Gas Tank Volume - 1973 450 SL

[smack]

All the spec sheets say 90 litres, which is about 23 gallon, however, when my needle gets down to the right bar of the pair above the R (which I presume means reserve), I can only get about 13 gallons in it. When I tank up, the needle goes just a hair above the far right full hash mark So, do these things hold 23 gallons? Any other experiences with the gas gauge and what is below the R mark? I hate to run it dry to find out.

[Noeljb]

Hmm could someone have stashed something the tank?

I know ten gallons of gold! Lucky you.

[Engr693]

I would suspect the fuel level sender, cars of this vintage are known to have this issue. Count your blessings, mine jumps around (sometimes) the rest of the time it reads dead empty. I never know how much fuel I have in the tank of my 73 450SL.

[hoddo]

In Australia I always thought 4.5 litre = 1 gallon Based on this 90/L is 20 gallons. When my 79 slc reads empty (just above the R) it takes 60/L and I assumed 30 /L is the reserve. At the above conversion rate 60/L is 13.3 gallons, so either your tank and gauge is ok or we both have the same prob

[smack]

Originally Posted by hoddo

In Australia I always thought 4.5 litre = 1 gallon Based on this 90/L is 20 gallons. When my 79 slc reads empty (just above the R) it takes 60/L and I assumed 30 /L is the reserve. At the above conversion rate 60/L is 13.3 gallons, so either your tank and gauge is ok or we both have the same prob

Went to a conversion table on Google. Divide by 2.6 something or another for US Gallons. Question of the day: Is there a warning light on the early models (73) ?

[London380sl]

Originally Posted by hoddo

In Australia I always thought 4.5 litre = 1 gallon Based on this 90/L is 20 gallons. When my 79 slc reads empty (just above the R) it takes 60/L and I assumed 30 /L is the reserve. At the above conversion rate 60/L is 13.3 gallons, so either your tank and gauge is ok or we both have the same prob

4.5 Litres = 1 Imperial gallon. A US gallon = 3.85 litres.

[page62]

Originally Posted by London380sl

4.5 Litres = 1 Imperial gallon. A US gallon = 3.85 litres.

Correct! You win the prize!

The fuel senders on these cars can do strange things. But it's best never to let the fuel level go below 1/4 in any event. If it does, the fuel pump starts sucking in the crud at the bottom of your fuel tank, clogging the strainer in the tank. Not good.

[woolf]

Originally Posted by smack

All the spec sheets say 90 litres, which is about 23 gallon, however, when my needle gets down to the right bar of the pair above the R (which I presume means reserve), I can only get about 13 gallons in it. When I tank up, the needle goes just a hair above the far right full hash mark So, do these things hold 23 gallons? Any other experiences with the gas gauge and what is below the R mark? I hate to run it dry to find out.

Last week I managed to squeeze 80 litres into mine, I'll never forget it because it cost £80

[Noeljb]

Originally Posted by Engr693

mine jumps around (sometimes) the rest of the time it reads dead empty.

Mine did the same. I am currently putting the dash back together after I was going to fix just that one thing which grew and grew until . . . . . . . . . . . . . I don't want to talk about it.

But in the process I found a coil accociated with the fuel guage was broken, at least the stem the wire was wound on was broken, I have glued it back together, so far in the garage the fuel guage is rock solid. The car is still in garage as I have not gotten it all back together and on the road. But it was jumpy in the garage before I glued it.

I think it was Gorila Glue.

Just a thought.