Fuel tank size

[Swordsmith]

Running swords down from MA to PA, I filled up with 93, drove 408.9 miles and ran OOG. Put 2.31 gallons in from a spare tank, drove 1.1 miles to my local gas station, filled up, taking 9.725 gallons. That's a total of 12.055 gallons (and the .055 gallons could have been used up in that extra mile I drove).

Fairly close to the 12.2 gallon figure I've seen listed, and I guess it's possible the pump clicked off before really filling every bit of available space... but I'm wondering if we have a real figure to use.

I was able to drive from PA to MA, then back around about 10 miles towards home on just 10.9 gallons, and on the trip back I kept a more steady and lower cruising speed, and didn't have to spend any time in traffic slowdowns since it was mostly post midnight driving, so I also conclude that putting several hundred pounds of cargo on board really affects MPG.

 

[Red Sonic LT]

I need sword for zombie Apocalypse *

 

[ChrisJ]

Apparently electric fuel pumps arn't as sensitive to low fuel levels as they once were.


Or, are they?

 

[GeneralZod]

Well done! Running with the swords up would be dangerous...

The traffic with the weight had more of an effect.

 

[RS Turbo]

If you mount a sharp sword to the front of the vehicle you could Cut thru traffic rather easily! Maybe increasing your fuel milage with the new windshear!

 

[Maddog2020]

My last tank I ran it real close to empty. The odd thing is the Ultra Gauge indicated I still had a gallon of gas left. So is the gas capacity 12.2 and the Ultra Gauge is incorrect, or closer to 13 gallons? I do fill until the gas cuts off twice.

502.4 Miles
11.973 Gallons
42 MPG

 

[ChrisJ]

My last tank I ran it real close to empty. The odd thing is the Ultra Gauge indicated I still had a gallon of gas left. So is the gas capacity 12.2 and the Ultra Gauge is incorrect, or closer to 13 gallons? I do fill until the gas cuts off twice.

502.4 Miles
11.973 Gallons
42 MPG

I somehow doubt the Sonic's fuel gauge float is accurate within a gallon...

 

[1980PontiacWagon]

My last tank I ran it real close to empty. The odd thing is the Ultra Gauge indicated I still had a gallon of gas left. So is the gas capacity 12.2 and the Ultra Gauge is incorrect, or closer to 13 gallons? I do fill until the gas cuts off twice.

502.4 Miles
11.973 Gallons
42 MPG

I'm jealous of your MPG's
I filled up last night..went 337.5 miles, put in 10.991 gallons
30.7 MPG's for me

but I do 90/10 city/Highway..i need to take a road trip

Also, how accurate is your cars MPG estimate vs doing the math?

 

[$ub$onic]

I need sword for zombie Apocalypse *

Or a bow

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Maddog2020]

I'm jealous of your MPG's
I filled up last night..went 337.5 miles, put in 10.991 gallons
30.7 MPG's for me

but I do 90/10 city/Highway..i need to take a road trip

Also, how accurate is your cars MPG estimate vs doing the math?

Just filled up again today:
514.1 miles
11.421 Gallons (Ultra Gauge indicated I had 1.3 Gallons left)

45 MPG (DIC indicated 48.4 MPG)

 

[joshty]

I don't think it can be true. Definitely there is some error or malfunction in readings.

 

[doreo]

I would have to agree it seems to be 12.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[LorbeerTLC]

Fuel Tank Actual Size maybe closer to 15 gallons

I have posted this in another thread that I've filled my tank up to 14.5 gallons.

Now before you shake your head, here's the deal.

1) The useable fuel was practically gone. I had the yellow "Low Fuel" indicator light on and I was well beyond my last posted driving range on my instrument cluster.

