Fuel tank: 8.7 gal's to fill, use ot be 9.7........Why?
 

Hi, I tried searching for some help, but all I see is mpg stuff.

My 05 XA use to always take around 9.7 gallons to fill. Thats from the first flashes of emplty. I would get around 330/miles per tank, and around 200 at the tank half way mark. It was like this for about 1.5 years.

Then I started to notice a change the last 4 or 5 months. Now, from empty, it takes around 8.7 gallons to fill my tank. I get around 300 miles per tank and around 150 at the half way point.

I think I am getting the same mpg (I am just starting to monitor it closely), but I can't think why this has happened? Any idea why it is now taking less to fill my tank?

thanks

did it have gastric bypass surgery?

That made me laugh!!! :rofl: :rofl: Considering I've had a sad day.


Maybe your fuel tank gas sensor, somehow got damaged, or changed its readings?? I dont know???

That is funny.

All I can think of is the sensor, or silver strip, or what ever the thing is. I wonder if I should drive until I run out to see if I have around 3 gallons left after empty instead of the 2 gallons norm?

lots of things could change. your air filter could be dirty, did you change your wheels and tire sizes? if so, your odometer readings could be off. also, depending on where you are, it is winter now, which means the air is cooler and denser, so your car will use more fuel to maintain ideal a/f ratios. etc.

or maybe your car needs some fuel system cleaner, just pick up a bottle and mix it in for tne next few fill ups, see if it makes a difference.

oh, and i assume you have been keeping up on your oil changes too. that effects mileage as well.

thank you for the reply. This is my 3rd winter with the car and first time this has started. I keep up with all maintnance.

what I am puzzled by is that it takes only around 8 1/2 gal's to fill up now. I think I am still getting about the same mpg as always.

well your MPG is a slight improvement, so it's not an MPG issue. sounds like a sensor issue.

Did you recently move and/or start going to a different gas station? Could just be different pumps shutting off at different levels (though a difference of 1 gallon seems a bit extreme).

thanks for the replies.

Well, I am stumped. I still seem to be getting the same MPG, so I will just have to fill up more often I guess.

I use the same stations, except for a few rare times. I use chevron gas about 95% of the time (I know exactly whats in this gas) and mobile the other 5%.

My wife brought up a good point that around the time I started noticing this, I had been rear ended a few weeks before. I had some repairs done. I wonder if something in the tank got messed up?

Thanks everyone for your time reading this post.

That is a crucial missing piece of info. you left out :no:
I'd say that could very easily be the reason why.
I'd take it up with your insurance company... and make sure its checked out/fixed !!!!