Fuel Gauge Accuracy, Reserve Amount?

theDreamer · 06-05-2014, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by houkouonchi

Its been widely reported that the gauge is often not all that accurate on the 370Z and often times you have quite a bit more than it says. That being said its actually way way worse on my GT-R. I have had the DTE go down to 0 (and gas light on) and filled up and only put 12 gallons in! Its got a bigger tank than the 370Z being at 19.5 gallons. The issue is *much* worse on the GT-R. I would say 1.5-2 gallons is typical to have in the reserve when DTE goes to -- on the 370z.

370z fuel tank is 19 gallons so the GT-R is only .5 bigger.
Honestly the fuel tank takes into a lot of factors but it is terrible all around. I can sit in the top 2-3 dots for a few days and then in the next 24 hours be well below half a tank with the same driving.

Mt Tam I am · 06-05-2014, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandersd

New 2014 Z owner (2 weeks and loving it!) Long story short, I drove until the gauge read 20 miles till empty, then it changed to flashing --- which worried me as I still had about 30 minutes to home. When I filled up the tank only took 16.6 gallons leaving 2.4 gallons in reserve.

This doesn't really concern me but it is useful to know exactly how much further I could have driven if I were in a situation that demanded it. Is this a typical quantity to have left in reserve after the gauge begins to flash --- ?

My first encounter with the estimated fuel gauge involved the little lady demanding to know why I took her out on a country road without a proper fuel load. As the gauge kept spelling out how many miles were left 50 miles then a mile later 41 miles then another mile 29 left. It fell right off then went to bars. The entire time I'm being ridiculed. When we got to town and found gas I too only took about 17 gallons as well.

Fuel starvation is more likely to occur down at the dregs.

Dan33900 · 06-05-2014, 02:08 PM

I use my car to drive 130 miles round trip daily. I get the flashing light each tank at 450 miles and almost always put in 16.5 gallons per fill up(3 times every two weeks). this leaves 2.5 gallons in reserve. I average 27.2 mpg. I love commuting in this car.

sandersd · 06-05-2014, 03:26 PM

Good info. Thanks for all the replies!

BTW it's a shame ATL doesn't build a replacement tank that solves the problem, even if it held less. At 2k, you'd have to really want one - bad...

srbrubak · 06-05-2014, 10:06 PM

The lowest my dots got was half way between 1/4 and 1/2. I have never gotten below a 1/4 of a tank. I like to keep my Z filled up.

onzedge · 06-08-2014, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by houkouonchi

This is definitely an issue on the 370z. I Have had fuel starvation all the way up to a half a tank of gas. It will recover if it has that much gas in it but it almost screwed me once as it stopped accelerating for a few seconds while I was trying to merge and the lane was disappearing.

I have had it not recover several times if I am under 1/4 tank of gas but I generally take the turns way softer due to the times I have been stranded due to this issue (happened 3 or 4 times now).

confucius · 06-08-2014, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan33900

I use my car to drive 130 miles round trip daily. I get the flashing light each tank at 450 miles and almost always put in 16.5 gallons per fill up(3 times every two weeks). this leaves 2.5 gallons in reserve. I average 27.2 mpg. I love commuting in this car.

I'm envious of your mileage. I just hit 30,k after owning the Z for 14 months. My personal best has been during a long highway sprint when one fill came in at 25.3, generally averaging in the low 24 range. (MPH could be a factor

)

As for the actual OP thread topic I've never been able to get in more than 16 3/4 gallons at a stop. Something between common sense and fear make me fill when the bars blink for very long. Those last three dots are a bad joke.

njobe89 · 06-09-2014, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan33900

I use my car to drive 130 miles round trip daily. I get the flashing light each tank at 450 miles and almost always put in 16.5 gallons per fill up(3 times every two weeks). this leaves 2.5 gallons in reserve. I average 27.2 mpg. I love commuting in this car.

how are you averaging 27.2???

BlkNismo · 06-09-2014, 12:41 PM

So at 1 dot remaining, it takes around 16.5 gallons to fill.

Do we really have 2.5 gallons reserve?

I'd imagine we have 1 or 2 gallons that are unusabe by the pump. Any thoughts?

djc119 · 06-09-2014, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njobe89

how are you averaging 27.2???

Probably low RPM's and flat roads with few stops and high speed limits.

