Erratic Fuel Guage.

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

I have noticed that if I park my car up at night with 1/2 tank of petrol showing on the guage, when I go out in the morning that has gone down to about 1/4 of a tank. It's nothing to do with the angle I park at as the guage only goes back up a tiny bit when I drive.

I can't smell any petrol or see any damp patches so I'm pretty sure there's no leak. I've not noticed any fresh faced youths with petrol breath so it's not being syphoned

I assume, therefore, that the guage is just very innacurate or has a very large margin for how much fuel is actually left.

Does anyone else experince this?

 

[Blobcat]

Quite a few cars do this, not just MB's I remember reading something of this whilst driving the gauge is winding down but only when you switch on in the morning it takes a reading. The reality is it makes the fuel economy look better and most people can't remember the next day where the fuel gauge was when they switched off last night.

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

1/4 of a tank seems quite a lot though.

 

[Blobcat]

Does yours have the option in the trip computer to see what fuel is left, if so that is easier to check evening and morning than the needle. Mine doesn't do this although my wifes Honda does and her previous Vectra

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

you mean how many miles left before it runs out ?

 

[Blobcat]

Yes, mine also has how much fuel is left in Gallons or Ltrs depending upon your preference.

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

pretty sure it's doesn't show how much is left in gallons and litres but I'll have a look a bit later.

 

[GSM1]

I have a C320 and live on a hill, as it's one way I have to park facing up.
When I get in after leaving it while I also show about 1/4 less than when I got out.
It's only when I have restarted the car on flat ground do I get a true reading
Gary

 

[mioba]

check your fuel sendser, probably gunked up,
*either try a few tankfulls of quality fuel to help clean its mechanism.

*remove and clean the fuel sender

*buy a new fuel sender and replace