Car Petrol Problem - maybe a mechanic can help!

Question

I just got my first car a few weeks ago, and my petrol measuring thing is really messed up. I will get in the car and it will be almost full and then I will start driving and it goes down like half way.

Last week I got about 170km to half a tank and now I have done about 70 and its saying its half empty.

Its really annoying. Can you get that fixed because my everyone tells me you cant. But how am I going to know if I need petrol! I'm a poor student!!

Answer 1

you either have a fuel gauge faulty or a fuel sending unit in your gas tank faulty.  It  will cost you about $50 to get a proper diagnoses at a repair shop.

Answer 2

It measures electrical current through your gas it most likely is that part that is going crazy and should be replace could be a faulty ground. Go get it looked at or tested.

Answer 3

"170K? Not really good! 70 is Really-Really Bad" info needed; Type of car, Year & Mileage? Sounds like you have a Bad Sending Unit in the Petrol Tank (Bad Float on Unit) "Replace Unit". Also check for leaks at the Fuel Line going to the Fuel Filter.

"NOTE; May need to get a Bicycle in the meantime?"

Answer 4

some cars has what is known as a floating guage. when you go up hill you have a full tank and when you go down hill you have less or even around a turn. about the only way you can be sure is when your driving on a straight road or parked on a level surface, also whereever the pointer is at when you shut the car off that is where it stays until you turn the key back on. nothing is wrong, it is just the way it is built. gm cars are know for that.

Answer 5

The ''measuring device''  is inside of the gas tank and it can be replaced,but costs money like every thing else.

You will just have to keep track of your mileage with a pencil and paper. Take a low guess of  miles per gallon and go from there. Say your odometer reads 5000

you buy 10 gallon

your cars efficiency is 20 miles to the gallon

meaning you will get 200 miles from the purchase

Then you will next need gas again at 5200 miles

I had an old truck with a bad guage and that is how i did it.

After a while i had a full tank ---couldnt get any more in-- and had this huge reserve for emergencies.