I dont believe that my fuel gauge is reading correctly (stock cluster fuel gauge)

- I can get about 300 on a tank (could go more, but i dont wanna risk running out and pushing it) so what i would do is fill up and reset the trip thing. when it gets close to 290 or so i would fill up ...the gauge would still ready about half tank tho

- Just recently i noticed when i get to about 200 on a tank the needle would be done on the red zone, so playing it safe i went and filled up (got like 9.something gallons in)

- Now is there anyway i can "test" it somehow to see if the gauge is reading correctly?
unless i just started getting horrible gas milage all the sudden?

should i add a bottle of injector cleaner next time i fill up and see if that does anything?

-anthor idea i thougth was just to get a small gas container and keep that with me and see how far i can go and check the needle

thanks. (i know thats alot to read ...sorry?)

 

more info-

91 civ si
b16a
walbro 255
stock injectors

i searched some and read something about the sending unit. and the sensor in the tank. but idk much about any of the sending unit. can they just go bad cause of old age?

 

The fuel guages are notoriously inacurate. How many gallons per miles driven is the only real way to judge mileage. If the mileage hasn't dropped drastically, the sending unit could be suspect.

 

The sending unit can go bad.

I had a car that the gauge didn't move at all unless you put in a full and it would read a full tank. If i drove 4or5 miles the gauge would go down to below the red. I installed a used gas tank after I ran over a spike (long nail) and it put a hole in the gas tank. It had the pump and sending unit still in it went I got it from the junk yard and the gauge works great now.

good luck

 

You can test both the fuel gauge itself and also the sending unit. The steps are outlined in the Helms manual, basically you use a multimeter to test it. You can search for 'fuel sending unit' and find the correct specs. You may also have a short in one of the wires.

Although if your mileage was only 200 and you were on E, then something else is probably wrong, obviously you are consuming more gas than normal. I usually get about 350 in my Std hatch depending on the driving conditions.

Are you getting any check engine lights?

 

no check engine lights.
car runs fine except for the gauge acting up.
i just filled up earlier tonight so ill go from there. its wierd!

...the roads here (kansas blah) have been horrible. snowy and icy.


Modified by B6tizzleHatch at 1:18 PM 1/20/2007