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Re: does any one understand the gas gauge Posted by Saana88 [Email]  (#207)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Saana88) on Wed, 14 Jun 2006 20:48:48
In Reply to: does any one understand the gas gauge, josh, Wed, 14 Jun 2006 19:09:49 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
The fuel tank was redesigned in 1980 for unleaded fuel. By at least 1985, capacity was 16.6 gallons. In mid-'90 the tank was enlarged to 18.0 gallons.
On my '88 (16.6 gallons) I run around 50-65 miles after the light comes on and stays lit continuously. 70 miles from then the light will shut off and you've got two miles to go.
On my '92 (18 gallons) I run around 70-85 miles after the light comes on and stays on.
If your low fuel light flickers, run the fuel down until the light stays on repeatedly to wear the contacts back in. If you really hate it, replace the sender (easy to do, get the OEM part).
Also be sure you're filling the tank up all the way; they tend to shut off early. With today's prices, I usually squeeze another 2 bucks in after the nozzle stops. This is also how to get the gauge needle to read completely full instead of halfway between max and three fourths.
I drive economically (average 28-30 MPG on the 8 valve 4-door with 200k) and my cars are in the best possible shape I can get them into (fuel injector cleaner regularly, clean filters, synthetic oil, timing and injection systems properly tuned, fresh oxygen sensor, coast whenever possible) so that makes for 500 miles to a tank on the 16.6 gallon 8 valve (I have a habit of refueling 16.2 gallons at a time, you may not want to push yours quite as far) and 580-600 on the (18 gallon) '92 with electronic injection, a little more displacement, and a fairly healthy 2.1 motor and short final drive gearing.
Or if you're really brave, get two to three gallons of gas in a can, some good FI cleaner, and a fuel filter. Put the FI cleaner in on your last fill-up, then get the car down to fumes, and let her idle dry or at least enough to get the idle to stumble. Since this cleans all the crud out of the tank, replace the fuel filter, put those three gallons in the tank, refuel, and note the actual capacity of your fuel tank.
The needle on my '88 jumped around when I got the car (mom always refueled at a quarter tank) and it got a little less jumpy when I started using the entire range (or thereabouts) of the sender on each tank of gas. The low fuel light still blinks for around fifteen miles, but on my '92 it doesn't blink as quickly and only does it for five to ten miles. Three quarters is a little pessimistic (gauge reads a little low) as is one quarter, but full and halfway are just about spot on. Use your trip odometer and reap the rewards.
The highest I've gone? This is back when my '92 still had a small vac leak mind you...
622 on 18 gallons on the '92
572 (dead out) on the '88
Now that everyone else is rushing to get better mileage, I'm happy I started trying and caring in 2000 when gas was $1.30 a gallon at its peak. I like my clutch; I coast almost anywhere I can.
And if the low fuel light turns on only in one of those exciting corners or only under hard acceleration or only as you crest a hill, it doesn't count.
Enjoy! (For the record, my deceased '90 with nearly no work done to it got 34 a few times.)
, Wed, 14 Jun 2006 20:48:48 <-- Viewing This Message
, Wed, 14 Jun 2006 20:04:58
, Thu, 15 Jun 2006 08:43:33
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