Archives




View Full Version : Fuel gauge


Aether glider
04-21-2008, 11:10 PM
What causes fuel gauges to be so inaccurate. I notice it takes around 100 miles before the thing ever moves then it drops really fast. Any way to fix this. Probably not but this just annoys me.

JusBringIt
04-21-2008, 11:15 PM
the way fuel gauges are made, most consists of a buoyant device that tells your fuel level. Now even after you filled up to the point where the buoyant device is touching the top of the fuel tank, you can still put more fuel in. now when you're using fuel, until the level gets down to where that buoyant device can start lowering itself, you wont see a change in the fuel gauge.

Aether glider
04-21-2008, 11:42 PM
That at least makes it more understandable.

bomber991
04-22-2008, 01:23 AM
Also to add to what the avenger said, I think most gas tanks have a V shape to them.

93Hatch
04-22-2008, 06:25 AM
Also to add to what the avenger said, I think most gas tanks have a V shape to them.

And that is why I get 250 miles off the top half of the tank, and only 100-150 off the bottom half?

brick
04-22-2008, 07:56 AM
All of the above, plus the fact that the Prius fuel gauge is notorious for giving odd readings. It's only a problem for people who decide that it must not really know when the tank is empty (which it usually does) and decide to keep on driving after it shows empty. So...don't do that.

Jimmy
04-22-2008, 10:16 AM
A "fuel gauge" requires further definition these days, and that is a good thing - especially today - Earth Day.

For example, my "fuel gauge" is a "state-of-charge" gauge for my car (an EV), which does not use gasoline at all. So alternatives to fossil fueled vehicles are becoming a reality - finally. :)

Doc Willie
05-08-2008, 10:27 AM
All of the above, plus the fact that the Prius fuel gauge is notorious for giving odd readings. It's only a problem for people who decide that it must not really know when the tank is empty (which it usually does) and decide to keep on driving after it shows empty. So...don't do that.

The problem with the Prius is that the fuel tank is a flexible bladder. So for the first 100 miles, the bladder is shrinking. Even though the "tank" is "full", the tank has actually been shrinking in size. The sensor does not compensate for that, so you never know quite how much fuel you actually have.



Copyright 2006 Clean MPG, LLC. All Rights Reserved.