| Slant Six Forum https://www.slantsix.org/forum/ |
|
| Fuel Gauge Reads Full then drops just above Empty https://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=68699 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | WDSLOAN [ Fri Jul 10, 2026 4:36 am ] |
| Post subject: | Fuel Gauge Reads Full then drops just above Empty |
Hello, I just got Uncle Pete's 1964 Dodge Dart GT with a slant six. The car had sat for 15 years. I cleaned the gas tank and installed a new sending unit. When I fill the tank up the fuel gauge reads full, but after I drive the car and run about a gallon or two of gas out, the fuel gauge drops too just about empty. The temperature gauge still works. One other thing is that when I add gas to the tank, the fuel will puke out of the inlet. Any ideas? Thanks Dave |
|
| Author: | Greg Ondayko [ Fri Jul 10, 2026 11:40 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Fuel Gauge Reads Full then drops just above Empty |
Did you put in a new reproduction semding unit from spectra premium or other such vendor? They read wrong. The resistance scale is inorrect on them. Greg |
|
| Author: | SlantSixDan [ Fri Jul 10, 2026 12:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Fuel Gauge Reads Full then drops just above Empty |
Greg has correctly described the cause of the improper gauge readings. What was wrong with the old sender? Spitback on fuel-up is an old-old-old issue on the first seven or eight years of A-bodies. Fix it like this, with the part bought from here (be patient; page takes awhile to load). |
|
| Author: | MadScientistMatt [ Sat Jul 11, 2026 5:26 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Fuel Gauge Reads Full then drops just above Empty |
If you aren't able to find a sending unit with an accurate scale (and this is very difficult!), there's a device out there called the Meter Match that you can use to correct the sending unit. |
|
| Author: | volaredon [ Sat Jul 11, 2026 5:52 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Fuel Gauge Reads Full then drops just above Empty |
I always wondered why didn't they need something like "meter match" when they built these cars? They clearly didn't. Why should we be forced to buy a 2nd part to "fix" a problem with a new part that was put in to fix a problem in the first place. And not even the same problem.. the only thing wrong with the original is that they aged out. After years of doing their job "right". I too have been searching for a sending unit but for a newer (80s) truck because it's lines rusted off right at the top of the sending unit. I have a new one but since I'm nowhere near ready to run the truck, I'm holding out hope that I can either find an NOS one somewhere. Or a good used one. Or rebuild the original one. Or find someone who can rebuild the original one. I DON'T want to use the aftermarket one. As a last resort I may try to somehow put the original rheostat from the rusted out one onto the new body. I do like the idea of the new one being stainless. But I don't like the deal that it's from china. I've seen my son fight with 5 of them among 4 different vehicles. He finally fixed the one on his 72 fury wagon. By putting in the NOS Mopar one I found him at a swap meet. Reads the way it's supposed to now. But the 1st one he put in (which was aftermarket " sure didn't. |
|
| Author: | SlantSixDan [ Sat Jul 11, 2026 12:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Fuel Gauge Reads Full then drops just above Empty |
Welcome to 2026 in this timeline. This timeline sucks. I hope things are better in the other timeline(s), but I don't have a lot of time to think about that – too busy dealing with the many clouds that need yellin' at in this one. |
|
| Author: | WDSLOAN [ Wed Jul 15, 2026 6:20 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Fuel Gauge Reads Full then drops just above Empty |
Thank you for all your replies. I am not sure what type of sending unit I brought. But from what I have read it sounds like everyone thinks I got a bad sending unit and it needs to be replaced. The gas tank is not easy to drain, but I will work on getting the sending unit out. Thanks Dave |
|
| Author: | Greg Ondayko [ Wed Jul 15, 2026 4:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Fuel Gauge Reads Full then drops just above Empty |
On an a body you do not need to drain the fuel tank to remove thd fuel sender. Just drive the car around for 2 hours or so and you will likley burn enough fuel to get the fuel level below the sender opening. Aditionally jack thd car with the front higher than thd rear snd the fuel will move away from the sender opening. Greg |
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC-07:00 |
| Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited https://www.phpbb.com/ |
|