Re: [Chrysler300] Fuel gauge problem

["dan300f@xxxxxxx [Chrysler300]" <Chrysler300-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi:
 
I never have to worry about running out of gas.  When I have driven  
160-170 miles or something below that it is time to fill up.  The only  thing that 
would make me run out is a leak in the tank that I am unaware of or  if my 
average speed exceeds 80 mph.  If I stay in the 65-70 average,  I usually 
get around 10 mpg.  When I plan my trips, I select in  advance where I will 
stop for gas.  Generally, at 150-160 mile  intervals.  (At my age, 2-3 hours 
behind the wheel necessitates a  snack and potty break.)  Each time I 
fill-up, I calculate the gas  mileage and note the average speed I have driven.  I 
seldom need more than  17 gallons to fill-up.
 
Dan Reitz
 
 
 
 
 
In a message dated 4/18/2016 11:03:49 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
jkg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

 
That is great  info Dan; if you have it , by any chance, Bob has been 
putting stuff like that  up on the site…that would help a lot to have a way to 
know arm is about right  ; mine goes beyond F when full, thinking about 
bending float up, would help (  then sender arm is down some at real F, but 
----would head to E even  faster..!!!! “””So bending it down is probably right so 
it reads something  like correct  at ¼.   After straining head about it , I 
left it  alone. Too much work to take out again. 
Putting an  ohmmeter on it vs height of brass off floor or something would 
enable  checking.   
If you think  about it, where you need it right,  is ¼ and down, not at F. 
can run it  in your hand outside of tank and fix that , with your own gauge 
connected by  clip wires.  
But  replacement units seem to be really bad.. If that is Doug’s thing, 
same as  mine…. 
Originals on  our cars were pretty good, ----unlike notorious GM gauges 
.that .run out  reading ¼. Chevy guys get used to that . 
 
 
From: DAN300F@xxxxxxx  [mailto:DAN300F@xxxxxxx] 
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2016 1:22  PM
To: jkg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; mobydoug@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc:  Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Fuel gauge  problem

 
Hi  all:
 

 
Years ago, I purchased  a fuel sender unit for my F from a company in MA.  
I did a dry trial  run outside the tank and the reading was nowhere close to 
what it should have  been.  I drew a "to scale" sketch of the cross section 
of the tank where  the sender unit is mounted on the tank.  I was able to 
bend the   sender unit rod so that it read Empty with the float at the bottom 
level and  full at the top level.  I now feel comfortable when driving that 
my gauge  is reasonably accurate.
 

 
Dan  Reitz
 
Bell canyon,  CA
 

 
___________________________________________________________________
 
 
In a message dated  4/18/2016 8:00:46 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, 
jkg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  writes:

 
As mentioned earlier, you can get  those floats at Ford dealer. Nice,  real 
brass ones. Have used on Mopar  and Studebakers (cork!!)  . I only bring it 
up again as I went crazy  for 3 months looking for those, not a whole 
sender.  
I think someone should tell Van’s or  put up on site, that the units 
commonly sold are not calibrated right.  Drives you crazy. They are OK when 
checked at full (about 10 ohms) and E ,  about 90 ,  but gauge reads just above E 
when are just below half ,  rather suddenly ; I have to leave a post it on 
my gas gauges in different  cars because of this. Last 150 miles is dicey, 
yet at first  if you go  in with it near E it only takes 10-12 gallons. This 
on 3 cars now, so not a  fluke of car. So you start driving bit on E, 
----then you run out!!!!   Happened on left lane in Harrisburg PA big interchange 
at 80 mph ,  with a bunch of Hell’s Angels bike guys off my right rear tail 
fin. Not  pretty. Try to pull over to right coasting…. 
Yes the little brass tank fails ,  but then it usually sinks,  stays on E. 
but as long as resistance wire  winding is intact, about 90 ohms , even with 
arm down on rest , then you can  fluff it up. I threw them out, mistake . 
Do not increase tension on the  little contact, which seems to be too light 
in it’s touch, as then it tears  up the resistance wire .Ask me how I know .  
A day to get in and out.  Does not need “improving” . That is an end of 
life mode too, wire breaks on  winding from wear. But generally filled with 
crud and rust …clean and new  float tank should be good , if resistor wire not 
broken/unrolled  . 
Some day might measure it ( real  one) at 4-5 places record ohms, plot 
curve.  ; have not done  that. 
 
 
From:  Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On  
Behalf Of dan300f@xxxxxxx [Chrysler300]
Sent: Sunday, April  17, 2016 6:31 PM
To: mobydoug@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx;  chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Fuel gauge  problem




Doug:
 

 
My first thought is  that your float needs to be replaced.  If it is copper 
then it perhaps  has sprung a leak.  If it is composite, it may be  
saturated.
 

 
Dan  Reitz
 
Bell Canyon,  CA
 
___________________________________________________________________
 
 
In a message dated  4/17/2016 6:14:36 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, 
_Chrysler300-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (mailto:Chrysler300-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)   
writes:



Good  Morning,  
 

 
The  L emerged from winter storage flawlessly.  It started, moved, turned,  
and stopped at my command.  (It did a lot better than many people—but  I 
digress.)  
 

 
When  it went down for the winter there was gas in it—probably 7 or 8 
gallons,  and the fuel gauge registered very low.  When it started this spring  
the fuel gauge was LTWS  (lower than whale s—t).  First drive  was to the gas 
station to get some puny 91 corn oil laced fuel. I bought 7  gallons, and 
the fuel gauge went to 1/4 tank. The gas station is about 2  miles north. I 
went to cruise-in Friday evening, and drove about 7 miles.  the gauge started 
that trip below 1/4, and I parked at cruise-in  “nose tilted up” so gauge 
would naturally read less.  When I started  the car to come home, it read 
LTWS, and did not improve when I stopped or  caused gas to move to the front 
of the tank.  There are no leaks or  drips, and I have a hard time believing 
I am getting 1 or <1  MPG.
 

 
My  experience last summer was a full tank registered full, and then it 
went  to zero almost immediately from 1/2.  When I filled it, it often  would 
fill at 12 or 13 gallons—so the zero reading was really about  1/2.
 

 
Is  my fuel reporting system broken at the sending unit or in the electrics 
in  the dashboard?  Current sending unit is a Van’s purchased unit, 3  
years old.  The original unit is rebuilt, and will be installed when  there 
really is very little gas in the tank, but if the problem is up  front, then  I 
better gear up for removing seat and knee panel and  instrument panel.
 

 
Thanks  for your help.
 

 

 
Doug 
 
 
 
 
Doug  Mayer
 
Northport,  Maine
 
sent  from my older iMac
 


















[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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Posted by: DAN300F@xxxxxxx
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