Fuel Gauge Accuracy??
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,135
Likes: 5
From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by jrose7004
Like ALL GM vehicles it bottom half goes a lot quicker than the first half!
Couldn't of said it better, even the wife's Mailbu does it. I am bad about never letting it go to far below half anyways.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 23,234
Likes: 4
From: All that glitters is Gold - Hockey Is CANADA'S game
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Since they changed my fuel gauge, when it gets to E, I still have 5 gallons in the tank
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 10,211
Likes: 344
Originally Posted by DPG
my gauge is screwy. as soon as i start my car, it may say full, then about 10 min later is down about just less than a 1/4. then 30 min later its back up again to the full mark. really weird stuff. not sure whats going on here.
My C5's gauge now seems accurate either half of the tank. I had a 98 Monte Carlo and the last half of the tank would fly by.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 6
From: Saraland Alabama
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I always wondered why the first 1/2 lasted so much longer than the last 1/2 of tank until it was explained to me this way:
The float is in the tank and if the tank is completely full of gasoline the float naturally is at its highest point with gas not only below the float but all up around the float. It will actually remain at this forced highest position until the level of gasoline has dropped not only the initial amount but until the gas level drops enough for the float to relax away from the forced position against the very top of the tank. Remember that no matter how small the float is, it does occupy space in the tank and the gas guage does not detect any consumption of gas until the float actually starts to float rather than ride in the forced up position.
I hope that explanation is clearer than mud!
The float is in the tank and if the tank is completely full of gasoline the float naturally is at its highest point with gas not only below the float but all up around the float. It will actually remain at this forced highest position until the level of gasoline has dropped not only the initial amount but until the gas level drops enough for the float to relax away from the forced position against the very top of the tank. Remember that no matter how small the float is, it does occupy space in the tank and the gas guage does not detect any consumption of gas until the float actually starts to float rather than ride in the forced up position.
I hope that explanation is clearer than mud!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
19 gallons ... did not know that. Think I have put 15.8 in mine once and thought to myself damn I only had 1.2 gallons left 
I agree the reading has to do with the shape of the tank and the volume of gas that sits in that smaller portion of the tank is not read differently by the fuel float, so your 20mpg goes quicker on that 2nd half heh. Found it to be the same in my camaro as well.
Fej
I agree the reading has to do with the shape of the tank and the volume of gas that sits in that smaller portion of the tank is not read differently by the fuel float, so your 20mpg goes quicker on that 2nd half heh. Found it to be the same in my camaro as well.Fej
Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 658
Likes: 0
From: Toronto Ontario
It's not a linear relationship. When the fuel guage float moves 50% in the tank, it doesn't mean that 50% of the fuel has been consumed. The tank is not symetrical as the fuel level goes down in the tank. You could also factor in additional fuel at fill-up due to fuel in the tank filler spout.
You should never get below 1/4 tank anyway (if at all possible).
You should never get below 1/4 tank anyway (if at all possible).
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 792
Likes: 1
From: Loves Park Illinois
Originally Posted by Zuti
My gauge seems to be fairly consistent throughout the range, however on fill up, the gauge does not reach the full mark, no matter how much I squeeze in there. Anuone else seen this? Zuti
ZutiMine too! Always reads at 3/4 full. IS there a fix? Trying techron on the next fill up.
