Fuel consumption oddity

[Speedway]

So I collected my 1999 E430 yesterday.

The fuel tank was almost on the warning light so I filled up before I began the jouney which took £60 to the brim. The gauge was on full.

I then drove 122 motorway miles at around 65mph taking it easy and the guage was down to the warning light again. I'd watched it go down gradually so it wasn't a sudden thing.

I filled up at the services but this time it only took £30 to fill to the brim and the gauge was on full. Drove 66 mile to home and the gauge was only just below the top line.

Any ideas? I can't see or smell any evidence of a leak. Could it be a problem with the sensor float? Wondering if the tank was actually right down. 122 miles on a 14 gallon tank seems a bit excessive(!)

I'm going to top the fuel up this morning to see how much I've used to the the 66 miles.

Any ideas or suggetstions welcome. Thanks!

 

[rayhennig]

As you say, fill to the brim, do some miles, fill to the brim again and do the sums. That should give you an accurate mpg figure. Then investigate the level sensor.

RayH

 

[Blobcat]

£60 doesn't sound a lot to fill the tank, I'd do some calculations based on fuel in as per above then investigate the level sensor.

 

[LostKiwi]

Empty to full on £60? My E Class is £80 to fill.
Also on your figures £30 to refill after 122 miles. That works out to around 22mpg (depending on fuel price) so is about right. There is definitely something up with the level sensor.

 

[Speedway]

Thanks for the replies! Just topped up and it took £13.00 to fill up so for 66 miles of motorway driving that's around 26mpg(ish). I'll have the sensor out and have a look. Must've been stuck after all the while it's not been used before I bought it.

 

[mattkh]

Thanks for the replies! Just topped up and it took £13.00 to fill up so for 66 miles of motorway driving that's around 26mpg(ish). I'll have the sensor out and have a look. Must've been stuck after all the while it's not been used before I bought it.

Wonder if a can of fuel cleaner into the tank might cure the float.

 

[mioba]

wouldnt be messing with snake oils. you can access the sender from under the rear seat bank.