1999corvettels1

The reason I ask is I'm trying to find out if I have a bad Jet pump or sending units from years ago.

Since putting the car back on the road in September I have been topping off gas at 200 miles just to prevent running out.

I ran out of gas when tank said 1/2 in 2010, in the middle of no where on I40 headed to Texas.

Every since then I have been paranoid about running out of gas.

A few fill ups ago I put in a bottle of Techron, then this week the gauge started reading weird.

Maybe the Techron is helping some, I want to drive more and see what happens after 1/2 tank.

I'm considering carrying 2 gallons (2 gallon can for lawn mower)of fuel just in case I run out, but know this may be very dangerous if it spilled or even the vapors.

On a C5 with no issues, how many miles from a fill up to needing gas do others run?

1999corvettels1

By the way, I bought the car in May 2003, not even having the car a month I drove somewhere and got the message get gas now(gauge went from almost full to empty), pulled over and filled up and it only took a few gallons, maybe 3.

2 times since having this car I had it parked in garage, first time from spring of 2006 to October 2008, then drove it until May 2013, parked it until September 2017 now back on road.

Not sure if it sitting made gas senders or Jet pump any worse or not.

Tsumi

Completely stock other than vararam intake, 20 mile commute, about 50/50 highway/city. 9 days (360 miles) fills up about 15 gallons.

66dts-v

I don't look at my miles. My DIC stays on Instant MPG to remind myself to take my foot off the gas.

Needless to say, I was a little shocked when I took it in for a clutch and the OD said 148k. It said 72k last time I had looked at it a few years ago.

The Rabbi

In Mesa there is https://www.vetteculture.net/ not far from you. They did some work on my car while traveling and were great. Check them out.

I also had trouble with the gas gauge and decided to have a dealer replace the sending units, they were worn out. Have to spend $ to keep older cars on the road. Fix it right to begin with and you'll enjoy the car more.

runner140*

Guess I'm lucky .....my gauge is accurate. Has been for almost ten years. I fill up when it gets under 1/2 full. Been using Chevron gas for years.

Vetteman Jack

On a highway trip, my ‘03 A4 gets between 26-27 mpg, so with an 18 gallon tank I usually get 400+ miles to the tank. I fill the tank up prior to it getting on E so I do not push my luck.

Grandpa1

I go from North Texas to Houston about every 5 or 6 weeks and it's exactly 360 miles one way. I make it there with about 40 miles to spare according to the DIC.
Mostly 70 to 75 mph sometimes 80.
I've made the trip a few times and it's always close to the same readings.

1999corvettels1

I have no problem replacing sending unit/units in my driveway, if I need them.

Just trying to find out if it's a Jet pump or the level senders, always ran Chevron premium gas, but read that concentrate of Techron may be better, so I run Costco premium now, while adding Techron.

There may be zero problem, just a few glitches over the years.

My brother has a 2001 GMC Sierra he drives daily and his sending unit is wacky as well.

Guage will go to zero and give low fuel message.

I guess I'll look for those codes probably the best clue.

wdcraig

My car is a 2001, has +98,000 miles on it- and I believe it is stock (had several owners before me; so can't say what work has been done on it- but Carfax shows nothing other than routine maintenance). My low fuel light comes on with approximately 3 gallons of gas left, so I will never run out of gas! My highway average is still a bit early in ownership to say (I've had the car just 2 weeks). A week ago it delivered a very good 33mpg average of pure highway driving, cruise set at 70mph, over the course of 100 miles (at our destination, a bunch of city driving, and the return trip home, lowered it to 28.6 mpg). Hope this helps.

VettesGoneWild

Bought my 02 a little over 4 years ago and 2 years later noticed sporadic gas gauge issues. At that time I began using Shell's best (whatever they call it) premium and added Techron every other fill up which almost entirely solved the problem. Last spring I added BG 44K Fuel System Cleaner and never had another instance. Always added Techron and SeaFoam before winter storage. I write down mileage at every fill up and watch trip odometer and refuel after 300-325 miles just in case. I'm thinking/hoping I've nipped it in the bud.

bigcypress

i THINK about 250 miles and TWELVE months . . peace

strand rider

MY car also has gas gauge problems, so I have been gathering information, hoping to get a shiny new round two it for christmas, and improve the situation.

It has been posted that one can reprogram the brain to handle the different levels better, but other than it was a service bulletin from GM, know nothing else about the service.

Corvette#2

Usually about 300-350 miles. Mostly city driving.

Route99

Mine is about half city and half highway for much of my driving and I'm generally in the 23-24mpg range. (Although I just put a new 3.42 diff in and playing with it a little more right now, so mileage has gone down some). Haven't had a good long range trip since the diff swap to see what it really does to highway mileage. I'm guesstimating about a 9% drop.

neutron82

I used to keep a 2 gallon jug of methanol in the rear cubby hole when I was using that and occasionally will take a 2 or 5 gallon jug of e85 with me depending on how far I'm driving just in case... I have never had an issue with vapors or spillage, just take precautions and you should be fine... a fire extinguisher is also not a bad idea, halon/halotron or co2 if you don't want the nasty residue leftover

dbgoodwin

Mixed driving a little under 400 miles. All highway a little over 400 miles.

I usually fill fill up and pump about 15-16 gallons.

Andrew

About 200 miles and 16 gallons, but far from stock.

Gas gauge seems to be accurate with no fuel supply problems down to 1/4 tank when fuel is added.

Curious, does you motor try to cut out like starving for fuel?

dbgoodwin

neutron82

yeah mine is about the same (if babied) or less but I'm on straight e85 and highly modded so I didn't think it would be relative to the op... I keep a 55 gallon drum in the garage and top the car off before I take it out so I don't have to worry about running it too low... I didn't get this car for gas mileage though