Does this happen to anyone else?

[LJRuddy]

So after driving my 96 for a while now, I have noticed something interesting about the fuel gauge...


Every time I fill up my tank, I notice that I will get between 200-240 miles on the first half tank. After the needle crosses the 1/2 mark, the rest of the tank will be burnt up within 60-80 miles. What is the deal here? This happens during long highway trips across the midwest as well as non stop city driving.

Is my fuel gauge sticking? If so, why does it do this at the exact same place no matter how many times I turn off / turn on the car throughout the week or so that the tank lasts me?

 

[Rubix]

I've noticed this with my '99 slo, but I've always just chalked it up to the fact that when full the needle is about an 8th of a tank beyond the full mark. That being said, I modded my gauge cluster a few years ago and the needle now reads almost a quarter of a tank lower than what it actually is because I didn't put the needle on accurately; I'm actually happier with the needle being like this. I'd also say my range of distance after teh 1/2 mark is higher too, not 60-80. I definitely feel like the lower half of the tank goes faster, maybe it's because I'm more aware of the gas level at that point.

 

[LJRuddy]

I understand what you say about the fuel gauge going up to "9/8" tank when filling up but even with that taken into account, it seems really weird how the last half tank goes by 3x faster than the first half.

When I fill up, I can drive about 50 miles before the needle lowers to "F". If I were to clear my trip odometer at this moment, I will still get at least 150 miles on the first half tank. Clear my trip odometer again when the needle is at 1/2 tank and I will then only get 60 miles on the last half. After these 60 miles go by, I will go to fill up and I will pump at least 15 gallons of fuel back into my SHO.

It just does not make sense.

 

[NWGRN94MTX]

My Exploder is linear between full and 1/4, then it just sits there a little while, then boom, it's on Empty with the check gauge light on.

 

[St Louis SHO]

Same with my Gen IV.

 

[Eric VerValin]

My Exploder is linear between full and 1/4, then it just sits there a little while, then boom, it's on Empty with the check gauge light on.

My 92/93 is kinda this way.... hangs on way past full for a while.. then nice and steady to 1/4 where it hangs for a week it seems, then boom, lights on, time to get gas... I just fill it back up at 1/2 and don't worry about it.

The one that used to **** me off was the 96 Impy SS I got to drive around for a while. Half tank full, put the skinny pedal on the carpet, and that tank went empty in 2 seconds. Slam on the brakes to a stop, 3/4 almost full... lol

 

[luigisho]

My last 1/2 goes really fast too. But my mileage really sucks this past year.

 

[rubydist]

Fords in general are notorious for having the first half of the tank be larger than the second half of the tank. The point is that the gauge is an approximation, not gospel.

 

[Izzmo]

Happens with me as well.

Anyone know what the gas tank looks like? I ask because it could easily be explained that there is more volume of gas at the top of the tank than at the bottom, which would explain why the float in the tank would descend faster.

Any truth to my ramblings?

 

[SHOZ123]

It's not the shape of the tank but the calibration of the fuel level sender.

 

[Izzmo]

Damn.. you didn't hold back painting anything!

 

[SHOZ123]

Hey it was rusty around the seams when I took it down to change the pump. Also had the build sheet on top of it.

 

[Izzmo]

Fair enough.. I didn't say it didn't look good though.. it does

 

[NebraskaSHO]

I get about 220 miles to an entire tank. Damn TCC...

 

[Izzmo]

Hmm.. that isn't too bad? (How much of that is highway?)

 

[NebraskaSHO]

That would be mostly highway. Car usually gets 18-19 mpg.

 

[Shoman594]

Paul, do you still have the build sheet? or was it dead from the elements..

 

[aarmel732]

You get 300 miles to a tank!?!?!?!?

No that has NEVER happened to me

 

[three50one]

I get about 220 miles to an entire tank. Damn TCC...

I usually fill around 230-240. Still have roughly 3 or so gallons left, but the gas light will come on still. I like it this way really.

 

[wuzzzer]

Same thing happens with my SHO. Drops like a rock once it hits the 1/2 way mark.