Gas gauge acting funky
06-14-2006 | 06:45 PM
#26
Rotary only since 1980
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
From: Southeast of Seattle
Originally Posted by j330i
I am not 100% sure about the RX-8 tank configuration but I work for a Fuel Pump and Module Manufacturer and know of this same problem for other similar designs (saddle tank) were the gauge has "funny" readings. There is a venturi that transfers the gas from the "minor" side of the saddle tank to the side where the fuel pump is located. When the engine is tured off, some of the gas from the fuel pump side of the saddle tank flows back to the side without the fuel pump. This gas transfer (when the engine is off) causes incorrect fuel level reading for a short time when the engine is restarted. Our customer has installed a check valve in it's newer products to prevent this problem from happening. We don't make the fuel pump and module assembly for the RX-8 so I don't know the specifics of their system.
It sounds like someone with your background might be able to help out there.
06-14-2006 | 06:48 PM
#27
Originally Posted by RedLineShinka
...I'm at like, 200 with just under a 1/4 left, then at 210 I'm on the light and at 220 (if I'm lucky) I'm below the red final tick.... it's hillarious how OFF it is on that last 1/4 tank.
06-14-2006 | 06:49 PM
#28
Foolio
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
From: So Cal
Originally Posted by t-run/8
This is not good. If this happens to me tomorrow I may run out of gas before I make it to shell(5 or 6 miles away.) I have about 2 or 3 ticks left but no light. I'm at about 250 miles.(70% highway)
03-16-2008 | 01:25 AM
#30
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Utah
Sorry to revive this thread but my gas gauge has just started acting crazy. (That or I am looking more closely at everything since getting my car back from the dealer.)
Tonight I turned on my car and the gas gauge showed one tick above 1/4. I waited for a couple of minutes to let the engine warm up and the gas gauge was 2 ticks below 1/4. I started watching the gauge and every several seconds it would change to somewhere between 1 tick above and 2 ticks below 1/4. Anyone else have this problem and/or should I be concerned?
Tonight I turned on my car and the gas gauge showed one tick above 1/4. I waited for a couple of minutes to let the engine warm up and the gas gauge was 2 ticks below 1/4. I started watching the gauge and every several seconds it would change to somewhere between 1 tick above and 2 ticks below 1/4. Anyone else have this problem and/or should I be concerned?
03-16-2008 | 01:42 AM
#31
sofa king
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: Great America, IL
I'm assuming your cars are parked on inclines. Same thing happened with my older car too.
Funny thing this morning, I'm taking a cloverleaf exit ramp at highway speeds and I see my fuel gauge go UP 2 ticks when I hit the bottom of the ramp.
Funny thing this morning, I'm taking a cloverleaf exit ramp at highway speeds and I see my fuel gauge go UP 2 ticks when I hit the bottom of the ramp.
03-16-2008 | 09:24 AM
#35
Doppelgänger
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,192
Likes: 1
From: Florida
03-16-2008 | 10:46 AM
#37
Registered RX-8 User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 718
Likes: 0
From: PA/MD
Yeah I get the fun indicator as well, your car is alright. Read back a few pages they talk about how it is how our tank is a saddle shape and its the fuel equalizing on both sides that cause the reading.
03-16-2008 | 10:19 PM
#41
Thread Starter
Registered
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,364
Likes: 2
From: Chicago
This is normal for my car, the RX has a very screwy gas gauge and the closer you watch it the more you realize it plain erratic.
I believe this is caused by two issues, one is the fact that the RX uses a saddle tank which pumps gas from one side to the other which causes issues. The second problem is the exhaust pipe runs between the saddle tank and as it heats the gas the reading is thrown off. When the car is started the amount of gas in the tank appears less then when the tank was hot so you see a drop after a few minutes of operation as the gauge system adjusts. The weather also effects this as I see difference between operation in the winter and the summer. This of course is just my speculation but it does make sense.
I believe this is caused by two issues, one is the fact that the RX uses a saddle tank which pumps gas from one side to the other which causes issues. The second problem is the exhaust pipe runs between the saddle tank and as it heats the gas the reading is thrown off. When the car is started the amount of gas in the tank appears less then when the tank was hot so you see a drop after a few minutes of operation as the gauge system adjusts. The weather also effects this as I see difference between operation in the winter and the summer. This of course is just my speculation but it does make sense.
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