Accuracy of Gas Gauge.

[QX]

Is your gas gauge accurate?

Here's the problem I now have with a USA 2005 Subaru Forester XT.
:
When traveling on a long trip, and starting with a full tank (not
topped off) I will have traveled (for simplicity sake) 160 miles when
the gas gauge reads 1/2.
Based on that, I would expect that I can travel another 160 miles
before the tank is empty.

In reality, I can only travel about 110 miles till it reads "E" It
seems that the gauge drops faster after it reaches the 1/2 way mark.
I was told by the dealer that it has something to do with the shape of
the tank, and it is normal. This is on relatively flat roads, cruise
on, over several long trips, varying roads & terrain.

Personally it drives me crazy. I think it should take the same number
of miles to make the gauge go from Full to Half Full, that it will
take to go from Half Full to Empty.

 

[BobN]

It isn't unusual. If you fill the tank completely and top it off, you have
the tank "overfull" as there is gas in the fill pipe above the full tank
mark on the scale. This extra gas gets used before the fuel gauge registers
any decrease, so you seem to get more miles out of the first 1/4 tank on
the scale.

 

[Ragnar]

Is your gas gauge accurate?

Here's the problem I now have with a USA 2005 Subaru Forester XT.
:
When traveling on a long trip, and starting with a full tank (not
topped off) I will have traveled (for simplicity sake) 160 miles when
the gas gauge reads 1/2.
Based on that, I would expect that I can travel another 160 miles
before the tank is empty.

In reality, I can only travel about 110 miles till it reads "E" It
seems that the gauge drops faster after it reaches the 1/2 way mark.
I was told by the dealer that it has something to do with the shape of
the tank, and it is normal. This is on relatively flat roads, cruise
on, over several long trips, varying roads & terrain.

Personally it drives me crazy. I think it should take the same number
of miles to make the gauge go from Full to Half Full, that it will
take to go from Half Full to Empty.

Yeah, mine does that too. I've been told the shape of the tank excuse
as well, but I've looked at the tank and its square; the shape doesn't
change from top to bottom. The reality is that the gauge is calibrated
that way on purpose. Every car I've owned has done the same thing.

 

[Bonehenge (B A R R Y)]

Personally it drives me crazy.

Have you ever had a car that was different? If so, what was it?

 

[QX]

Have you ever had a car that was different? If so, what was it?

I still have it, a '97 Dodge Caravan ES.

 

[Bonehenge (B A R R Y)]

I still have it, a '97 Dodge Caravan ES.

Save it, as it's a rarity.

 

[Philip Procter]

That's minor!!!
I've got a 2005 STi, the gas guage registers 3/4 full when it's filled
to overflowing and then drops like a stone. I guess the latter may
have something to do with my right foot, but the inaccurate guage is
ridiculous. It's a surefire item on my next dealer visit!

Philip

 

[lkreh]

All cars are this way, to some extent. A gas gauge reading is not
perfectly linear because the gas tank is not symetrical in shape.