Gas guage/ fuel level

[Hammerhead2501]

Anybody had trouble with their gas guage vs fuel level? I left my daughters house which is about an hour drive home. Had between a 1/4 and 1/2 tank. Cruising along just swimmingly when suddenly the gas light came on and within a mile I was trying to cross 4 lanes and exit because I was out of gas!! Then this past weekend I was out cruising with my sweetie pie, had a quarter of a tank with 185 miles on it and the light came on and the needle bottomed out instantly, both at the same time, saw it happen. Luckily there was a station within 200 yards so I took full advantage. Any ideas? How far are you folks getting on a tank? I drive fairly conservatively but must admit I get in to it a little more with that K&N intake. Still 185 miles and no warning before I'm slap out of gas, something is fishy here. Any help appreciated.

[bsedwebt]

Re: Gas guage/ fuel level

how much gas did it take to fill it up when it did it at 185 miles? I think if the light comes on you should be putting in at least 13+ US gallons. If not then the needle is reading wrong. I have noticed the last half of the tank goes faster than the first half. I am getting way better mileage than that - I would say 375 miles to the tank before the light would come on normal highway speeds - I am getting 26MPG highway at normal highway speed with the top down, K&N, SCT 93 octane custom tune and driving fairly spirited.

[Chuck]

Re: Gas guage/ fuel level

Sounds like your slave fuel pump is going or gone. The gas tank is split into 2 1/2s. There are 2 fuel pumps, the slave pump moves gas from the driver's side to the passenger side where the master sends it to the engine. The slave in my NM is gone, I fill the thing up, and it goes from a 1/2 to E in seconds.

[toysax]

Re: Gas guage/ fuel level

I think Chuck may be right about one of your fuel pumps may be not working. I get about 20 miles to the gallon.

[Welker]

Re: Gas guage/ fuel level

My '04 has been doing that since it was new. I will show about a quarter of tank on the gauge and then suddenly drop to zero and there is always about four or five gallons left in the tank. I have taken it to the dealership many times and they claim nothing is wrong with it.....so I just get it filled when it gets to a quarter tank.

[wcoates]

Re: Gas guage/ fuel level

:so I just get it filled when it gets to a quarter tank.

.....

[Señor Gar]

From the "Gas guage" thread ...

Our fuel system operates quite differently that those of the last century.
The diagram shows the tank driver's side and front facing on an angle.
Literally speaking there is only one fuel pump (Fuel Delivery Module) in the passenger side well (also the fill side) of the 'saddle bag' tank and one siphoning device in the driver's side well. Each have a float which combine electronically to operate the fuel gauge.
Fuel is only delivered to the engine injectors from the passenger side well and pressure is regulated by the PCM controlling the output of the fuel pump eliminating the need for a fuel return line.
When the engine is running the fuel pump runs continuously while part of its output is diverted the the siphon jet 'pump' in the driver's side well to transfer fuel to the passenger side well. As a result, although injector fuel is always drawn from the passenger side well, it will also be the last to empty.

Here is the Gas gauge thread worth reading.

[jssantoro]

Re: Gas guage/ fuel level

There are 2 fuel senders, these send signal to the fuel gauge. The one on the drivers side reads from Full to 1/2. The one on the passenger side from approx 1/2 to empty. The actual fuel pump, the electrically powered one, is on the pass side. The "pump" on the drivers side is a venturi jet pump, no electrics at all, powered by the flow of gas through it. It send gas back to the pass side and the electric pump send it on to the engine to the engine. The gas gauge senders are separate from the pump and not related. So... if you fill the car and it only read 1/2 tanks the sending unit on the drivers side is bad. If it's fine from full to 1/2 tank or so them plummets then the sender is bad on the pass side. If you really want to fix it you will have to remove the , in your case, pass side pump and replace the sender. You may as well replace the pump while its out since you will not want to do it again. Or just live with it and count your mile.

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: Gas guage/ fuel level

On my grey 2003 Thunderbird, I've had a problem with the low fuel light coming on when the gauge is just below 3/4's of a tank. The fuel gauge itself it accurate; just irritating when the light comes on. I had Team Ford look at it years ago when it first started happening (about the time the warranty ran out). They never got it resolved though.

[My Raven]

Re: Gas guage/ fuel level

When they replaced the fuel pump on the Raven the gas gauge was never accurate.

[HKS]

Re: Gas guage/ fuel level

When they replaced the fuel pump on the Raven the gas gauge was never accurate.

They bent the fuel level sensor float. Or, there may be a float calibration procedure.

HKS

[HKS]

Re: Gas guage/ fuel level

When they replaced the fuel pump on the Raven the gas gauge was never accurate.

Was the gage reading low or high?
HKS

[Hammerhead2501]

Re: Gas guage/ fuel level

Was the gage reading low or high?
HKS

3 tanks ago the guage drops to peg and the light comes on at 200 miles, ran out of gas immediately.

2 tanks ago gauge bottoms out and light came on at 185 miles.

Last tank same situation at 175 miles.

[HKS]

Re: Gas guage/ fuel level

3 tanks ago the guage drops to peg and the light comes on at 200 miles, ran out of gas immediately.

2 tanks ago gauge bottoms out and light came on at 185 miles.

Last tank same situation at 175 miles.

Where was the gas gage at just before it dropped to the peg, 1/4 tank?

HKS

[Hammerhead2501]

Re: Gas guage/ fuel level

Where was the gas gage at just before it dropped to the peg, 1/4 tank?

HKS

Netwee 1/4 abd 1/2