Pump or gas tank?
#1
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OK, so I only get to drive my car sporadically during the winter and I had it out again today. Since I hadn't filled up in a long time and I was getting to about 5/8 full, I decided to top off since I figure it's better to be full when stored in the garage and to also get some fresh V-Power in the tank.
The pump "clicked" on 3.2 gallons, and I thought that was way to little gas because that calculates out to 26.5 mpg which I know is wrong (no frickin way). I even hit the pump again to see if it would continue to fill and the pump "clicked" again so I said fine, I guess that's enough.
When I drive off, the gas gauge does not show full. Since I know I usually get around 18 mpg, I figure the pump stopped me short roughly 1.4 gallons or so. Was it the pump or the car?
Normally when I fill up when I'm close to empty, I am able to completely fill the tank so my gauge shows completely full. Anyone else experience this when they fill up with over a half tank left? Just curious...
The pump "clicked" on 3.2 gallons, and I thought that was way to little gas because that calculates out to 26.5 mpg which I know is wrong (no frickin way). I even hit the pump again to see if it would continue to fill and the pump "clicked" again so I said fine, I guess that's enough.
When I drive off, the gas gauge does not show full. Since I know I usually get around 18 mpg, I figure the pump stopped me short roughly 1.4 gallons or so. Was it the pump or the car?
Normally when I fill up when I'm close to empty, I am able to completely fill the tank so my gauge shows completely full. Anyone else experience this when they fill up with over a half tank left? Just curious...
#3
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I've often filled up with less than half a tank. It doesn't seem to matter at all.
It's been a bit of a project of mine, but my 8 is completely predictable on fuel consumption. All highway = about 22/23 mpg. Three-mile commutes back and forth to the local train station, about 15/16 mpg. Since my driving is almost never one or the other, it bounces around... check out the spreadsheet for details. Two dates to compare: Sept. 14, 2004 (7 gals./all highway, 23.4mpg) with Oct. 30, 2004 (7.4 gals/mostly commuting, 15.3mpg).
It's been a bit of a project of mine, but my 8 is completely predictable on fuel consumption. All highway = about 22/23 mpg. Three-mile commutes back and forth to the local train station, about 15/16 mpg. Since my driving is almost never one or the other, it bounces around... check out the spreadsheet for details. Two dates to compare: Sept. 14, 2004 (7 gals./all highway, 23.4mpg) with Oct. 30, 2004 (7.4 gals/mostly commuting, 15.3mpg).
#4
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Did the pump you where using seem to dispense fuel very quickly and did you have the lever completely depressed? I had this happen a couple of times and I think the pump dispensed fuel so quickly it acted as if the tank was full. I have also filled the tank numerous times when above half and it doesnt seem to affect it.
#6
I had this happen once. It was the pump or I was parked on an incline when I was fueling. I never let mine get lower than 1/2 and try to keep it full since I am like you. I wait for a nice day before I can drive it in the winter. It mostly sits until the snows stop for the rest of the year. That's likely in May sometime. I have not had that happen again.
#7
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Happened to me all the time with the Miata. At best guess, there's simply some gas (air) under pressure inside the tank. When you start pumping, it's all suddenly displaced, and trips the pump cutoff. Really got on my nerves when it happened... Wasn't very predictible, either.
#8
um it happeneds to me all the time.... both ML430 and CLK320 always does that for some reason... they always stop and think it's full or something but it's actually not full yet.... i thought it was the design of the fuel tank taht the gas may be going in too slow and chocking the pump but i never knew waht it was...
#9
Originally Posted by MI_FamilyMan
OK, so I only get to drive my car sporadically during the winter and I had it out again today. Since I hadn't filled up in a long time and I was getting to about 5/8 full, I decided to top off since I figure it's better to be full when stored in the garage and to also get some fresh V-Power in the tank.
The pump "clicked" on 3.2 gallons, and I thought that was way to little gas because that calculates out to 26.5 mpg which I know is wrong (no frickin way). I even hit the pump again to see if it would continue to fill and the pump "clicked" again so I said fine, I guess that's enough.
When I drive off, the gas gauge does not show full. Since I know I usually get around 18 mpg, I figure the pump stopped me short roughly 1.4 gallons or so. Was it the pump or the car?
