Fuel tank
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,771
Likes: 940
From: Orlando Florida
So every time the car sits, the fuel self levels between the tanks, and then anytime the power is on the R/H tank is emptied into the L/H tank, with the computer reading both float levels and calculating how much fuel it thinks you have remaining. So when I start my '99 with less than half a tank, the gage often slowly goes up for the next several minutes...
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,771
Likes: 940
From: Orlando Florida
I agree -- though I'll assume the engineers were thinking of something I don't understand. To my mind, if it drained both tanks equally, it would make sense. Then the weight would be distributed and as low as possible. But always keeping the most fuel in one tank seems asymmetric and illogical.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Sierra Vista AZ
I had to change the fuel pump assembly in the left tank because of a weep at the gasket. With 62000 mile wonder if i should change out the right tank??
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
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From: Wisconsin
Seems like there are too many things that can go wrong and sometimes they do. I have never had any problems with any other car's gas tank or have heard of anyone that has. GM probably spent a fortune designing it and did not want to spend another fortune designing another, so they just fix them when they fail, instead. Cheaper that way.
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Joined: Oct 2006
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
NCM Member '09
It isn't just Corvette using split-tanks either, there are a fair number in use both import and domestic.
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Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Wisconsin
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Wisconsin
They could have put one 9 gallon tank.
As stated above where would they have put a reasonable capacity single tank without either a larger car or stealing room from the already limited carrying capacity?
If you don't want problems with the fuel tank guess you should consider putting your C5 up for sale.
As stated above where would they have put a reasonable capacity single tank without either a larger car or stealing room from the already limited carrying capacity?
If you don't want problems with the fuel tank guess you should consider putting your C5 up for sale.
I am considering selling my C5, but the tank isn't the reason.
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
From: Corrales NM
The book "All Corvettes Are Red" has a detailed explanation of why this design was chosen, but it comes down to the simple fact that the dual tank setup was the best compromise that met the design criteria for the C5. A single 9-gallon tank would unacceptably limit range, and fitting an 18-gallon tank would have meant having it sit on top of the rear transaxle assembly, cutting deeply into rear cargo space, and it may not have met crash standards.
Last edited by Flightwriter; May 12, 2018 at 03:57 PM. Reason: Added info
Pro
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 515
Likes: 279
From: Carol Stream (Chicago suburbs) IL
The Corvette doors are long; so I soon found that pulling up to the pump on the driver's side can make hitting the door on the pumps or pump protective posts very likely. Where it possible (Costco), I will pull up to the pump on the passenger side and pull the hose over the trunk and fill up. Makes getting out of the car to fill it, much easier.
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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Moved to C5 Tech.