This is the second time that happened to me when I fill up premium gas 91 at Costco. As soon as I fill up the tank, my gas meter doesn’t work anymore. It stays at the bottom and sometimes the low gas indicator will illuminate. This only happens when I fill up with Costco gasoline and will not happen with other brand of gasoline. Normally, I fill up my tank at Chevron and it doesn't cause any problems. Any comment or explanation will be appreciate.

Thanks in advance

It makes no sense that the product itself would cause immediate problems. More likely, it is either coincidence, or related to the pump. E.g., the fuel flow could be entering at a different angle or with more force, striking and disrupting the sensor.

Either way, it shouldn't happen, and I would take it as a sign that the sensor or tank has an incipient problem that is starting to show a symptom.

Steve

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'91 MB 190E 2.3
'08 RAV4 Ltd 3.5
'83 Lazy Daze m'home 5.7

Never overlook the power of coincidence.

California's RFG II gasoline blend is contolled by regulation. It's essentially the same anywhere you buy and Costco may buy from the same wholesaler as Chevron, depending on their location. There might be a slight difference in detergent additives, as these are typically blended when the fuel is pumped into the tanker truck that delivers to the retailer, but nothing that could logically cause the problem you are reporting.

Duke

You might be surpised! I don't doubt that it's probably an issue related to delivery at the Costo pump vs. anywhere else, but in Canada right now GM is having problems because their fuel senders are malfunctioning on certain brands of gasoline...

My parents fill up with Costco gas and i never seen any problems... yet.

Occasionally when I get the tank really full, the meter bottoms out and the low fuel light comes on. After about 20 miles the meter goes to the top and is fine for the rest of the tank.

This happens to me coincidentally at Costco as well, but that's where I get my gas. I'm sure it is related to the flow rate and sensitivity of the pump's autoshutoff. My Costco regularly changes it's pump filters and uses detergent gasoline. Thank goodness for Costco gas!

Dan

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2003 Hyundai Santa Fe, Silver
1999 C280 Sport, Black
1997 Ford Escort, Toreador Red

91 Octane? I know CA has some different rules for the gasoline but isnt there anything better? I only use BP (Better Patrolium) 93 Octane here in Indiana

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1986 190E 186K (For Sale)
(Maroon, Tan leather)
1996 C280 Sport 208K
(Brilliant Silver, Black Leather)
2002 CLK430 Sport 45K
(Brilliant Silver, Gray Leather , Birdseye Maple)

MBDAD777, You’re right. After I drove for 15 – 20 miles, the gas meter starts working again. I think that may explain it.

I've never seen 93 octane in California, at least not in a long time. I remember 15-20 years ago, we would go to the Fullerton Airport to fill the tanks of hi performance cars. (we had to sneak the gas, of course.)

__________________
Marvin
1983 380 SL

Austine814, The 91 octane is highest in CA.
Thanks

I live in North Carolina and the only time I have problems with my fuel guage is when I fill my tank with BP gasoline. I am not only referring to one vehicle but two, a 1995 C280 and a 2000 ML320. It doesn't make any difference, the minute I fill my vehicles with this gas the gas gauge shows zero. I have not used this gasoline for about 1-1/2 years for this problem and I have no problems with any other gasolines available in this area (even Kangaroo!). I know BP stands for British Petroleum but they seem to be distancing themselves from this brand with their advertising that now their gasoline is AMOCO! Anyway, I wonder if the amount of sulphur in the gasoline makes a difference. I know that the fuel in Europe is low sulphur and the USA still has high sulphur fuel. Why BP is a problem, I do not know but I do not use it anymore and don't have any problems anymore. To me, BP stands for Bad Petrolelum.

If you have a problem with a specific fuel in your area, don't use it. Find what works and stick with it.

The occasional suphur atoms are locked up in the molecular structure of the various hydrocarbon species and are not an issue until the molecules break apart during combustion.

Duke

BenzBob,
Interesting! When you had problems with BP, was it at one station or at all BPs in town?

The last time it happened was probably about a 1-1/2 years ago. By coincidence, I filled my 2000 ML 320 up on the same day my wife filled up her 1995 C 280. Although we both filled up with BP gas, we did not fill up at the same gas station. On both cars, the fuel gauge acted irregularly. We ran the tanks to near empty and fueled up with Exxon. After several tanks, both fuel gauges started acting normally again and have never done this since. We now use any type of gasoline EXCEPT BP (even the no-name brands).

After this occurrence, I had heard that when they remodeled the BP stations in Durham, NC (all stations were redone) they replaced the underground tanks and were having some problems with the material used in the construction of the nonmetallic tanks. This leads me to believe that the fuel gauge acting irregularly is tied to "dirty" gas. In my case, the fuel sending unit eventually cleaned itself up without any outside help.