems to be correct.
What can cause this? I know it's a problem because this wasn't an issue before.
The Fuel Pump is fairly new.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 251
Likes: 3
From: Corona California
Interesting responses. Thank you to everyone who replied. I will try to fill up and track my mileage to see how accurate it is.
Also probably purchase some cleaner. Chevron Techron seems to be a popular one. How about that Royal Purple additive? Just junk?
My floater might be sticking, I've replaced my fuel pump before so I'm not opposed to changing out the sending unit, but that will be worst case scenario.
Also probably purchase some cleaner. Chevron Techron seems to be a popular one. How about that Royal Purple additive? Just junk?
My floater might be sticking, I've replaced my fuel pump before so I'm not opposed to changing out the sending unit, but that will be worst case scenario.