Ran out of fuel for the second time... - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Atomic Zl1 · 09-02-2015, 06:53 PM

Has anyone had any issues with their fuel gauges being off? Have a 2013 ZL1 and recently ran out of fuel when the gauge was reading a touch below quarter of a tank. Recently before that I ran the car down to a eighth tank and no issues. Car still has stock pump and tank.

Thanks for any input!.

1Coopgt · 09-02-2015, 07:01 PM

I would take it to the dealer and tell them to fix it .

mySSt · 09-02-2015, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Coopgt

I would take it to the dealer and tell them to fix it .

Agree with them. Makes me wonder if something in the tank is blocking the pump inlet(s) or a problem with the sending unit in the tank?

Quicksilver-SS · 09-02-2015, 08:52 PM

I never let mine get below 1/4 tank. Picks up crap from the bottom and leaves you vulnerable if a storm rolls in and cuts power. I always fill up every Friday at 1/2 tank.
Why push it?

Big Brunsy · 09-02-2015, 08:57 PM

My first half tank is 5 gallons, at 1/4 tank I put in 12-13 gallons. Never had it below that so I dunno what happens down there.

1Coopgt · 09-03-2015, 08:41 AM

Also GM uses the fuel to cool the fuel pump. When you get below 1/4 tank there isn't a lot of fuel to keep the pump cool which makes the pump wear prematurely. I had to replace a fuel pump in a 2003 Grand am GT @ 40k miles .

Scalded Dog · 09-03-2015, 01:05 PM

This is a little half- ass, but I still do things the way I learned as a truck driver: I pay very little attention to the gas gauge, but instead base my fueling on mileage. If I have run 225 miles since my last fill- up, and I'm getting 20 MPG, I know that I've used a little over 11 gallons, which means there's less than half a tank (19 gallon tank capacity, I think), and it's time to start thinking about finding a gas station.

On the other hand, I WOULD be bugged if my fuel gauge was not working properly... it SHOULD work, by all means.

guerrillakilla13 · 09-03-2015, 01:56 PM

You may need to replace the fuel pump. But for now clear your mileage every time you fill up and fill her up everytime you hit 200 miles or so. And yes one trick I learned when I had my WS6: NEVER EVER EVER let your fuel gauge drop below a quarter tank unless it's winter time.

shibbs · 09-03-2015, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guerrillakilla13

You may need to replace the fuel pump. But for now clear your mileage every time you fill up and fill her up everytime you hit 200 miles or so. And yes one trick I learned when I had my WS6: NEVER EVER EVER let your fuel gauge drop below a quarter tank unless it's winter time.

I NEVER let my tank get below half in the winter, just in case I get stranded somewhere. Fuel = heat in a worst case scenario. ...But MN has very different winters than AZ.

scottyguy401 · 01-29-2016, 02:37 AM

Same thing just happened to me tonight. Was on a long trip from L.A. to San Jose. Car just died on me when my guage said I was just under 1/4 of a tank (80 miles to empty). Had to call a tow truck to bring me gas =/. Any ideas why this happened? I filled up before I left L.A. and was on E, put 17 gallons in. After the tow truck driver put 2 gallons in, and I went to a gas station 3 miles away, I was only able to get 11 gallons in. So apparently I had gas, but it wouldn't start.

TooCool5 · 01-30-2016, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atomic Zl1

Has anyone had any issues with their fuel gauges being off? Have a 2013 ZL1 and recently ran out of fuel when the gauge was reading a touch below quarter of a tank. Recently before that I ran the car down to a eighth tank and no issues. Car still has stock pump and tank.

Thanks for any input!.

Your level sender rod is bend or not calibrated properly. I would take it to the dealer.
Requires fuel module removal.

ron123 · 02-01-2016, 07:20 AM

Mine seems accurate so far. When it hits "E" it really is about empty. I always try to refill way before it gets near the first warning line and no trouble so far.
Consistent each time with number of gallons it takes to refill based on expectations of what the gauge showed.
Ron

MrChrisLS3 · 02-01-2016, 10:59 AM

Don't know if this would be your case, or really even if this could happen. But I'll throw this out there for discussion. With more and more of the e10 gas around, and some states even mandating it, might this be cause of some of these problems?

I know that the ethanol attracts moisture, so when a car is low on fuel, 1/4 tank or less, and especially if it sits for any period of time, couldn't this moisture degrade the fuel? Thus giving us stall conditions and no starts.

For me, my car is daily, rain or shine. I use the half tank mark as my "low fuel" mark. But many of y'all store your cars or at least save them for nicer days. Just tossing the idea about how ethanol effects the gasoline in these situations.

09-02-2015, 06:53 PM	#1
Atomic Zl1 Drives: 2013 ZL1-Clean one owner Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 86	Ran out of fuel for the second time... Has anyone had any issues with their fuel gauges being off? Have a 2013 ZL1 and recently ran out of fuel when the gauge was reading a touch below quarter of a tank. Recently before that I ran the car down to a eighth tank and no issues. Car still has stock pump and tank. Thanks for any input!.

