Fillup station shorting customers or bad tank sender?

[chuck95e300d]

Hi,

I have a 1995 E300D. Tank holds 23.8 gallons. Reserve is 3.0 gallons.

I always drive the car until the fuel light comes on. Last time I filled up I was able to add 22.7 gallons to the tank which didn't make sense as I thought the fuel light comes on when you get to the last three gallons.

So I drive through that tank of gas and the fuel light comes on (flickering but not solid). Pull into the station and was only able to add 20.5 gallons.

Prior to these fill ups when the light comes on I can only add 19-20 gallons before the tank is full.

I know that in Maryland a state agency (part of the state dept agriculture) tests fuel pumps for accuracy occassionally, but I have no idea how often the pumps are inspected.

Anyone have experience with this?

Interestingly the station that I go to is an independent station and they are usually 0.05 less per gallon then everyone else. The Texaco across the street charges 0.07 more for diesel....

[whunter]

Tank sensor gummed up.

[P.E.Haiges]

Chuck,

You better stop putting gas in your Diesel. Unless you mix some engine oil with it.

Seriously, the fuel pump at the fuel station is much more accurate than the reserve light. One of these days the light isn't going to come on and you are going to run out of fuel.

P E H

[chuck95e300d]

Originally Posted by P.E.Haiges

Chuck,
One of these days the light isn't going to come on and you are going to run out of fuel.

P E H

I track the miles too. I get around 680 miles per tank before the light comes on. So if I get more than that and the light doesn't come on I'll know its time to fill up.

So why is so difficult to make an accurate fuel gauge?

And if this one is "gummed up" how does one clean it?

[autozen]

I don't know how it is in MD, but in California the Dept. of Weights and Measures tests each pump for delivery routinely and places a seal on the pump. The penalties are severe for tampering with the pumps. To answer your question, MB used to use accurate VDO sending units before they got involved with Chrysler. I haven't experienced a sending unit from your model yet, but it is probably a cork on the end of a long wire as opposed to the air craft style units used in the past. Take your door panel off and see how the window regulator is cheaply riveted in the way Detroit has been doing it for years. In my opinion after having professionally worked on MBs for 30 years, the quality is going into the toilet.

Peter

[boneheaddoctor]

Full is full.......

Milage can vary due to a lot of factors.

Never trust an idiot light to tell you when to buy fuel. They call them idiot lights for a reason.

Fuel tank condensation is a good enough reason to keep tank faily full at all times. Less time it spends empty the less condensation you get. SoCal, Nevada, NM this is less of an issue than it is for the rest of us.

[Wes Bender]

My car runs just as good on the top quarter tank as it does on the bottom quarter tank..........

Wes