smart firsts (for me)

[Kazuano]

Purchased my smart in Feb. 2009. 1200 miles on odo as of today. As of yesterday, my firsts....first time to achieve over 40 mpg. (40.61), first time hitting 0.0 gallons on my fuel gauge (just as I pulled into the gas station), and finally, first time my fuel gauge didn't read full after fillup (8.74 gals), only 7/8. Is running low on fuel a possible reason for the 7/8 reading?

[JPaul]

Just your baby's tantrum. It'll pass... like gas!

[jwight]

Not sure anyone knows, but that's what happens with ours. Fill up with a couple of bars left and the gauge reads full; let it go below two bars and it only shows 7/8. A big mystery.

[wiltjk]

Yea, 7/8 is a "feature".

[forestacademy]

If only it was that simple, smart has been trying to figure out the 7/8 reading for quite some time now. That gas tank is such a wacky shape and very shallow I don't know how they get anything close to an acurate reading.

Your milage will continue to improve as you get closer to 3,000 miles. Continue to enjoy your car, and go take a weekend dive, at least 1 tank, over the next two days.

[WhiteNBlack08]

The mileage will get better as you get more miles on. 1200 miles since Feb? You really need to get out more and start enjoying your smart. I put 2200 miles on mine a month! I just passed 32K last weekend, May 2008 delivery. My mpg averages 43-45.

[Suze]

Funny thing about the 7/8 mystery. The 08's don't have it. What changed in 09? I know they added a loose fuel cap indicator - can that be the root?

As for getting an accurate reading, if they can weigh the occupants in their seats, why not weigh the gas tank?

[jimvw57]

Last night a couple of people parked next to my house in our limited parking area (on the street) using up 1 1/2 spots each. I did the "back into the curb with the front end facing out" park job with my Smart. It did fit nicely and got some interesting looks when they came to drive out the poorly parked cars. Maybe next time they will do a better job. The local police watched me park and had quite a laugh. No tickets were issued.....

[jimvw57]

Originally Posted by Suze

Funny thing about the 7/8 mystery. The 08's don't have it. What changed in 09? I know they added a loose fuel cap indicator - can that be the root?

As for getting an accurate reading, if they can weigh the occupants in their seats, why not weigh the gas tank?

My 08 did do the 7/8 tank a few times until I figured out the fill on the lowest setting, let it rest until you wash all the windows, then top it off one more click. Once I started doing that, it never happened again.

I have seen it twice on my 09, mostly when I fill too fast. (in a hurry)

[Kermit]

My 08 does have the 7/8 quirk. I live with it and don't see a problem. When the tank is almost empty it reads correct. My early '08 doesn't have the problem. My late '08 does.

I always fill on the lowest setting, but never do an addition click.