I keep close track of the mileage on our car, and I notice the gauge sppeds up as it approaches the bottom of the tank. For example with mixed/mostly city driving, it may go 75 miles on the top 1/4 tank, 125 (only 50) from 3/4 to 1/2 tank, then its sucking fumes at just over 200 miles--so only ~75 miles from the bottom 1/2 of the tank.

Is this a common issue for these cars? We've owned it a little less than 2 years (2nd owner). It's a 305 tbi, a/t, with just over 36k original miles.
9k is from us, and the gauge has done the same thing the entire time. Mileage is much better on long trips, but we hardly ever go far with it.

I tried searching before registering to post this, but did not come up with anything relevant.

Thanks

 

 

Uh, OK. As an engineer, I completely understand the volume issue. However, I've never seen a vahicle with this poor of a calibration for the factory fuel guage. Going by the number of miles we get from a tank, this means that when the gauge says 1/2, there is really only a bit more than a 1/4 tank left? The guage should be calibrated such that the changing volume in part of the tank makes minimal difference.
If this is everyones experience from new with these cars, I'll live with it, but I find that hard to believe (and it sure is annoying).

Thanks

 

I have the same issue with my 92 RS.Bought from the original owner with 162k on the clock.It seems to stay on full for a long time,but when you get to 1/4 tank,you better find a gas station and hope there's one two blocks away.I don't know if this is typical of these cars;just puttin in my two cents. Thanks.

 

its not a gas gauge,its a gas guesstimate