And not very

TexasChuck · 06-09-2014, 07:38 PM

My new 2014 definitely reads different than my 2012. The '12, I could go 70 miles before the lighted gauge started dropping. The '14, it starts dropping much sooner, like 40 miles. The first mileage check was 26 mpg, the second was 22 mpg highway. Really got me concerned. This is with mild driving, still in the break in period. ??? 500 miles.
Chuck

onzedge · 06-09-2014, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasChuck

My new 2014 definitely reads different than my 2012. The '12, I could go 70 miles before the lighted gauge started dropping. The '14, it starts dropping much sooner, like 40 miles. The first mileage check was 26 mpg, the second was 22 mpg highway. Really got me concerned. This is with mild driving, still in the break in period. ??? 500 miles.
Chuck

Hmmm. That mileage does not sound so good. Are you basing this on what the computer says or my comparing actual gallons and miles?

njobe89 · 06-10-2014, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djc119

Probably low RPM's and flat roads with few stops and high speed limits.

And not very

i try to keep my rpms 2-3k range but then again seems every time i get a chance to step on it a little bit i take advantage of it

Nevada3 · 06-26-2014, 01:38 AM

Below a half tank it's all about how you drive your Z. Doughnuts to the left are fine, doughnuts to the right are a problem.

onzedge · 07-05-2014, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by houkouonchi

This is definitely an issue on the 370z. I Have had fuel starvation all the way up to a half a tank of gas. It will recover if it has that much gas in it but it almost screwed me once as it stopped accelerating for a few seconds while I was trying to merge and the lane was disappearing.

I have had it not recover several times if I am under 1/4 tank of gas but I generally take the turns way softer due to the times I have been stranded due to this issue (happened 3 or 4 times now).

Awesome.

06-05-2014, 03:26 PM	#19 (permalink)
sandersd Enthusiast Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 280 Drives: 2014 370z Nismo Rep Power: 11	Good info. Thanks for all the replies! BTW it's a shame ATL doesn't build a replacement tank that solves the problem, even if it held less. At 2k, you'd have to really want one - bad... __________________ 2014 370Z NISMO -- HKS Hi-Power Exhaust -- Swift Springs -- BC ER Coilovers -- SPL Suspension Components -- Nismo R-Tune Intake -- Seibon BD CF Hood Last edited by sandersd; 06-05-2014 at 03:49 PM.

06-09-2014, 07:38 PM	#26 (permalink)
TexasChuck Track Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: SE Texas Posts: 556 Drives: 2014 Black Cherry Co Rep Power: 14	Gas Gauge My new 2014 definitely reads different than my 2012. The '12, I could go 70 miles before the lighted gauge started dropping. The '14, it starts dropping much sooner, like 40 miles. The first mileage check was 26 mpg, the second was 22 mpg highway. Really got me concerned. This is with mild driving, still in the break in period. ??? 500 miles. Chuck

06-26-2014, 01:38 AM	#29 (permalink)
Nevada3 Base Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 40 Drives: 2013 370z TSC M6 Rep Power: 11	Below a half tank it's all about how you drive your Z. Doughnuts to the left are fine, doughnuts to the right are a problem. Last edited by Nevada3; 07-25-2014 at 07:22 AM.

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06-05-2014, 02:08 PM	#18 (permalink)
Dan33900 Base Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Maumelle, Arkansas Posts: 7 Drives: 2012 370z Rep Power: 12	I use my car to drive 130 miles round trip daily. I get the flashing light each tank at 450 miles and almost always put in 16.5 gallons per fill up(3 times every two weeks). this leaves 2.5 gallons in reserve. I average 27.2 mpg. I love commuting in this car.

06-05-2014, 10:06 PM	#20 (permalink)
srbrubak Base Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Posts: 144 Drives: 2010 370Z Blue 6MT Rep Power: 15	The lowest my dots got was half way between 1/4 and 1/2. I have never gotten below a 1/4 of a tank. I like to keep my Z filled up.

06-09-2014, 12:41 PM	#24 (permalink)
BlkNismo Track Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: USA Posts: 614 Drives: Nismo Rep Power: 15	So at 1 dot remaining, it takes around 16.5 gallons to fill. Do we really have 2.5 gallons reserve? I'd imagine we have 1 or 2 gallons that are unusabe by the pump. Any thoughts?