03c0upe

i have a 1999 tl and i filled up my car when my car was a little below half..like 2-3 lines below half and it took up 12 gallions to top up is that a lot?

Billy Sacco

Sometime that gauge does that. Happens to me all the time and I usually always calculate MPG at fill up so I know for sure its not the gas station but sometimes the needle looks like there is more.

01tl4tl

Agree with BillyS
Just reset the trip meter every time you fill up, and remember that outside temp affects fuel density vs quantity and exhaust temp can make guage read off too

Once you know that 250-300 miles or whatever your numbers are- just fill up again

acutee

12 gallons is about right. half tank is 8 gallons.

'03TL-S

iTrader: (10)

actually that doesn't sound right. 2-3 lines below the half mark is about 8-9 gallons to fill up. 12 gallons is way too much IMO and i believe you just got ripped off.

MegaKillTron

Were you on a hill? When I had my old car if I was on a slant it would give me a different reading.

AcuraBuddy

That sounds alittle off to me also

BrotherDavid

There are many possibilities. One is that the pump wasn't calibrated correctly. If you want to rule that out, you can always go back to the station and pump a gallon of gas into a container (if it's permitted there) to see if it measures properly.

Also, you can check to make sure it's dispensing at the right price by pumping exactly a gallon into your tank as measured by the pump, and stopping to make sure the price shown on the pump matches what it's advertised at.

As for how much room was actually in your tank, the gas gauge isn't quite as exact as I think we all believe. If you suspect there's something wrong with that, you can always have them check whatever senses how much fuel is left in your tank.

Good luck!

'03TL-S

iTrader: (10)

to see if the gas station is ripping you off, i sometimes fill to just one gallon to see if it matches the gas price they have.

Trackruner228

iTrader: (1)

half for me is like 7-8 gallons so that does sound a little bit high but then again I might be wrong.

03c0upe

if i fill up its not gonna tell me if im gettin ripped off or not..i think the pump says i pumped more fuel than i actually did...

fsttyms1

go back with a container like every one else said thats a known size and see if it comesout right or not. Your needle may not be very accurate

03c0upe

alright i filled up a 4gallion jerry can it didnt have the measurements except the 4gallon mark it looked correct.. maybe i need to fill up something bigger because the pump could be off by a lil bit and when u fill up it slowly adds up ?

can anyone tell me how many liters it takes to fill up at the half way mark?

fsttyms1

Its going to vary between car. Mine is typically 8-10 give or take to where you said your needle was

01tl4tl

03coupe

I am guessing you are in Canada because you asked about fuel in litres

See if the law is the same where you live as the usa.

All gas station pumps are tested regularly by a weights and measures govt agency and get a sticker with the date of inspection placed on each pump.

I watched them do it and they measure one gallon and several gallons- in marked containers-from every pump at the station.
If the meter is off the station is in big trouble.

If you have tried a few different brands of gas and think its just one place thats wierd, call and make a report- the govt will come inspect.

Could be one place has cheap gas or water in the storage tanks- its winter- it happens

The scales for fruit in the grocery are tested too, anything that charges you based on a specific volume or measure must be certified

03c0upe

i think i did get ripped off because i just filled up after my light was on for like 5miles and my car took in 13 gallons....and a few lines below half my ccar took in 11.8 gallons

01tl4tl

03coupe

The first thing to know is how many miles did you drive on that amount of gallons.
Then the math of miles divided by gallons equals = somewhere between 23 and 29 is about right if you are less than that- then thats a different issue to work with

Your low fuel sensor might be funny and not come on till you have a little over a gallon left

The fuel level sensor itself could be getting stuck and so even though low on gas, sensor wrong.
Have you tried running a bottle of Redline or Lucas Fuel System Cleaner through the gas tank- cleans all sorts of crap.
And dont be running your car down to the fuel light- its a good way to create problems for yourself

MikePA

You didn't get ripped off. It's time to let this go.

The gauge in the TL isn't that accurate which make this discussion as pointless as the frequent 'miles per tank' discussions.

01tl4tl

Agree with Mike PA

Did the original poster of this thread ever do any of the testing-things we all said-
or just keep saying I am getting ripped off??????

Just change gas stations and understand that ALL the instruments in the car give an approximate number- which may be right on or way off

If you drive 300 miles on a full tank- thats what these cars get.

If a 4 gallon jug was filled by 4 gallons of gas-

guess what
You have a lead foot! Not a gas station problem

If your car uses too much gas- trade it for a Prius

01tl4tl

O3 Coupe

Is this your first car? and its a 99 so probably due for a service and seafoam
Did you just get this car?

Most cars- especially if you top off the gas tank, will drive for some time before the needle even moves, then the first 1/2 a tank seems to last forever, the 2nd half evaporates!
Its really about the size and shape of the tank, the temps of everything and the type and condition of the measuring device

DesertFox

lol hes so right
my girlfriends 94 mazda protege goes for like 200 miles in the first quarter
then 50 miles later its in the 3rd quarter
then 100 miles later its on E
between the first quarter and third quarter you can almost watch the needle move

giff74

That's funny I had a Ford Thunderbird like that. Given how far I went on the first quarter you would think I should be able to get 800 miles per tank.

I think the obvious answer to all this is...try a new gas station. However, if it's a conspiracy they will be hosing you too.

03c0upe

yday my gas light was on i put in around 2gallons then at work which is like 15miles away i filled up my car it took in 14.2 gallons so thats a total of 16.2 gallons and the gas light was not on...somethings wrong here why is it takin so much gas?

01tl4tl

The low fuel light is sort of like the low oil light
Not to be relied on!
It may come on with ABOUT 2 or 3 gallons remaining
Remember that not all the fuel can be picked up and used

Where was the fuel gauge needle during all of this- thats the guage to watch

Did you ever figure out what your actual mpg is?
example 300 miles / 16 gallons = 18 mpg

minkl81

iTrader: (2)

i manage ARCO franchise and there is no way that gas station will be ripping off customers like that. 100% of the time its the guage not working properly.

every six months stations are examined by the state for the pumping rate and get approval from examiners. also quarterly, franchise inspectors come out to inspect the equipments too. franchises carry very strict regulations.

but if you get your gas at private stations (non-brand gas stations) story could be different.

Black-Balled

iTrader: (3)

I am math handicapped...

I once read that the calculation for the gas level uses the sin (as in calculus) f(x) to convert its reading to the display. That being the reason one sees 'better' mpg for the 1st 1/2 of the needle.