View Full Version : Hundreds left stranded after fuel-gauge failures
Butch
05-19-2004, 08:02 AM
I picked up this story from FARK.com, but thought it was interesting enough for here....
http://courier-journal.com/localnews/2004/05/18ky/A1-gas0518-6393.html
Doesn't look like 2003 & 2004 vehicles are having as many of the problems, but ANY fuel gauge problems is bad!
Just thought some of you might like to know about this, in case the problem starts spreading to other parts of the country. I personally would love to hear what is causing the problem, and just who is at fault.
RoyLPita
05-19-2004, 09:39 AM
Must be some funky gas for sale in Louisville!!! :lol:
Dr Caleb
05-19-2004, 09:44 AM
This happened to many vehicles around here a couple years ago too. It was bad MTBE added to the fuel. . .
http://www.canada.com/calgary/globaltv/consumerbeat/story.html?id=933aeb6c-b38d-473f-8f59-280f903ade78
Bluerauder
05-19-2004, 10:47 AM
This happened to many vehicles around here a couple years ago too. It was bad MTBE added to the fuel. . .
http://www.canada.com/calgary/globaltv/consumerbeat/story.html?id=933aeb6c-b38d-473f-8f59-280f903ade78
OK, looks like I need an education in fuel sensors. I was under the impression that this was just a mechanical float type or similar device that measured the liquid level. Are we now talking about a digital electronic sophisticated depth/volume measuring sensor?? :confused:
Reminds me of the busted fuel gauge on my father's 1962 Chevy BelAir Stationwagon. Great car, 283 cu in ... but I had to use a wooden dipstick to check fuel level before an evening of fun and frolic. The filler tube was a straight shot to the bottom of the tank. Anything over 1 inch wet mark was good to go. Of course, that was in the days of "Just gimmee $2.00 worth, check the oil and clean the windshield, please!!!" I could cruise all night on $2.00 worth. :up:
Butch
05-19-2004, 11:56 AM
OK, looks like I need an education in fuel sensors. I was under the impression that this was just a mechanical float type or similar device that measured the liquid level. Are we now talking about a digital electronic sophisticated depth/volume measuring sensor?? :confused:
I also was under the impression that cars still used a mechanical float, tied to a variable resistor. The only problems I ever found with the float itself was when they became soaked with gasoline, or water in some older cars. I remember my old Ford had a hollow brass float, that got a pinhole in it, and it became full of gas, so it just sit on the bottom of the tank all the time, making me think I was empty.
I've also seen the "foam" type floats get "waterlogged", where they would actually soak up any water that may be in the tank, but wouldn't soak in gasoline. I guess they were resistant to gas, but not water. When enough water gets in it, it would start registering lower and lower in the tank, since water is heavier than gas. I think the makers of the "foam" type have this problem fixed now. I haven't heard of this issue in MANY years.
Anyway.....
I would also like to know if there is some new fangled sensor being used now.
LincMercLover
05-19-2004, 12:19 PM
I just replaced two tanks in an old 1989 F-150 and the floats were made of some black plastic type of a solid. Never seen a cork one, but the old ones it had in it were brass.
dwasson
05-19-2004, 12:20 PM
OK, looks like I need an education in fuel sensors. I was under the impression that this was just a mechanical float type or similar device that measured the liquid level. Are we now talking about a digital electronic sophisticated depth/volume measuring sensor?? :confused:
Imagine that something affects the float. Some of the additives in gasoline can destroy some plastics. Others may change the specific gravity of the fuel and affect how high the float rides on the gas.
Butch
05-19-2004, 12:23 PM
I just replaced two tanks in an old 1989 F-150 and the floats were made of some black plastic type of a solid. Never seen a cork one, but the old ones it had in it were brass.
Yeah...The "black plastic type of a solid", that is the "foam" type that I was talking about. If you still have them lying around (not going to use them now), then cut one in half. If you look at it REAL close, you can see that it is a kind of real dense foam material. Lots of little "bubbles" in it.
.
Butch
05-19-2004, 12:27 PM
Imagine that something affects the float. Some of the additives in gasoline can destroy some plastics. Others may change the specific gravity of the fuel and affect how high the float rides on the gas.
But if they are completely out of gas, then it couldn't be riding too high on the gas. And if they fill up, then it shouldn't register a full tank.
These people are showing a 1/4 tank of gas, but are actually completely empty. Sounds more like a stuck float, that just quits going below the 1/4 tank mark, but what is causing it to stick? Maybe something gumming it up?
jinxed
05-19-2004, 12:29 PM
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ashand oil said some their reg and mid-grade gas was contaminated with sulpher
I picked up this story from FARK.com, but thought it was interesting enough for here....
http://courier-journal.com/localnews/2004/05/18ky/A1-gas0518-6393.html
Doesn't look like 2003 & 2004 vehicles are having as many of the problems, but ANY fuel gauge problems is bad!
Just thought some of you might like to know about this, in case the problem starts spreading to other parts of the country. I personally would love to hear what is causing the problem, and just who is at fault.
dwasson
05-19-2004, 12:32 PM
But if they are completely out of gas, then it couldn't be riding too high on the gas. And if they fill up, then it shouldn't register a full tank.
These people are showing a 1/4 tank of gas, but are actually completely empty. Sounds more like a stuck float, that just quits going below the 1/4 tank mark, but what is causing it to stick? Maybe something gumming it up?
Good point. Maybe the float is swelling and resting on the bottom of the tank but holding the arm too high. I've seen swollen floats before.
Butch
05-19-2004, 12:38 PM
undefinedundefinedundefined
ashand oil said some their reg and mid-grade gas was contaminated with sulpher
If I remember correctly (correct me if I am wrong), the sulfer shouldn't be causing these issues, unless the senders are made of something like platinum, which I doubt. Too cost prohibitive.
The sulfur content, and the by-products of the added sulfur, will cause problems with platinum.
I could see the sulfur also clogging up the fuel filter and gumming up the pickup tube, or even the fuel pump itself, but those are the only things I ever saw happening with a "higher than normal" sulfur content. (I worked for a gasoline distributor for a while, but I by no means am an expert, or even a novice when it comes the the chemistry part of this stuff. If you want to know the mechanics behind fuel being delivered, and how it's blended, then I can enlighten you a little. So...Be gentle to me when you flame me about my coments about the sulfur.)
Butch
05-19-2004, 12:39 PM
Good point. Maybe the float is swelling and resting on the bottom of the tank but holding the arm too high. I've seen swollen floats before.
"Swollen Floats"....
That just sounds funny.....
.
dwasson
05-19-2004, 12:44 PM
So...Be gentle to me when you flame me about my coments about the sulfur.)
I wouldn't flame you Butch. I don't know anything about it anyway. I'm an American Lit major, working in management. I don't know anything about anything real. I'm just looking at a phenomenon from my limited perspective and trying to figure out a way to impose order on my little corner of the universe.
Butch
05-19-2004, 01:00 PM
I wouldn't flame you Butch. I don't know anything about it anyway. I'm an American Lit major, working in management. I don't know anything about anything real. I'm just looking at a phenomenon from my limited perspective and trying to figure out a way to impose order on my little corner of the universe.
Still....You said "swollen floats". That just makes me laugh for some reason. I think it's because I just watched a Beavis & Butthead episode here at the office. Pretty slow day.
Bluerauder
05-19-2004, 02:04 PM
"Swollen Floats"....
That just sounds funny.....
.
Could be one of those STDs. :lol:
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