I notice that sometimes when my car sits overnight and I use it in the morning or whenever that my gas meter shows that I have a little less gas than the night before. I don't have a gas leak underneath at all so im puzzled. Is my gas cap wearing and causing some fuel to evaporate out overnight?
Is this because of the innacurate gas meter?
- Thread starter NLeo
- Start date
- Status
It's probably you have a pressurized tank and the pressure is bleeding down overnight and this is affecting the sending unit which tells the fuel-gauge how much you have.
Either that or you have pesky leprechauns stealing your fuel for a free ride to their pot of gold. Little $#!@#!
Either that or you have pesky leprechauns stealing your fuel for a free ride to their pot of gold. Little $#!@#!
Speculating:
Maybe something drifts with temperature. The car would typically be cooler in the morning after sitting overnight.
The regulation system for the metering may be a little lacking. The battery voltage will be lower in the morning after sitting overnight.
Maybe the mechanical meter is a little sticky. A drive makes vibrations that overcome the stiction,
Maybe something drifts with temperature. The car would typically be cooler in the morning after sitting overnight.
The regulation system for the metering may be a little lacking. The battery voltage will be lower in the morning after sitting overnight.
Maybe the mechanical meter is a little sticky. A drive makes vibrations that overcome the stiction,
Normally, mine is pretty consistent. Today, however, I experienced a similar funkyness. Last night, I parked the Jeep, gauge was showing 7/8 of a tank. This morning, fire it up to go to work, 5/8 tank.
I figured someone had siphoned my tank until I got about halfway to work and the gauge started slowly rising, which it continued to do until I arrived. By the time I parked at work, it was showing between 3/4 and 7/8 tank, which is probably not too far off (cooled down a lot overnight, 95* yesterday when parked, 75* this morning). I'll see what it reads when I leave in a couple hours, and if it does it again.
I figured someone had siphoned my tank until I got about halfway to work and the gauge started slowly rising, which it continued to do until I arrived. By the time I parked at work, it was showing between 3/4 and 7/8 tank, which is probably not too far off (cooled down a lot overnight, 95* yesterday when parked, 75* this morning). I'll see what it reads when I leave in a couple hours, and if it does it again.
Most gas gauge sending units are crude variable resistors that live in a gas tank. A nasty place to live.
Some flakiness is to be expected. It's just a matter of the condition of the sending unit and how closely you check the indicated fuel level.
Some flakiness is to be expected. It's just a matter of the condition of the sending unit and how closely you check the indicated fuel level.
Try this.
After you turn off the car for the night, go back again and turn on the ignition and watch the gas gauge. May be it will be already down. If not, then restart the car and see if the gauge has fallen or not.
Throw bottle of Techron or two in the tank if the float is getting balky in the tank.
- Vikas
After you turn off the car for the night, go back again and turn on the ignition and watch the gas gauge. May be it will be already down. If not, then restart the car and see if the gauge has fallen or not.
Throw bottle of Techron or two in the tank if the float is getting balky in the tank.
- Vikas
- Status
