Y33'ers when does you gauge go to E

[BadQ45t]

I took the Q on some longer drives on freeways where I wasn't blasting 90 MPH and finally got 350 to a tank and it seemed empty. The thing only took 14.5 gallons, I thought for sure the pump was defective, that was great gas mileage for the Q. Well according to the needle I was on E, althought the light still hadn't come on. I don't remember it being that bad before. Everyone else like this?

[tfvesquire]

Yeah, on my 98, when I first started driving it I thought I was going to run out when the needle was "E" but when I filled up, it took about 15.5 gallons. I then decided to drive as far as I could until the gas light came on. At that point, I filled up with about 18.5 gallons, so on my car, you get about 2.5 gallons (21 gallon tank) reserve. I wouldn't test this theory on all 97-01 Qs since it depends on how the gas float arm is bent when it is installed. Bend it more up and you will have more reserve, bend it down and you get less. Either way, our car is too heavy to push off the road.....

Hope that helps,

Ted

[BadQ45t]

Okay, so after 5 years of none daily driving I think I get what the deal is, I didn't remember it being that conservative....but it is better to have more in reserve then none at all. I was on flat E and only got 14.5 into the tank so I guess that is pretty normal. Thanks for the confirm.

[djwarner]

FYI while running out of gas is a slightly more critical in an aircraft, the only requirement set by the FAA is that the gauge read E when the tanks are empty.

You might what good is it to even have a gauge then. I've always used the trip odometer as a substitute.

[qship96]

Okay, so after 5 years of none daily driving I think I get what the deal is, I didn't remember it being that conservative....but it is better to have more in reserve then none at all. I was on flat E and only got 14.5 into the tank so I guess that is pretty normal. Thanks for the confirm.

The system is not operating as designed- the low fuel light should not illuminate or gauge read empty until there is about 2.5-3.5 gallons of fuel left in tank. look in both owners manual & FSM for exact specification. On my 96,if I wait to refuel until light illuminates, it takes almost exactly 19.000000 gallons each and every time {out of a 22.5 gallon tank}

[BadQ45t]

I never seem to wait that long for the light to go on, i cannot remember the last time I saw it, not even sure if the bulb works . I plan to test it next tank, meanwhile I drive my XTerra much more due to 87 being so much cheaper and having a full factory warranty.

[dj_sparko]

does the cars gauge stick to how much petrol is in the car when you turn off the ignition?

[djwarner]

There are two common ways of signalling float measures.

The first is using a Rheostat, a device the varies resistance as it is moved. Current flows through the rheostat and through a coil in the gage. The current flow induces a magnetic field that pulls the needle assembly against a spring. With this type of gauge, removing power returns the needle to empty.

The second type used a potentiometer: power is inserted into the wiper. As the wiper moves up and down, the resistance to the top and bottom terminals varies. As resistance increases for one terminal, it decreases for the other. Current flowing out the top and bottom terminals goes to two coils in the gage 90 degrees from each other. The magnetic fields generated interact with each other creating a single field. A magnet on the needle assembly aligns with the generated magnetic field. When power is turned off, the magnet on the needle has no field to interact with and therefore floats to a random position.

The second type is slightly more expensive to manufacture and today is rarely used.

[dj_sparko]

ok cheers when i get my car on the road i will be able to tell you some more
thank you for such a technical responce i enjoy understamding what is happening behind the scenes
i believe it may be the potentiometer because after switching the ignition on and off the needle didn't move from the half way mark

[BadQ45t]

Mine always goes down to E after I shut down.