Fuel gage stuck on "Full".....any experience/;thoughts?

wink05 · 05-10-2008, 10:41 PM

I have a 2008 civic coupe EX, and recently filled up in Oklahoma and noticed: 1) the pump at the service station was running very, very slow and 2) the pump also recorded about about a .50 gallon MORE gas than I actually received, according to my average gas mileage (check every tank since new, now 9,500 miles) and this was the lowest MPG ever. And after that fillup, my fuel gage will not move off the full mark. Any ideas or thoughts?

DTNguyen107 · 05-10-2008, 10:46 PM

Maybe your putting too much thought into it.

***WhiteSicivic06*** · 05-10-2008, 10:47 PM

Id say that the gas stations slow pump has nothing to do with it. Your fuel level sender inside the tank is most likely stuck or broken. Id have the dealership deal with this one!

Vsin · 05-10-2008, 10:52 PM

Doesn't our fuel gauge indicate "full" for a long time? It's just the way it is.

Lilwolvy3 · 05-10-2008, 11:09 PM

I had a similar experience. I went to a gas station and the pump was realllly slow. Anyway, I drove almost 100 miles before I went down a bar. According to my calculations on that tank I got something like 40 mpg when I normally get about 28-30. I guess it just put in more gas than normal almost like it over-filled it. Just ride around for 100 miles or more maybe and see if it goes down. I wouldn't worry until then.

distrbd · 05-10-2008, 11:18 PM

I would wait and drive another 200 miles and see if the sending unit is still stuck on full or it's showing the correct level ,if there's no change then take it to the dealer.

Silver_Slug · 05-11-2008, 08:49 AM

If the pump pumps slowly, the gas vapor has more time to evacuate the tank, while being displaced by fuel. Because the pump shut off works based off of the pressure of the venting fuel vapor, you will get considerable more gas in the tank (and potentially too much for proper ventilation once under way).

Because you have more fuel in the filler neck then normal, the gas gauge will stay on full longer then normal, as the gauge reads tank level and does not capture fuel in the filler neck.

Then, since you are calculating gas mileage at the next fill up, assuming different pumps shut off at the same pressure reading and the pumps fill at the same rate, you will have an artificially high gas mileage reading. However, for this fill, you will have a very low rating due to the increased fuel delivery volume.

So far, everything sounds fine.

How many miles have you driven since filling up?

Dan

Opticon · 05-11-2008, 01:56 PM

i normally go around 70 miles before mine drops a bar from full

wink05 · 05-12-2008, 05:34 AM

OK, Lilwolvy3, and Silver Slug........you guys nailed it correctly. Since it was filling so slowly, it apparently held more fuel than normal....and it finally came off the full mark at about 125 miles. So the next fill up and MPG should be fantastic........well sort of, it all evens out.

Thanks for the replies, you all saved me a trip to the dealer!!

05-10-2008, 10:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
wink05 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 9 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Fuel gage stuck on "Full".....any experience/;thoughts? I have a 2008 civic coupe EX, and recently filled up in Oklahoma and noticed: 1) the pump at the service station was running very, very slow and 2) the pump also recorded about about a .50 gallon MORE gas than I actually received, according to my average gas mileage (check every tank since new, now 9,500 miles) and this was the lowest MPG ever. And after that fillup, my fuel gage will not move off the full mark. Any ideas or thoughts?

05-10-2008, 10:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
*WhiteSicivic06* Bottle Fed! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Quantico Age: 27 Posts: 2,513 Ryan iTrader: 0 / 0%	Id say that the gas stations slow pump has nothing to do with it. Your fuel level sender inside the tank is most likely stuck or broken. Id have the dealership deal with this one! __________________ N2O TW FTW! 216 N/A 250.57 N2O

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05-10-2008, 10:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
DTNguyen107 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,329 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Maybe your putting too much thought into it.

05-10-2008, 10:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
Vsin Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 373 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Doesn't our fuel gauge indicate "full" for a long time? It's just the way it is.

05-10-2008, 11:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lilwolvy3 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Louisiana Age: 20 Posts: 269 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I had a similar experience. I went to a gas station and the pump was realllly slow. Anyway, I drove almost 100 miles before I went down a bar. According to my calculations on that tank I got something like 40 mpg when I normally get about 28-30. I guess it just put in more gas than normal almost like it over-filled it. Just ride around for 100 miles or more maybe and see if it goes down. I wouldn't worry until then.

05-10-2008, 11:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
distrbd Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto ,Canada Posts: 256 ken iTrader: 0 / 0%	I would wait and drive another 200 miles and see if the sending unit is still stuck on full or it's showing the correct level ,if there's no change then take it to the dealer.

05-11-2008, 08:49 AM	#7 (permalink)
Silver_Slug Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 71 Dan iTrader: 0 / 0%	If the pump pumps slowly, the gas vapor has more time to evacuate the tank, while being displaced by fuel. Because the pump shut off works based off of the pressure of the venting fuel vapor, you will get considerable more gas in the tank (and potentially too much for proper ventilation once under way). Because you have more fuel in the filler neck then normal, the gas gauge will stay on full longer then normal, as the gauge reads tank level and does not capture fuel in the filler neck. Then, since you are calculating gas mileage at the next fill up, assuming different pumps shut off at the same pressure reading and the pumps fill at the same rate, you will have an artificially high gas mileage reading. However, for this fill, you will have a very low rating due to the increased fuel delivery volume. So far, everything sounds fine. How many miles have you driven since filling up? Dan

05-11-2008, 01:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
Opticon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Henderson, NC Age: 24 Posts: 364 myspace.com/opticon1 iTrader: 0 / 0%	i normally go around 70 miles before mine drops a bar from full

05-12-2008, 05:34 AM	#9 (permalink)
wink05 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 9 iTrader: 0 / 0%	OK, Lilwolvy3, and Silver Slug........you guys nailed it correctly. Since it was filling so slowly, it apparently held more fuel than normal....and it finally came off the full mark at about 125 miles. So the next fill up and MPG should be fantastic........well sort of, it all evens out. Thanks for the replies, you all saved me a trip to the dealer!!