Gas gauge
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Denver North Carolina
Gas gauge
Yesterday, I was 30 minutes into an hour drive with 1/2 tank of gas. At once, the gas gauge goes to empty, the red light came on the dash and said, check gauges and the screen said fuel low. I filled up. The gauge never got off of empty.
Has anyone experience this? Was it the gauge or fuse or electrical problem?
Thanks,
Has anyone experience this? Was it the gauge or fuse or electrical problem?
Thanks,
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,364
Likes: 6
From: Rocky Mount Virginia
Faulty gas gauge
If you have bad gas, the fuel sender can be affected by the high sulfur content in the fuel, and cause the gauge to read empty. They car will still operate normally, and the gas gauge will work again if you use better gas, and will usually start again when you restart the car. It's just better to use good gas. Some people have had luck with running fuel filter cleaners thru the gas tank. New fuel senders sometimes fixes this problem.
Also use a bottle of Techron when filling up. Use Premium fuel from a Top Tier station(Chevron, Texaco, etc)
If you have bad gas, the fuel sender can be affected by the high sulfur content in the fuel, and cause the gauge to read empty. They car will still operate normally, and the gas gauge will work again if you use better gas, and will usually start again when you restart the car. It's just better to use good gas. Some people have had luck with running fuel filter cleaners thru the gas tank. New fuel senders sometimes fixes this problem.
Also use a bottle of Techron when filling up. Use Premium fuel from a Top Tier station(Chevron, Texaco, etc)
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
As stated before, One of the best things you can do for your fuel system is use Chevron fuel, It has corrected a lot of the members gauge that had the same trouble as you do. If you don't have Chevron in your area just run a bottle of the Chevron fuel additive with a fill up a number of times.
Tech Contributor
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
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Le Mans Master
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From: If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door. South West Florida / Livin' The Dream
St. Jude Donor '12
You can buy Techron at most major auto parts stores. Techron is the additive in Chevron that helps with this problem.
I get the problem a couple of times and one fill-up with Chevron and about 25 miles of driving and it starts working again. Go figure?
I get the problem a couple of times and one fill-up with Chevron and about 25 miles of driving and it starts working again. Go figure?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,298
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From: east taunton ma
It happened to me, I ran a big bottle of Techron fuel cleaner through it and that helped out alot. Also check your codes see if you have a p1432. If so reset it and your fuel gauge will work again. Good luck
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 490
Likes: 3
From: Edmond OK
same problem today
man, happened to me today, same deal, gauge dropped to "e", while I had a half tank, and it's bounced around full/empty, full/empty the rest of the day. Funny, I just bought some of that techron additive few days ago and was going to put it in next fill up to try and prevent, and there you go.
I'll give the techron a try.
BUT, if that does not work, do they have to drop the tank to "check" or replace the sensors? Is replacing that part of just replacing the fuel pump/filter assembly?
I'll give the techron a try.
BUT, if that does not work, do they have to drop the tank to "check" or replace the sensors? Is replacing that part of just replacing the fuel pump/filter assembly?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Denison, TX
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St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'16
I always reset the trip when I get a new tank of gas. Always. I know about how far I can go, so if the fuel gauge messes up (for the xxx time
), I don't worry. 
Now...when my c6 did it a couple of weeks ago....
And, no, I'm not kidding.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Conejo Valley CA
Here's what happens to the sensor. Note the black smearing. The traces are supposed to be shiny throughout...
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Baltimore Md.
As stated before, One of the best things you can do for your fuel system is use Chevron fuel, It has corrected a lot of the members gauge that had the same trouble as you do. If you don't have Chevron in your area just run a bottle of the Chevron fuel additive with a fill up a number of times.
I had the problem once and changed to chevron or texaco with techron and the problem went away. Techron keeps the sensor clean.
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You can usually find a bottle of Techron at most auto parts stores. Might even find it at Wal-Mart.