2) When I filled my car, I didn't stop at any of the "clicks". I filled it until the gas was right up to the mouth of the filler opening. I've found that after the first "Click" from the pump, you can (if you have patients), pour about 3 additional gallons before it's "FULL." The problem is you have to pour it slowly to let the air bleed out. If you don't have a nozzle that'll let you "trickle-fill," you'll get gas all over yourself. But don't take my word, try it and see for yourself. Again, you'll need to be patient because it does add a few minutes of your time in waiting to slowly fill it (like slowly pouring beer in a glass when you don't want it to foam).

Why did I do this? Because it extended my driving range by as much as 180 miles before the fuel gauge would come off the top mark. I was making 12 hour long drives and the fewer the stops, the longer I could be on the road.

I did this many times when we took a trip this past summer from Washington State to Ontario, Canada, then down to Key West, Florida, back west to Southern California, then up the I-5 corridor back to Washington. And since I was on the road, I didn't have to worry about the gas expanding in the tank, possibly backing up into the charcoal canister. I hadn't had any problems during my whole 10,000 mile trip and my wife and I are thinking of doing this again in 2014!
Beautiful little car and the comfort was amazing!

 

[Eric Smit]

You filled your tank to 12.2 gallons; you filled your entire fuel system, including filler pipe, to 14.5.


-Eric Smit

 

[$ub$onic]

That's risky with the vapor system

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

 

[LorbeerTLC]

That's risky with the vapor system

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

Definitely wouldn't do it if the vehicle isn't going to be driven to burn that extra fuel off and it's sitting outside on a hot day.

 

[sx sonic]

LorBeer TLC, not sure if your aware but the EVAP (evaporative emission system) does not like this and their is a high probability that doing this often will lead to some issues with that system.

Just an FYI, they advise agianst filling past that first click for that very reason. I'm not sure how much you can fill past the 1st click until the evap/charcol canister starts filling with liquid fuel thou.

That said I usually overfill alil at every gas station stop and squeeze as much as I can into the tank on trips.

But just so your aware.

Glad you had an awesome trip, I imagine it was very scenic

-tyler

 

[LorbeerTLC]

LorBeer TLC, not sure if your aware but the EVAP (evaporative emission system) does not like this and their is a high probability that doing this often will lead to some issues with that system.

Just an FYI, they advise agianst filling past that first click for that very reason. I'm not sure how much you can fill past the 1st click until the evap/charcol canister starts filling with liquid fuel thou.

That said I usually overfill alil at every gas station stop and squeeze as much as I can into the tank on trips.

But just so your aware.

Glad you had an awesome trip, I imagine it was very scenic

-tyler

The only problem in filling the tank beyond the pump's automatic shut-off has been addressed in GM's Techlink (September 2012). It's the "Fuel Gauge Inoperative" section discussed on page 7 in the September 2012 issue.
TECHLINK
There's no mention of any problems related to the emission system what-so-ever. Regardless, Like I said, I wouldn't plan on doing this if I wasn't planing on taking a long trip (over 100 miles).
I've had my car since December 2011 and haven't had a single problem.

Guys, don't worry! This thread is about the fuel tank's size. I was just trying to elaborate that the tank's capacity is probably 3 gallons more than the specifications if filled to its maximum capacity (beyond the automatic shut-off at the fuel pump), not whether or not you should do it.
If you want to discuss whether or not you should do it, that should be a topic on a new thread.

 

[Swordsmith]

I would never have imagined that there was anywhere near that much extra room in there. If you'd told me half a gallon past first click, that I'd have believed... but now I'm gonna have to try it for myself. I have a couple 24 hour drives coming up in a week or so, seems like the ideal opportunity to play a game of "how many miles can I get on one tank."

Note to self, remember to put a spare gallon in the back.

 

[JimmyBuckets]

On direction could have been more toward sea level and one could have been more up hill...also speed is a huge factor in hwy mpg. I have gotten around 42-43 on trips where I put the cruise on 65. I just did a round trip of around 400 miles and it was basicly all hwy with the cruise set at 78 and mpg droped down to between 34-35. It just matter how much your time is worth to you...but I still feel like 35 mpg at 78 mph is pretty great!