Fuel Gauge Accuracy??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 753
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From: Denville NJ
Fuel Gauge Accuracy??
Just got my first Vette, an '04 C5. 
Just wondering if the gas gauge will read like my Camaro where the first half of the tank seemed to go slow then the second half real fast. 
With that in mind, I guess the question is, does the C5 gas gauge read uniformly from full down to empty? Thanks for your opinions.
Just wondering if the gas gauge will read like my Camaro where the first half of the tank seemed to go slow then the second half real fast. With that in mind, I guess the question is, does the C5 gas gauge read uniformly from full down to empty? Thanks for your opinions.
Team Owner
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From: Queens, New York Life begins at 183 mph....
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Originally Posted by Nick1
Just got my first Vette, an '04 C5. Just wondering if the gas gauge will read like my Camaro where the first half of the tank seemed to go slow then the second half real fast. With that in mind, I guess the question is, does the C5 gas gauge read uniformly from full down to empty? Thanks for your opinions.
Just wondering if the gas gauge will read like my Camaro where the first half of the tank seemed to go slow then the second half real fast. With that in mind, I guess the question is, does the C5 gas gauge read uniformly from full down to empty? Thanks for your opinions.I've found the same thing to be true, yet when I fill up at the pump, the amount of gallons that goes in seems to coincide with what my guage tells me so its somewhat accurate.
For the most part, I've learned to trust my fuel guage. Just make sure you throw in a bottle of Techron once in a while to keep the fuel senders clean, dirty senders will screw up your fuel gauge.
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No, it seems to drop faster once it gets off the full mark. At least mine does.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Sarasota Florida
Haven't been into my tank to see exactly how the fuel gage functions.
Assuming it its a float on a swing arm (as it has been for decades) it will swing through a smaller arc, per inch of level, in the upper position. Therefore, as the level drops, the gage will travel more degrees/inch...
Assuming it its a float on a swing arm (as it has been for decades) it will swing through a smaller arc, per inch of level, in the upper position. Therefore, as the level drops, the gage will travel more degrees/inch...
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Richmond Texas
Originally Posted by jrose7004
Like ALL GM vehicles it bottom half goes a lot quicker than the first half!
All the GM vehicles I have owned, including the vette, do the same thing...The first half will go down really slowly, but hang on for the second half...it seems like it is just pouring out the back. 
Since we are talking about this...does anyone know why??
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Denville NJ
The answer at least from the Camaro Forum, is that the shape of the tank is smaller at the bottom therefore less volume of gasoline. Since the fuel gauge is only measuring the level and not volume, it appears that the second half is going quicker (which it is) since there is less gas in that portion of the tank. Probably the same with the C5's to some degree.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Richmond Texas
Originally Posted by Nick1
The answer at least from the Camaro Forum, is that the shape of the tank is smaller at the bottom therefore less volume of gasoline. Since the fuel gauge is only measuring the level and not volume, it appears that the second half is going quicker (which it is) since there is less gas in that portion of the tank. Probably the same with the C5's to some degree.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2004
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Originally Posted by fixvet
What car are you driving???
My C5 holds 19gal!
My C5 holds 19gal!
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Life moves pretty fast... if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it!
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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
Zuti
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From: DP(oh you know where) IL
St. Jude Donor '06
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.
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From: Northern NYs Adirondack Mountains,http://www.visitsacandaga.com.
"Just got my first Vette, an '04 C5. Just wondering if the gas gauge will read like my Camaro where the first half of the tank seemed to go slow then the second half real fast"
I have had many Chevys (cars & trucks) in the past 20 years and all of them operate like that. You will get used to it.
I have had many Chevys (cars & trucks) in the past 20 years and all of them operate like that. You will get used to it.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Alberta
Same as my old WS6, after 1/2 it goes crazy. Not to mention, my fuel guage does not go hand in hand with the fuel remaining when I click the button on the DIC. It usually says I have about 60 miles left in the tank when the guage says I need to reserve fuel. Its happened twice to me and its right around the same mileage amount left in the tank.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: PNW
Tank capacity on my 02 Zee is 18.5 gallons. Not sure if that changed in the 04s which I believe have the newer tank system.
The gage is pretty accurate, but I use the RANGE and MPG figures on the DIC along with the trip meter to get a better idea on how much fuel is left.
The gage is pretty accurate, but I use the RANGE and MPG figures on the DIC along with the trip meter to get a better idea on how much fuel is left.
