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How Inaccurate Is Your Fuel Sender?


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#1 M0U5EY

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Posted 18 April 2019 - 01:26 PM

Hi guys,

Back again with another query, this has always been an issue but i've always been too lazy to ask! When I go to fill up my 98 cooper (30-35l tank IIRC?) The most I've ever put in it is around 20 litres when the fuel gauge has been reading empty for a while and I found the next garage. Is this usual behaviour and just another of those mini quirks or is there something up with my sender unit?

Thanks!



#2 DeadSquare

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Posted 18 April 2019 - 01:50 PM

The saloon fuel tank is 25L.

 

The van / pick-up tank is 27.3L

 

The very early Travelers were 29.6L

 

Most of my Minis have read empty with about a gallon left in the tank.



#3 M0U5EY

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Posted 18 April 2019 - 02:54 PM

The saloon fuel tank is 25L.

 

The van / pick-up tank is 27.3L

 

The very early Travelers were 29.6L

 

Most of my Minis have read empty with about a gallon left in the tank.

I'm pretty sure the 1992 onward cars have the 7.5 gallon injection tank in them no?



#4 cal844

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Posted 18 April 2019 - 03:42 PM

84 onwards cars should be 7.5 gallons

#5 Wiggy

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Posted 18 April 2019 - 03:47 PM

My 2000 MPi acts as follows: (with original and replacement sender)

Top half of the tank goes very quickly. The lower the fuel level, the slower the needle falls. To do with the shape of the tank, I guess.

When the needle is completely on top of the red line; there's about a gallon and a half left. (dipping your head a bit to read it square on).

If the needle is just above the red you have a fair bit left in the tank, but the psychology makes you want to fill her up!

Edit: Quite literally, your mileage may vary.

If you're running out, it won't cut straight out. It'll start to hesitate. Keep a Jerry can in the boot, and drive on local roads to 'calibrate' yours.

Edited by Wiggy, 18 April 2019 - 03:49 PM.


#6 M0U5EY

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Posted 18 April 2019 - 04:17 PM

My 2000 MPi acts as follows: (with original and replacement sender)

Top half of the tank goes very quickly. The lower the fuel level, the slower the needle falls. To do with the shape of the tank, I guess.

When the needle is completely on top of the red line; there's about a gallon and a half left. (dipping your head a bit to read it square on).

If the needle is just above the red you have a fair bit left in the tank, but the psychology makes you want to fill her up!

Edit: Quite literally, your mileage may vary.

If you're running out, it won't cut straight out. It'll start to hesitate. Keep a Jerry can in the boot, and drive on local roads to 'calibrate' yours.

Sounds like something i'll have to do at some point and just count the mileage... at least its a global issue and not just my car being its usual self :)



#7 Spider

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Posted 18 April 2019 - 06:34 PM

The sender itself is adjustable. You do need to remove it to do it, so you'll want to do it with 1/3 of a tank of less.

 

But, before doing that, it will also affect the upper end of the scale, so when full, were does it read ?



#8 Bobbins

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Posted 18 April 2019 - 07:37 PM

MOU5EY, my '98 does exactly the same as yours. I have a Spiyda calibration unit to try to get the gauge to make more sense but not yet fitted it.

#9 monkey

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Posted 18 April 2019 - 07:59 PM

When “full” (first time pump clicks off when filling) mine reads a smidge over half

#10 Wiggy

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Posted 18 April 2019 - 11:20 PM

If I fart about trying to squeeze every last drop into the tank, I can get it just a smidgen below full. Which is clearly not quite right, as all other cars read above full.

In hindsight I should have bent the sender arm as Moke Spider says, but it doesn't bother me much.

But hey, my Toyota only calculates it's range down to a ¼ of a tank. And the fuel light comes on. With a hundred odd miles left in the tank!

#11 Magneto

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Posted 19 April 2019 - 12:15 AM

Mine is accurate at two points, full and empty! The rest is just a guesstimate  :-)


Edited by Magneto, 19 April 2019 - 12:16 AM.


#12 matt615

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Posted 19 April 2019 - 11:07 AM

When “full” (first time pump clicks off when filling) mine reads a smidge over half


That sounds like a faulty sender unit, or the sender arm getting caught on something within the tank.

#13 leyland73

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Posted 19 April 2019 - 11:13 AM

1980 onwards 7.5 gallon tank, the calibration of the sender is ok on my minis, but never trust it once below a 1/4 of a tank.

#14 nicklouse

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Posted 19 April 2019 - 11:39 AM

about 5 liters out IIRC. so i always had a can in the boot.



#15 smurfomatic

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Posted 19 April 2019 - 11:46 AM

Mine reads about 1/4 low - so only when compeltely full does it reach 3/4, but when it's well into the red I know there's still about 25 miles or so driving left in it...






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