Those unreliable gas-tank bars

[unicycle]

I have been taking care to see approximately how much gas equals one bar. Answer: it varies a lot.

Here is a 'chart' showing how many miles I'd driven and how much gas I'd consumed (according to my ScanGaugeii) when each bar disappeared:

Bar 1: 112 miles / 2.25 gal
Bar 2: 130 miles / 2.64 gal

Ok, so far that first bar is looking pretty unreliable, as usual!

Bar 3: 180 miles / 3.62 gal
Bar 4: 218 miles / 4.42 gal

So with half a tank showing, I've driven 218 miles! Looks like I'll hit 400 again!

Bar 5: 267.4 miles / 5.46 gal
Bars 6-8: TBA

Theoretically, each bar should equal 1.0875 gallons (8.7 divided by 8).

Dividing my bars from the most recent trip, we get:
Bar 1: 2.25 gal (we know that's not truly equal to 1/8 of a tank)
Bar 2: 1.32 gal per bar (still a bit too high)
Bar 3: 1.21 gal per bar (getting there)
Bar 4: 1.105 gal per bar (that's a bit more accurate!)
Bar 5: 1.09 gal per bar (just about right).

[The 'fact' that I've driven 267.4 miles using 5.46 gal (if that last figure is to be believed) indicates I'm getting nearly 49 mpg. That's about right, given my hypermiler tendencies of late (see my other posts for details), so I don't doubt that. If my driving holds up, I should surpass 400 miles on this tank with over a half gallon to go.]

[doogster]

I can usually get 74 miles before my 1st bar disappears... then usually 30 miles after that the 2nd bar goes away.... not too accurate!

[DFWehman]

Not tht it isn't possible with today's electronics, but rare is the car that has a truly linear gas gauge, "most" people don't care. That said, the croud here skews the other way, I'm sure! Your results will serve as a great reference, thanks for reporting!

[ShoshTrvls]

My bars disappear at roughly the same rate as yours (albeit at roughly 38-40 mpg as I prefer to stop at stop signs) and I've found that the gauge hits accuracy at about 1/2 - 3/8 full.

[Karl Roth]

and your scanguage is so much better because...?
karl

[unicycle]

Originally Posted by Karl Roth

and your scanguage is so much better because...?
karl

... because it can tell me how much gas I've used per tank MUCH more accurately than the car can.
... because it acts as a biofeedback mechanism to remind users to take it easy on hills and on speeding.
... because it gives obsessive ppl like me all sorts of data to obsess about.
... because it is yet another gadget for gadget-lovers like me (and like many Smart Car owners -- after all, a Smart is just a big gadget!)
... because it's mine and not yours. It pleases me to own one.

Go get yourself one. Then you can unwrap the packaging, take out the thin, sleek little item and shove it under your dash, turn it on, and give yourself some pleasure.

[bigcritter]

I think it was Karl who mentioned in a previous post that he already has a ScanGauge. It's sitting on his kitchen counter!

[unicycle]

I've heard that kitchen counters are not very fuel efficient. I guess some people just need to find that out for themselves!

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by unicycle

... because it can tell me how much gas I've used per tank MUCH more accurately than the car can.
... because it acts as a biofeedback mechanism to remind users to take it easy on hills and on speeding.
... because it gives obsessive ppl like me all sorts of data to obsess about.
... because it is yet another gadget for gadget-lovers like me (and like many Smart Car owners -- after all, a Smart is just a big gadget!)
... because it's mine and not yours. It pleases me to own one.

Go get yourself one. Then you can unwrap the packaging, take out the thin, sleek little item and shove it under your dash, turn it on, and give yourself some pleasure.

mine still spends most of its time in the kitchen obsessing about instantaneous milage gives me very little joy, sorry
enjoy yourself
karl

[SuperGeek]

Originally Posted by doogster

I can usually get 74 miles before my 1st bar disappears... then usually 30 miles after that the 2nd bar goes away.... not too accurate!

My first bar disappears after anywhere from 30 to 70 miles in city driving. Depends on its mood, maybe angle and temp. It always goes down, never back up. Probably programmed that way.

The bars aren't a good indicator of how much fuel you've used in gallons. Think of it in Southern terms: I gots a bunch o' gas, I got some gas, I gotta get more gas.



Sorry, 5 years in rural Mississippi. I learned a new language.

So in English, that translates to: It's an approximation. Keep the tank more than 1/4 full and you won't run out.