Normally when I fill up when I'm close to empty, I am able to completely fill the tank so my gauge shows completely full. Anyone else experience this when they fill up with over a half tank left? Just curious...
The pump "clicked" on 3.2 gallons, and I thought that was way to little gas because that calculates out to 26.5 mpg which I know is wrong (no frickin way). I even hit the pump again to see if it would continue to fill and the pump "clicked" again so I said fine, I guess that's enough.
When I drive off, the gas gauge does not show full. Since I know I usually get around 18 mpg, I figure the pump stopped me short roughly 1.4 gallons or so. Was it the pump or the car?
Normally when I fill up when I'm close to empty, I am able to completely fill the tank so my gauge shows completely full. Anyone else experience this when they fill up with over a half tank left? Just curious...
Was the car running when you were filling up? I have had the pump shutoff easly when i left the car running when filling it up. That's the only time I have experienced it.
#10
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Originally Posted by poolsidenaz
I've never fueled up that fast before. I try to go as l-o-n-g as possible between fillups :D
#11
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Originally Posted by MEGAREDS
Two dates to compare: Sept. 14, 2004 (7 gals./all highway, 23.4mpg) with Oct. 30, 2004 (7.4 gals/mostly commuting, 15.3mpg).
#12
Originally Posted by V_for_velocity
15.3 mpg is almost exactly the published spec. Mine is lower but I'm attributing it (for now) to the extreme cold -- betweeen -20 and -40 Celsius since Christmas, which is when I got the car.
#14
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Originally Posted by ScandlsRx-8
FamilyMan,
Was the car running when you were filling up? I have had the pump shutoff easly when i left the car running when filling it up. That's the only time I have experienced it.
Was the car running when you were filling up? I have had the pump shutoff easly when i left the car running when filling it up. That's the only time I have experienced it.
I did make sure I put my gas cap on nice and tight though...
#15
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Originally Posted by theCATALYST
Did the pump you where using seem to dispense fuel very quickly and did you have the lever completely depressed? I had this happen a couple of times and I think the pump dispensed fuel so quickly it acted as if the tank was full. I have also filled the tank numerous times when above half and it doesnt seem to affect it.
#16
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Originally Posted by MEGAREDS
I've often filled up with less than half a tank. It doesn't seem to matter at all.
It's been a bit of a project of mine, but my 8 is completely predictable on fuel consumption. All highway = about 22/23 mpg. Three-mile commutes back and forth to the local train station, about 15/16 mpg. Since my driving is almost never one or the other, it bounces around... check out the spreadsheet for details. Two dates to compare: Sept. 14, 2004 (7 gals./all highway, 23.4mpg) with Oct. 30, 2004 (7.4 gals/mostly commuting, 15.3mpg).
It's been a bit of a project of mine, but my 8 is completely predictable on fuel consumption. All highway = about 22/23 mpg. Three-mile commutes back and forth to the local train station, about 15/16 mpg. Since my driving is almost never one or the other, it bounces around... check out the spreadsheet for details. Two dates to compare: Sept. 14, 2004 (7 gals./all highway, 23.4mpg) with Oct. 30, 2004 (7.4 gals/mostly commuting, 15.3mpg).
#17
Originally Posted by zoom44
read the range for each number on that window sticker
The 'big' numbers (18/24) are for what THIS MODEL showed in testing by the EPA.
#18
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Originally Posted by magixpuma
You guys are lucky. In nj its illegal to pump your own gas ![Frown](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/frown.gif)
![Frown](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/frown.gif)
#19
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Actually, the 18/24 is a percentage off the EPA numbers. Believe it or not, those EPA numbers already take some percentage off their true numbers, to account for variation (I think it's 15%).
As for the problem described, I have it every once in a while here in Cali. The specific pump head was probably brand new. I've had a pump kick back every .3 gallons. It's easier to tell when the gas is way low, if your tank is half full you don't know if you got great mileage or what.
As for the problem described, I have it every once in a while here in Cali. The specific pump head was probably brand new. I've had a pump kick back every .3 gallons. It's easier to tell when the gas is way low, if your tank is half full you don't know if you got great mileage or what.
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