Just sitting here fuel starved

jofro6 · 06-01-2013, 09:54 AM

i must be one of those people that has it coming then lol I've definitely lived on the edge and have ran my tank all the way to dotted lines for distance remaining haha and all my exits on my drives home are right hand corners onto/off the parkways lol *fingers crossed*

olddudesrule · 06-01-2013, 11:10 AM

I agree that the way the gauge is set up, if you're not aware of it, you can run short. What I don't understand is why, knowing this, owners continue to "run dry", and then complain about it. I've owned the car for a month, and can tell after filling it up that it's one of those fuel system designs (specifically how the gauge reads), that it takes about 75-100 miles before the first dot or two go out. What this then tells me is (get ready for the no-brainer) the gauge isn't an accurate reading of what's in my tank. I've figured when the gauge shows a half tank, I actually have around 1/3 (slightly more). I think it just gets exponentially worse from there.

That said, I make it a point to fill it up sooner than some other cars I've owned. We're getting the mileage out of a tank of fuel we should be getting at @ 19-25mpg w/ an 18 gallon tank. Stop believing that you have enough fuel to make extended tight right hand turns if you've got 2-3 dots......

Yea, the tank saddle may be a poor baffle design, but math is your friend here...

Rusty · 06-01-2013, 01:30 PM

If anybody cares. Here are some pictures from inside the tank. I took these when I installed "phunk's" road race fuel pump. I know how the inside of the tank is set up. There is NO baffle between the left and right sides. ONLY front to rear, closer to the front. The driver's side could have 3 gallons over there, and the right side could be empty. And that's the side with the fuel pump. So you're pumping air. Our Z has 2 fuel sending units in the tank. Left side and right side. If you got fuel in the left side and empty on the right side. It will still read that you have fuel in the tank.

The 1st picture is from the left side looking right.
The 2nd picture is from the right side looking left.
The 3rd and 4th pictures are looking at the baffle from the right side. I had to bend it out of the way for clearance when i installed "phunk's" fuel pump.

chops · 06-02-2013, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty

If anybody cares. Here are some pictures from inside the tank. I took these when I installed "phunk's" road race fuel pump. I know how the inside of the tank is set up. There is NO baffle between the left and right sides. ONLY front to rear, closer to the front. The driver's side could have 3 gallons over there, and the right side could be empty. And that's the side with the fuel pump. So you're pumping air. Our Z has 2 fuel sending units in the tank. Left side and right side. If you got fuel in the left side and empty on the right side. It will still read that you have fuel in the tank.

The 1st picture is from the left side looking right.
The 2nd picture is from the right side looking left.
The 3rd and 4th pictures are looking at the baffle from the right side. I had to bend it out of the way for clearance when i installed "phunk's" fuel pump.

wow thanks for the pics. makes things much easier to imagine.

ive had this happen once before and luckily it was an empty street. took an exit cloverleaf ramp off the freeway quick. im talking 50mph, and got back on the gas right away. except...the car went no where. no SES lights, no VDC. just a dead gas pedal and a few dots over 1/4 tank of gas. thought the clutch failed me or something, but i realized it was fuel starvation. now i definitely keep the gas up full or near full

06-01-2013, 09:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
jofro6 Track Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 603 Drives: 2012 370Z Touring Rep Power: 16	i must be one of those people that has it coming then lol I've definitely lived on the edge and have ran my tank all the way to dotted lines for distance remaining haha and all my exits on my drives home are right hand corners onto/off the parkways lol fingers crossed __________________ 2012 Red 6Spd Touring/Nav.. FI CF NonRes CBE and Res TP #682 Fly1 RS1 CF Fenders

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06-01-2013, 11:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
olddudesrule Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 252 Drives: 2012 Nismo Rep Power: 14	I agree that the way the gauge is set up, if you're not aware of it, you can run short. What I don't understand is why, knowing this, owners continue to "run dry", and then complain about it. I've owned the car for a month, and can tell after filling it up that it's one of those fuel system designs (specifically how the gauge reads), that it takes about 75-100 miles before the first dot or two go out. What this then tells me is (get ready for the no-brainer) the gauge isn't an accurate reading of what's in my tank. I've figured when the gauge shows a half tank, I actually have around 1/3 (slightly more). I think it just gets exponentially worse from there. That said, I make it a point to fill it up sooner than some other cars I've owned. We're getting the mileage out of a tank of fuel we should be getting at @ 19-25mpg w/ an 18 gallon tank. Stop believing that you have enough fuel to make extended tight right hand turns if you've got 2-3 dots...... Yea, the tank saddle may be a poor baffle design, but math is your friend here...