Fuel Gauge problems

[Black Mounty]

I've been having issues with my gauge and what I think is inaccurate information, especially as it relates to miles to empty. Today i started the car and found this. A quarter of a tank and showing 6 miles. Just to verify I filled it up again to a quarter of a tank to the same results. The Average mph for the vehicle is at 16.7 mpg for the lifetime of the car and 18 on the current trip. Anyone experience similar issues? Contributing factors?

 

[K1200rsport]

Looks like need to be calibrated or something wrong with the float/ potentiometer in tank.

 

[VinceL]

My friend is having the same problem with his 2012 Edge Sport.

On a full tank, the trip computer only says he has about 230 miles to empty. When it gets close to E, with only 33 miles to empty according to the computer, he'll fill it up and it will only take about 13.5 gallons. In the car the gas gauge says the tank is full, and again only about 230 miles to empty.

Have you noticed similar symptoms, or only the curious miles to empty number?

 

[Black Mounty]

That's exactly my problem although I usually can get a little over 16 gallons in the tank. I haven't seen the screen tell me I could get over 230 miles a tank. Eyeballing it I've gotten more and use the needle as my measuring stick

 

[FordService]

I've been having issues with my gauge and what I think is inaccurate information, especially as it relates to miles to empty...

Black Mounty,

I have your Explorer’s info from previous messages, so drop a line via PM if you’d like me to arrange a follow-up.

Cory

 

[VinceL]

My friend took his car in today to get some accessories installed and he was going to have them look at it. Even though he has an Edge, I'll post the results here in case they'll help anybody with this issue.

 

[Black Mounty]

Got it down to 0 mte and the bar turned red at least 3 gallons in the tank

 

[VinceL]

Well my friend talked to the folks at the service department and of course they said it was working as it should. They told him that car is programmed to have between 3 and 5 gallons in its reserve, which would make sense with the numbers he is getting. Thing is, that is idiotic to have that figured in for the DTE calculation. How much babysitting does Ford thinking we need. If anything, it makes it more troublesome because the driver doesn't have a good idea of the true state if his or her automobile. It basically makes the fuel gauge useless. Not a smart idea in my book.

 

[Black Mounty]

Dealer stumped as no error codes, sensors intact and operational ( they inspected all connections). They are thinking its b/c somehow fueling with key on and ignition running may have caused it and it needs to cycle through a couple of tines(??). I understand this at fueling time but not after a few weeks and dozens of key cycles.

 

[blwnsmoke]

That isnt normal. My fuel gauge turns yellow exactly where yours turns red in the pic. It is halfway between E and 1/4 and displays 50 miles left everytime. Something is definately wrong.

 

[VinceL]

Okay, an update on my friend's Edge. He has been able to get only about 13.5 gallons into the tank at a fill-up. He has even tried continuing to fill until it shuts off twice. Still averaging no more than 13.5 gallons per fill up. So....

We tried a little trick that I read online about problems with the capless fuel filler... The trick is to fill the tank with the filler handle/nozzle upside down (yeah, crazy huh?)

Guess what, we were able to put 17+ gallons into the tank! The MTE went up to 300, a little more reasonable.

So, we have no idea why this worked. The next time he takes it into the dealership, he will talk to them about it, and I will update again.

 

[Black Mounty]

Thanks Vince. im going to give it a try on my next fill up. My goal is to drain the tank as low as it will go, going by the regular gauge. If it runs out of gas, more ammo against Ford I guess. I also asked if there was a master reset for the Fuel Economy, which i dont think there is unless they wipe out the system. Anyone have suggestions on resetting or recalibrating the MTE without going back to the dealer.

By the way, anyone know what the true capacity is of the tank?

 

[blwnsmoke]

18.6 gallons

 

[calb]

Okay, an update on my friend's Edge. He has been able to get only about 13.5 gallons into the tank at a fill-up. He has even tried continuing to fill until it shuts off twice. Still averaging no more than 13.5 gallons per fill up. So....

We tried a little trick that I read online about problems with the capless fuel filler... The trick is to fill the tank with the filler handle/nozzle upside down (yeah, crazy huh?)

Guess what, we were able to put 17+ gallons into the tank! The MTE went up to 300, a little more reasonable.

So, we have no idea why this worked. The next time he takes it into the dealership, he will talk to them about it, and I will update again.

I had a previous car that I couldn't fill up - pump kept shutting off. Took it to the dealer and found that a valve needed fixing (ie. air has to go out as gas goes in). Sounds similar to what you are describing, and I'd recommend taking it into the dealer.

 

[stoev]

strange i have the same problem i bought my Ex on tuesday and yesterday i fill the tank to the maximum and i can drive only around 269 miles... thats for me not sooo much for a car with 18.6 Gallons tank...

Stoev

 

[blwnsmoke]

When I fill, my gauge normally shows about 330 miles for a full tank. I average about 21mpg so that is even off by a bit.

 

[VinceL]

Yeah, sounds like there is a problem.

Nobody should have to do the hokey-pokey to fill their gas tank! You put the gas pump in, you take the gas pump out, you put the gas pump in and turn it upside down... you do the hokey-pokey to top it off again... and that's what it's all about!

Muahahahaha...

 

[stoev]

@VinceL
really???

 

[pwscott]

Same

Same here as below. Mine turns yellow there.

That isnt normal. My fuel gauge turns yellow exactly where yours turns red in the pic. It is halfway between E and 1/4 and displays 50 miles left everytime. Something is definately wrong.

 

[VinceL]

@VinceL
really???

Oh yes, really!

Then I had that stupid melody in my head the rest of the night.