W202 Fuel Gauge / Forecourt Pump Cut Out

[stevesey]

Two questions (as a new owner)

a) Petrol Pumps seem to cut out easily when trying to fill the car - my Vectra had the same problem, but the Merc seems even worse. Are there breathers etc I should check.

b) I first filled up with the fuel guage warning light on and got 45 litres in, second fill up with the guage showing about 1/4 I got 50 litres in! I think the first time the pump was cutting out early and if I'd persisted I could have got more in. Question is - how much fuel do you normally get in if you wait for the light to come on and fill up? (and is the gauge accurate at the bottom end - last couple of cars I've had have been very accurate - so don't want to get caught out in this one).

 

[bigasotonuk]

When you fill it up turn the pump nozzle upside down i have to do this with both of mine.
w202 tank is approximately 60 litres as regards to the light i have always filled up before the light has come on.
Hope this has been some help.

 

[Myros]

I like to fly on fumes apparently

I have managed to brim it with 61.5 litres, having done about 40 miles on the warning light. Your C43 will gobble the juice compared to my 280, so I wouldn't recommend this a s plan for you.

 

[stevesey]

C240 Sport (not C43) - did 260miles on the top half of the tank yesterday (Bristol to Tavistock Square and back). Don't think the bottom half will go as far!!

Once had a car cut pulling onto a forecourt - then put more in than the tank capacity

 

[poseidon]

Hi,

I have found that the fuel gauge is generally accurate.
On one ocassion I did 42miles (city driving) on the reserve light, and filled 62 litres of diesel.
If filling exactly when the light comes on, it takes 56 litres (7 l reserve and 62-63 full tank)

The fuel gauge is no-linear and drops faster in some regions, slower in others. It is accuarte at the bottom.

Pose

 

[monolithonline]

I dont know if this is true on mercs, it was on my bosses older merc.

but on a hot day the pressure builds up and expands the tank seems bigger so it looks like theres less fuel in the tank, and vice versa when its cold, the tank contracts and the fuel level goes up but theres less petrol in than it would seem.

this only seems to happen on plastic tanks, so not knowing what the tank is on the merc u own, i couldnt say if this makes a difference, but the temperature could have a difference on the reading on ur fuel gauge.

Ste

 

[philharve]

Hi All

The only time I've experienced problems at the pumps is when I've been unlucky enough to pick a pump that needs servicing. The only way I could put fuel into the tank was to squeeze the trigger half way otherwise the pump would cut out every few seconds. I always report the problem when it occurs to the petrol station attendant who usually knows about it but has decided to leave the pump in service because it is still capable of dispensing fuel, albeit very slowly. I often receive black looks from customers waiting their turn but there's nothing I can do. They will doubtless experience the same annoyance and report the problem to the attendant, again.

My fuel gauge appears to be linear: each of its quarter marks is good for about 100 miles. Theoretically a full tank for my C230K is good for at least 400 miles. I seldon, if ever, fill up before the little yellow light comes on. I try to fill up around the 350-mile mark by which time the yellow lamp has been on for around 30 miles. My tank is 69 litres, including emergency tank, and I usually manage to squeeze in around 60 to 63 litres. When I switch on the ignition the fuel gauge rises above 'F'. I need to travel about 70 miles before the needle falls to the 'F' mark. Thereafter, I get around 100 miles per 'indicated' quarter tank.

I have never tried to run the car with the fuel gauge reading below empty, always assuming the needle will drop below 'E'. However, I carry a petrol can just in case.

REGARDS

Phil