Filling the gas tank problem

On my 2000 SES, it has an 18 gallon fuel tank acording to the manual. However, even with the guage nudging "empty", I still can't get more than 12 gallons in it, the guage then shows "full". I understand there is a reserve tank which holds a couple of gallons or so, but even so, there seems something wrong here.

Can someone help here? Thanks in anticipation.

Ian

Could be that the sender unit in the fuel tank is out of calibration and is not showing a true reading on your fuel gauge. If you really need to know whats up try running it out of fuel. Carry a gas can in the car and put that in and then fill it up. I'll bet its close to 18 gallons then.:flash:

Steve,

Thanks for the note. Problem if you let the car run out of fuel, it could draw sediment in to the injector system and you then have serious problems, but thanks for the thought and your time. I have only had the car a couple of months and don't know if the fuel filter was changed regularly.


Ian

Well...once the low fuel light comes on you have about 1 & 1/2 gallons left so that is one way to tell how much gass is left in your tank.

Thanks Frank for the comment, not true though as Ford state there is an emergency amount in the tank when the guage is on empty. Unfortuantely, they do not state the exact amount.!!!

Thanks for replying anyeway.

Ian

I have a '98 Taurus SHO. A couple of times I ran it so low that I was getting very nervous (10's of miles after the low fuel light came on and guage was on "E") and it would still fit only 13 gallons. That would imply there were 5 gallons left in the tank. So, you're Taurus isn't the only one.

-Rod

Thanks Frank for the comment, not true though as Ford state there is an emergency amount in the tank when the guage is on empty. Unfortuantely, they do not state the exact amount.!!!

Thanks for replying anyeway.

Ian