09-02-2015, 07:01 PM	#2
1Coopgt Drives: All Black 2012 1LS Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Rochester,NY Posts: 2,042 View My Garage	I would take it to the dealer and tell them to fix it . __________________ Mods, K&N CAI ,VTC , GM Perf Axleback Exhaust, Elite Eng CC and CSS, GM Strut Tower Brace,Carbon Fiber Anvil Spoiler,ASC T5 Splitter,Gen5diy Foglight kit.

09-03-2015, 08:41 AM	#6
1Coopgt Drives: All Black 2012 1LS Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Rochester,NY Posts: 2,042 View My Garage	Also GM uses the fuel to cool the fuel pump. When you get below 1/4 tank there isn't a lot of fuel to keep the pump cool which makes the pump wear prematurely. I had to replace a fuel pump in a 2003 Grand am GT @ 40k miles . __________________ Mods, K&N CAI ,VTC , GM Perf Axleback Exhaust, Elite Eng CC and CSS, GM Strut Tower Brace,Carbon Fiber Anvil Spoiler,ASC T5 Splitter,Gen5diy Foglight kit.

02-01-2016, 07:20 AM	#12
ron123 Drives: 2014 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,053	Mine seems accurate so far. When it hits "E" it really is about empty. I always try to refill way before it gets near the first warning line and no trouble so far. Consistent each time with number of gallons it takes to refill based on expectations of what the gauge showed. Ron __________________ 2014 2SS/RS, Z28 CAI and High Wing Spoiler, ZL1 5.1:1 Ratio Short-Throw Shifter, ZL1 Pedals, ZL1 splash guards, NPP Dual-mode quad tip exhaust, Z28 strut tower brace, Camaro LED Cup-holders with footwell Lighting option, Leather visors, and Leather E-brake boot. Chevy dealer sponsored 67 retro SS nose stripe package.

09-02-2015, 08:52 PM	#4
Quicksilver-SS Drives: 2014 1SS / RS M6 Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Zebulon, NC Posts: 602	I never let mine get below 1/4 tank. Picks up crap from the bottom and leaves you vulnerable if a storm rolls in and cuts power. I always fill up every Friday at 1/2 tank. Why push it?

09-02-2015, 08:57 PM	#5
Big Brunsy Drives: 2010 supercharged LS3 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Le Mars, Iowa Posts: 2,235 View My Garage	My first half tank is 5 gallons, at 1/4 tank I put in 12-13 gallons. Never had it below that so I dunno what happens down there.

09-03-2015, 01:05 PM	#7
Scalded Dog Drives: 2011 1LT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 3,029	This is a little half- ass, but I still do things the way I learned as a truck driver: I pay very little attention to the gas gauge, but instead base my fueling on mileage. If I have run 225 miles since my last fill- up, and I'm getting 20 MPG, I know that I've used a little over 11 gallons, which means there's less than half a tank (19 gallon tank capacity, I think), and it's time to start thinking about finding a gas station. On the other hand, I WOULD be bugged if my fuel gauge was not working properly... it SHOULD work, by all means.

09-03-2015, 01:56 PM	#8
guerrillakilla13 Drives: 2014 Camaro 2SS RS 1LE Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Arizona Posts: 711	You may need to replace the fuel pump. But for now clear your mileage every time you fill up and fill her up everytime you hit 200 miles or so. And yes one trick I learned when I had my WS6: NEVER EVER EVER let your fuel gauge drop below a quarter tank unless it's winter time.

01-29-2016, 02:37 AM	#10
scottyguy401 Drives: United States Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: L.A. Posts: 7	Same thing just happened to me tonight. Was on a long trip from L.A. to San Jose. Car just died on me when my guage said I was just under 1/4 of a tank (80 miles to empty). Had to call a tow truck to bring me gas =/. Any ideas why this happened? I filled up before I left L.A. and was on E, put 17 gallons in. After the tow truck driver put 2 gallons in, and I went to a gas station 3 miles away, I was only able to get 11 gallons in. So apparently I had gas, but it wouldn't start.

02-01-2016, 10:59 AM	#13
MrChrisLS3 Drives: 2018 1SS M6 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Houston Posts: 2,617	Don't know if this would be your case, or really even if this could happen. But I'll throw this out there for discussion. With more and more of the e10 gas around, and some states even mandating it, might this be cause of some of these problems? I know that the ethanol attracts moisture, so when a car is low on fuel, 1/4 tank or less, and especially if it sits for any period of time, couldn't this moisture degrade the fuel? Thus giving us stall conditions and no starts. For me, my car is daily, rain or shine. I use the half tank mark as my "low fuel" mark. But many of y'all store your cars or at least save them for nicer days. Just tossing the idea about how ethanol effects the gasoline in these situations.