Losing gas while parked. help!

Yaunclesam · 11-09-2011, 11:32 AM

I haven't been driving my Z too often these days because of the cold weather. I would start the car about once a week for about 15 minutes but every time I started it I noticed that my range had decreased alot. One week it was 50miles the next week it was 33 miles and now I just started it up and it just had flashing lines. As if to say 0 miles. I've looked underneath for leaks and found none. I don't know if this has anything to do with it but my car has been parked on a hill facing downward. Any ideas as to what is causing me to lose fuel so quickly?

LinPark · 11-09-2011, 12:33 PM

Maybe the calculations it is doing takes into consideration recent history? If you run it for 15 mins and go nowhere then that is about the worst gas mileage you could ever have. Perhaps the computer is using that information to mislead you. If you don't see any leaks then I wouldn't worry about it too much - I've had 0 LED's lit up in the gas gauge and still driven the car for 20 more miles.

WhiskeyHotel · 11-09-2011, 12:53 PM

Sounds like you're not "losing gas", just that the computer is losing its mind.

Yaunclesam · 11-09-2011, 02:44 PM

It's not set to show the average mileage. It's set to show the range.

Red__Zed · 11-09-2011, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yaunclesam

It's not set to show the average mileage. It's set to show the range.

Which is a function of average mileage

m4a1mustang · 11-09-2011, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

Which is a function of average mileage

^ This

RandyD · 11-09-2011, 02:55 PM

it is correct: If you keep driving the way you have recently, you will get this many more miles out of your tank...

you are not losing gas.

shadoquad · 11-09-2011, 03:10 PM

The car's gonna explode!!!!!!!

fuct · 11-09-2011, 03:32 PM

idling means your burning gas but traveling zero distance. so yes it will effect your range.....

mine did the same thing when i was working on my stereo. i had the car running while adjusted alot of setting and what not. my mileage sucked that tank.

vividracing · 11-09-2011, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuct

the computer said my mileage sucked that tank.

ftfy!

This is why most people recommend calculating your MPG on your own. That computer doesn't do a very great job.

fuct · 11-10-2011, 08:03 AM

Agreed!

wind.zero · 11-10-2011, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vividracing

ftfy!

This is why most people recommend calculating your MPG on your own. That computer doesn't do a very great job.

Fill up your fuel tank all the way

Reset the trip odometer

Drive your car as you normally would and let your fuel tank deplete

Fill up your fuel tank all the way again

Record the amount of fuel it took to refill the tank

Look at the number of miles on the trip odometer

Here comes the tricky part ....

Divide the number of miles on the trip odometer but the number of gallons/liters off your fuel receipt. This yields your MPG or MPL.

MattP725 · 11-10-2011, 11:19 AM

Flashing doesn't mean 0 miles btw it means you are below a certain point (30 or 25 miles I believe). It doesn't count you down to 0 for some reason.

vividracing · 11-10-2011, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wind.zero

Fill up your fuel tank all the way

Reset the trip odometer

Drive your car as you normally would and let your fuel tank deplete

Fill up your fuel tank all the way again

Record the amount of fuel it took to refill the tank

Look at the number of miles on the trip odometer

Here comes the tricky part ....

Divide the number of miles on the trip odometer but the number of gallons/liters off your fuel receipt. This yields your MPG or MPL.

Bingo! I remember my grandpa kept a little book in his shirt pocket for JUST calculating MPG. Some times the new way isn't the best way.

370fan · 11-11-2011, 02:31 PM

Check for crack heads in your area stealing gas out of your car. They might be huffing it to get high. If you approach them nicely maybe they will let you join in.

11-09-2011, 11:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
Yaunclesam Base Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Germany Posts: 12 Drives: Nissan 370zsport red Rep Power: 13	Losing gas while parked. help! I haven't been driving my Z too often these days because of the cold weather. I would start the car about once a week for about 15 minutes but every time I started it I noticed that my range had decreased alot. One week it was 50miles the next week it was 33 miles and now I just started it up and it just had flashing lines. As if to say 0 miles. I've looked underneath for leaks and found none. I don't know if this has anything to do with it but my car has been parked on a hill facing downward. Any ideas as to what is causing me to lose fuel so quickly?

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11-09-2011, 12:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
LinPark A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,077 Drives: '17 Camaro 2SS A8 Rep Power: 23	Maybe the calculations it is doing takes into consideration recent history? If you run it for 15 mins and go nowhere then that is about the worst gas mileage you could ever have. Perhaps the computer is using that information to mislead you. If you don't see any leaks then I wouldn't worry about it too much - I've had 0 LED's lit up in the gas gauge and still driven the car for 20 more miles.

11-09-2011, 12:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
WhiskeyHotel Track Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 530 Drives: 2015 GT-R PW Premium Rep Power: 16	Sounds like you're not "losing gas", just that the computer is losing its mind.

11-09-2011, 02:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
Yaunclesam Base Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Germany Posts: 12 Drives: Nissan 370zsport red Rep Power: 13	It's not set to show the average mileage. It's set to show the range.

11-09-2011, 02:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
RandyD A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Potomac Falls, VA Posts: 2,977 Drives: 2010 370z 7AT Roadst Rep Power: 20	it is correct: If you keep driving the way you have recently, you will get this many more miles out of your tank... you are not losing gas.

11-09-2011, 03:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
shadoquad A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: . Posts: 42,608 Drives: . Rep Power: 3886	The car's gonna explode!!!!!!!

11-09-2011, 03:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
fuct A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sugar Land Posts: 3,692 Drives: 97' Ranger :) Rep Power: 23	idling means your burning gas but traveling zero distance. so yes it will effect your range..... mine did the same thing when i was working on my stereo. i had the car running while adjusted alot of setting and what not. my mileage sucked that tank.

11-10-2011, 08:03 AM	#11 (permalink)
fuct A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sugar Land Posts: 3,692 Drives: 97' Ranger :) Rep Power: 23	Agreed!

11-10-2011, 11:19 AM	#13 (permalink)
MattP725 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2011 Location: Toms River, NJ Posts: 1,904 Drives: 2010 40th Rep Power: 16	Flashing doesn't mean 0 miles btw it means you are below a certain point (30 or 25 miles I believe). It doesn't count you down to 0 for some reason.

11-11-2011, 02:31 PM	#15 (permalink)
370fan Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: J.P., LA Posts: 47 Drives: 2009 Nismo 370Z Rep Power: 14	Check for crack heads in your area stealing gas out of your car. They might be huffing it to get high. If you approach them nicely maybe they will let you join in.