Ever since I started recording how many Km's to the tank of fuel I get, I have been noticing how uneven the fuel guage is. I usually get around 450kms before I have to refill (I am a very enthusiastic driver :P). So you would naturally assume that when the fuel guage reads half that it would have 225km's of fuel left (450kms /2). Yet when my fuel gauge reads half, I have done around 320kms already, leaving only 130kms left. I usually fill up when the needle gets to the last bar...meaning it probably has about 25kms left (Random guess as i have never actually run out of fuel.....)
This is quite annoying as I have to be thinking about buying fuel when the fuel gauge is on half.

Is this a common problem with the magna? Or is mine just a freak of nature?

Ever since I started recording how many Km's to the tank of fuel I get, I have been noticing how uneven the fuel guage is. I usually get around 450kms before I have to refill (I am a very enthusiastic driver :P). So you would naturally assume that when the fuel guage reads half that it would have 225km's of fuel left (450kms /2). Yet when my fuel gauge reads half, I have done around 320kms already, leaving only 130kms left. I usually fill up when the needle gets to the last bar...meaning it probably has about 25kms left (Random guess as i have never actually run out of fuel.....)
This is quite annoying as I have to be thinking about buying fuel when the fuel gauge is on half.

Is this a common problem with the magna? Or is mine just a freak of nature?

Could have a problem with the fuel sender unit. But generally my magna does the same thing.

i can have a qauter of a tank with 250kms sometimes!

it's normal,i think it's because of the shape of the fuel tank.

it is actually the same for all cars in that you can fill the tank and drive around for quiet awhile before your fuel gauge will start to fall.
it has to do with the fuel sender unit, i can't remember all the in's and out's but basicly the fuel has to be below a certin point in the tank before the gauge will start to go down, and it is pretty much the norm for all cars

Mine goes the other way - she drops quite quickly from almost full (doesn't quite get to the F line when I fill her up) to around half, then slowly drops down to empty. I find on the 1/4 full mark, she may still have 30 litres in there.

Wasn't always like that, and I replaced the fuel sender unit last year. So, not sure what the problem is. So I work on once the trip meter hits 500km's, go fill up.

Regards, Tony

Mine goes the other way - she drops quite quickly from almost full (doesn't quite get to the F line when I fill her up) to around half, then slowly drops down to empty. I find on the 1/4 full mark, she may still have 30 litres in there.

Wasn't always like that, and I replaced the fuel sender unit last year. So, not sure what the problem is. So I work on once the trip meter hits 500km's, go fill up.

Regards, Tony
My TR did that, was just the fuel guage not set properly. Easiest way to fix it is to fully fill your tank, then open up the gauge cluster and move the needle up more until it is tensioned where you want it.

how much do you typically fill up with?

the 3rd gen sedans have a 71L fuel tank, but my fuel light comes on between 13-18L left in the tank.

I guess it comes down to learning how much fuel is left in the tank at a given level on the gauge. if you're only putting 45-50L in when you fill up, you still have a lot of fuel in the car.

cheers,
.wook

Mine goes the other way - she drops quite quickly from almost full (doesn't quite get to the F line when I fill her up) to around half, then slowly drops down to empty. I find on the 1/4 full mark, she may still have 30 litres in there.

Wasn't always like that, and I replaced the fuel sender unit last year. So, not sure what the problem is. So I work on once the trip meter hits 500km's, go fill up.

Regards, Tony

I have exactly the same "problem" with my gauge. But I am used to it now.
Although, as wookie indicates, when the fuel light comes on I can only put about 50 liters in there, so maybe I need to have it checked out.

My fuel gauge doesn't have a pattern, it just drops weird amounts all the time lol

What I do know is when the light comes on I have around 20L remaining. I tend to use the trip computer to monitor my used/remaining fuel, seems to be quite accurate when I compare it to the pump reading when filling up, and it's a hell of a lot better than the gauge.

the 3rd gen sedans have a 71L fuel tank, but my fuel light comes on between 13-18L left in the tank.



That is close to what mine does. The other day I deliberately waited until the fuel light came on, then filled the tank. It took just over 60 L, so I had about 11 L left.

Fuel gauges are notoriously inaccurate, crude devices, but usually err on the side of caution. I guess it doesn't matter if you still have plenty of fuel when the gauge insists you're empty. The average fuel consumption and range-to-empty would be more accurate guides.

the sender unit is a linear measure, where as the tank doesnt have a linear content based on top to bottom, due to shape, so there will always be inconsistancies, but basically, once the lights on, its fill time. There is no point driving the full tank out anywyas, i mean your only going to have to fill it so you can keep driving.

Just filled up. Gauge was just above 3/8's full, she took 31.95 litres and she had driven 307.0km's. So, in theory, I still had 39.05 litres in the tank... Gauge is now just below the Full line. Replaced the sender middle of last year, but gauge had been playing up for a couple of years, hence why I always work on 500km's = fill now.

Regards, Tony