Gas Tank Size

[Micetic]

Hi,

I have an '89 TC that I recently got. Well, yesterday the fuel light went on and I went to fill her up. When all was said and done it took only 13 gallons to fill....I thought the tanks on these things were 18 gallon tanks. Could my fuel gage be that far off? I looked underneath at my tank and it looks the right size to me. Anyone else have an issue like this?

Thanks!
Micetic

[Mr Wiggl3s]

Ya, that happens sometimes (fuel guage)

When was the last time you changed your fuel filter?

[joedogg]

Hi,

I have an '89 TC that I recently got. Well, yesterday the fuel light went on and I went to fill her up. When all was said and done it took only 13 gallons to fill....I thought the tanks on these things were 18 gallon tanks. Could my fuel gage be that far off? I looked underneath at my tank and it looks the right size to me. Anyone else have an issue like this?

Thanks!
Micetic
They do have 18 gallon tanks. I believe thtas what my 87's manual says.

[gadget73]

What did the fuel guage read when the light came on? Sometimes that light comes on when there is still plenty of fuel in the tank. Mine comes on about 1/4 tank which is about 13-14 gallons. 1/2 tank is 10 gallons for mine. I haven't ever run it down to the E mark but I think at E there is another 2 gallons in the tank. And yes, total of 18 gallons from a bone dry tank unless your filler neck is messed up, then it could be less.

[Red91SiT]

if i run my car till it stops, i can only squeeze about 16-17 gallon's in there.

[Elemino]

I believe the most I've ever filled was about 15+ gallons. I have run my car until my digital gauge says empty and the computer reports 0 miles to empty. I have driven at least 5 miles before in that condition. It's kind of a buffer I think, probably done on purpose. #1, you won't run the car completely empty because you're scared you're already out of gas. #2 its cheaper to make it not so precise.

[gadget73]

Fuel guages are scaled to be innaccurate on purpose really. On my car for example, there are more gallons between 1/2 and full than there are from 1/2 to empty. 10 gallons is the half tank mark. Most vehicles are set up this way to give the illusion of increased economy. If the guage stays on full for a while before moving, people think 'wow, i went x number of miles before it even moved!'. Prime example, I have 100 miles on my car since the last fillup, and its just now hit the F mark. My S10 does the same thing, more miles from F to 1/2 than 1/2 to E.

[Elemino]

Fuel guages are scaled to be innaccurate on purpose really. On my car for example, there are more gallons between 1/2 and full than there are from 1/2 to empty. 10 gallons is the half tank mark. Most vehicles are set up this way to give the illusion of increased economy. If the guage stays on full for a while before moving, people think 'wow, i went x number of miles before it even moved!'. Prime example, I have 100 miles on my car since the last fillup, and its just now hit the F mark. My S10 does the same thing, more miles from F to 1/2 than 1/2 to E.Just sounds like cheap electrictronic engineering to me. It possibly wouldn't move near full because, at that point, the resistance of the sending unit could be past the maximum value to report full. Therefore, it wouldn't start moving until the resistance value came into range, and then suddenly the guage moves just like it is supposed to.

[Tman70]

Most of the electronic gadgetry on our vehicles is not rocket science certifiable. The cost factor would be astronomical if it were. Be happy it works.

[v8_dave]

Damn you guys must be filling up every other day! My '93 has a 20 gallon and I routinely put 16+ in it!

[Mr Wiggl3s]

You know what eles, you have cupholders :mad:

[joedogg]

Yeah about 230-250 miles.

[MichiganTeddyBear]

another thing to think of on the fuel guage not moving off full for a 100 miles or so...

once the top of the float hits the top of the tank (remember fuel is at bottom of float) and you put fuel in till it stops filling, you have put in an extra couple gallons or so. once the float is at its maximum travel (either by hitting top of tank or by a mechanical stop in the mechanism), you may still have some room in the tank for fuel.

[Elemino]

You know what eles, you have cupholders :mad::rofl:

[gadget73]

another thing to think of on the fuel guage not moving off full for a 100 miles or so...

once the top of the float hits the top of the tank (remember fuel is at bottom of float) and you put fuel in till it stops filling, you have put in an extra couple gallons or so. once the float is at its maximum travel (either by hitting top of tank or by a mechanical stop in the mechanism), you may still have some room in the tank for fuel.

I did sort of neglect to say that the guage goes way beyond the full mark. It takes 80-100 miles to drop enough to actually hit the F mark.

Ah the secret 20 gallon fuel tank. Anyone know the difference? The filler neck. If you modify the filler neck in a box, you can fit another gallon or so in the tank. That was the secret for the different size tanks at the dealership for trucks. The extra capacity fuel tank came in a bag, and consisted of a molded rubber hose and a hose clamp. The hose fit onto the filler neck and was a different length depending on how big of a fuel tank you bought. Larger capacity got a shorter neck. Its just kind of funny that you can "install" a couple hundred dollar option with a hacksaw.

[Elemino]

Does anyone here have that spare tank I've heard about installed in the trunk?