Thread: Fuel Capacity 5 Gallons SHORT! Anybody know WHY?

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  1. #1 Fuel Capacity 5 Gallons SHORT! Anybody know WHY? 
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    Hey, 1st time poster here.

    I have a 2000 GT n/a that i bought back in the ending of summer. The car already had a bad sending unit which was replaced by the dealership, but since then, I could fill it up from the E line, and only get no more than 12.5 gallons.

    Is there a specific reason behind that? I have yet to even attempt to drop the tank and inspect it for myself, to see if its actually 5 Gallons short, nor have i attempted to drive it till i knew one way or another.
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  2. #2 Re: Fuel Capacity 5 Gallons SHORT! Anybody know WHY? 
     

  3. #3 Re: Fuel Capacity 5 Gallons SHORT! Anybody know WHY? 
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    I can see 1.5, maybe 2.5 gallons, but 5 gallons? That's around 1/3 of the gas... i know on other cars, once the light comes on, there is usually no more than 3 gallons left.
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  4. #4 Re: Fuel Capacity 5 Gallons SHORT! Anybody know WHY? 
    Moderator dsmuts's Avatar
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    You don't need to drop the tank to look at the fuel pump. There is a plate in the trunk that unbolts so you can get to it.
    98 GTP modded 1.9's, sd headers, 3.4", zzp 1.0 230K miles scrapped.
    04 Comp G zzp stb's, UMI ta's, Speedbuilt sways, bully flo heads, XP, zzp headers, fsic, thrasher shift kit, 60#, 2.6" corsa 2.5", Inferno hood
    01 gt z7 turbo tep trans zzp motor
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  5. #5 Re: Fuel Capacity 5 Gallons SHORT! Anybody know WHY? 
    I live here. stealthee's Avatar
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    Something probably got messed up when they did the repair. Just because the sender is saying you are empty, doesn't make it true. If you really want to test it drive around with a 1 or 2 gallon can of gas in the car and see how far you can drive on empty. If you go another 100+ miles then there is your 5 gallons.


    2011 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS - DD mode
    1991 Mitsubishi 3000GT - Many mods to come
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  6. #6 Re: Fuel Capacity 5 Gallons SHORT! Anybody know WHY? 
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    could have a dent in the tank
    I heard our cars register E with about 3-4 gals left.
    1997 Red GTP 182000 miles stock
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  7. #7 Re: Fuel Capacity 5 Gallons SHORT! Anybody know WHY? 
    GTX Level Member Steel Armadillo's Avatar
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    My car says E with about 1 gallon left...
    The evil LG8 still refuses to die.
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  8. #8 Re: Fuel Capacity 5 Gallons SHORT! Anybody know WHY? 
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    Quote Originally Posted by Steel Armadillo View Post
    My car says E with about 1 gallon left...
    thats what i figured it should be like. i know on other imports i had in the past (91 525i, 92 maxima), when the gas light came on, that usually meant GET GAS NOW!

    Quote Originally Posted by stealthee View Post
    Something probably got messed up when they did the repair. Just because the sender is saying you are empty, doesn't make it true. If you really want to test it drive around with a 1 or 2 gallon can of gas in the car and see how far you can drive on empty. If you go another 100+ miles then there is your 5 gallons.
    I'd rather see for myself before I learn the easy/hard way. that way, i can inspect for a bad connection, float, etc.
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  9. #9 Re: Fuel Capacity 5 Gallons SHORT! Anybody know WHY? 
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    Quote Originally Posted by stealthee View Post
    Something probably got messed up when they did the repair. Just because the sender is saying you are empty, doesn't make it true. If you really want to test it drive around with a 1 or 2 gallon can of gas in the car and see how far you can drive on empty. If you go another 100+ miles then there is your 5 gallons.
    NEVER a good idea to run a GM fuel pump out of gas.
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  10. #10 Re: Fuel Capacity 5 Gallons SHORT! Anybody know WHY? 
    I live here. stealthee's Avatar
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    No sh!t. You dont have to run it completely dry. The can of gas is just in case you do.


    2011 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS - DD mode
    1991 Mitsubishi 3000GT - Many mods to come
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  11. #11 Re: Fuel Capacity 5 Gallons SHORT! Anybody know WHY? 
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    Quote Originally Posted by 99PontiacGTP View Post
    NEVER a good idea to run a GM fuel pump out of gas.
    never a good idea to run ANY fuel pump out of gas
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  12. #12 Re: Fuel Capacity 5 Gallons SHORT! Anybody know WHY? 
    GTX Level Member noreasonwhyy's Avatar
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    after 97 or 98, weren't the tanks dropped from 18 gal to 15 or something? i think i remember reading that somewhere. always thought i had a 15(16?) gal. tank and found out it actually holds 18.

    'standard' for most low fuel lights i've seen is right around two gallons.

    97 GT - slow, rusty
    93 CTD - more slow, less rust
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  13. #13 Re: Fuel Capacity 5 Gallons SHORT! Anybody know WHY? 
    The mod from over yonder TheOtherNick's Avatar
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    Keep it above a 1/4 tank and never worry about it.
    01 gtp-big cam e85 dd 78dodge- guzzling fuel 05 cummins- rollin coal
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    Quote Originally Posted by noreasonwhyy View Post
    after 97 or 98, weren't the tanks dropped from 18 gal to 15 or something? i think i remember reading that somewhere. always thought i had a 15(16?) gal. tank and found out it actually holds 18.

    'standard' for most low fuel lights i've seen is right around two gallons.
    18 to 17.5
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  15. #15 Re: Fuel Capacity 5 Gallons SHORT! Anybody know WHY? 
    GTX Level Member noreasonwhyy's Avatar
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    seriously matt? lol good old GM engineers for ya.

    97 GT - slow, rusty
    93 CTD - more slow, less rust
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  16. #16 Re: Fuel Capacity 5 Gallons SHORT! Anybody know WHY? 
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    "and see how far you can drive on empty" You said it bro. Seems to me the only way you can "see how far you can drive it on empty" is to drive it until it stops right? Otherwise you not realy seeing how far you can drive it on empty... So maybe be a little more clear with what you are telling people to do. You of all people should appreciate that.
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  17. #17 Re: Fuel Capacity 5 Gallons SHORT! Anybody know WHY? 
    GTX Level Member Steel Armadillo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by matt5112 View Post
    18 to 17.5

    My '03 will take 18.00 when it's absolutely empty and I fill it to almost overflowing, so I can confirm this.
    The evil LG8 still refuses to die.
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  18. #18 Re: Fuel Capacity 5 Gallons SHORT! Anybody know WHY? 
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    I'd rather see for myself what the issue is, than take any unnecessary risks, since no one has a fixed solution to this issue. I will end up popping the pump off when its "Near Empty" and visually inspect it myself.
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  19. #19 Re: Fuel Capacity 5 Gallons SHORT! Anybody know WHY? 
    Turbo is the way to go. BillBoost37's Avatar
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    Not a solution, but if the canister/sender has been replaced, it might have an incorrect resistance. Going back to Bonneville, I know GM swapped that resistance a few times in the mid 90's and then in 98. Not sure on the GP's. But from what I've seen it's possible.
    I drink..so consider that when reading my posts.

    2010 Audi A6 Dual IC's
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  20. #20 Re: Fuel Capacity 5 Gallons SHORT! Anybody know WHY? 
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    well, how can i find out the correct resistance?
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