Gas tank problem

212 Views 3 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Mountain Escape, 13 d ago

hygth1721

Discussion Starter · 14 d ago

Hi guys I just found my 2012 Escape having a weird problem: It started when one day I found the panel showing my gas tank was completely empty (it had about half gallon gas 2 days ago, showing "10 miles to Empty"). But when I go to gas station it only take about 9 gallon to full. Does anybody have an idea? Thanks a lot!

Speedometer Trip computer Odometer Tachometer Gauge

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Speedometer Odometer Tachometer Gauge Trip computer

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Sundown62

· #2 · 14 d ago

Sounds like fuel sending unit. Have a 2001, when I top off fuel gage stays at empty then slowly creeps up.

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tomw

· #3 · 14 d ago

I would suggest avoding running the fuel level so low as it(the fuel) is used to cool the pump motor. The fuel level being higher than EMPTY sloshes fuel over and around the pump to help cool the pump. I would not depend on the 'miles to empty' being as accurate as might be desired. I also think most fuel gauges are not accurate enough to depend on when getting low on fuel. Yours is one example...
If you do replace the sending unit in the tank, I would expect the gauge to read differently than it did before. Each one seems to have their individual characteristics. I replaced on that was reporting fuel level enough that the Mrs did not like it, and demanded it be repalaced. The gauge 'read' differently when full, and as the fuel was consumed. Previously it would stay on Full for 50-60 miles, but no longer. Their differences are to be expected.
tom

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Mountain Escape

· #4 · 13 d ago (Edited)

hygth1721 said:
Hi guys I just found my 2012 Escape having a weird problem: It started when one day I found the panel showing my gas tank was completely empty (it had about half gallon gas 2 days ago, showing "10 miles to Empty"). But when I go to gas station it only take about 9 gallon to full. Does anybody have an idea? Thanks a lot!

first thing I would suggest, maybe run it till it's empty… you see the fuel light come on.
did the fuel light come on before, at 10miles DTE?

if you are not in a heat prone area, you might carry a full, new 2 gallon gas can in your car till you figure this out. Be safe.
(new so it doesn't leak- you should vent it every day)

I keep my tank full in the winter time because of condensation/emergency situation issues, but in the summer I run till the light comes on every time.

regular gasoline has a shelflife of 3 months, typically you want to run out all of the gasoline regularly, and keep fresh gas in your system.
that is why we use gasoline stabilizer additives like Stabil for lawnmowers.
Sidenote – in the old days, the last mow of the season we would mow the neighbors yard too, until the gasoline ran out… We did not store them with gas in them.

I am willing to bet this will become an issue for the plug-in hybrids I've read about, that rarely run the gasoline engine.

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