My Coug ran out of gas on me once before (or could have just been a stall) when the needle stayed on E for a bit. I recently let it get to E and filled it completely (I could see the gas level from the filler neck) and it was only 12.9 gallons. The needle rises and falls as if the float and needle are operational. Given the amount I drive I fill up roughly every 4 days like clockwork. I thought I should have over 20 gallon capacity. What would be a good way to check?
The gas gauges are inaccurate. After I fill up I go for over 100 miles before it drops below full.
What kind of milage do you get? If it is normal then you probable have a lot gas left at "empty".
Carry a gas can with you and see how far after "empty" you go before you run out.
I'll definately do that. I was going to try and siphon gas from my other car but new cars are the worst for that.
I have tried to calculate the mileage but it sucks with such a wacked out gauge.
We have 22 gallon tanks.
This has been talked about in the past, probably buried 20 pages deep by now. I've personally ran my car down to the point it was stalling pulling into the station.. and it still held less than 16 gallons... that being in a 88 (87 and 88 having the 22 gallon tank, earlier years having an 18 gallon. I think)
Factory specs:
1983-85 V6/V8 cars - 20.6 gallons
1983-86 turbo-4 cars - 18.0 gallons
1986-88 cars (all engines) - 22.1 gallons
Filler neck holds approx. 1 gallon, in case you wondered. ;)
There are a few other factors that may come into play here. What is the distance that you drive every day, one way?
You also may have a fuel leak either at the tank or at the injectors.
Are you getting a strong gas smell?
How about your charcoal cannister in the engine bay...is it full of fuel? Strong odor?
My 84 owners guide agrees with Eric but also shows a 21 gallon tank for 3.8L Canada cars. They would be carb. cars. The in-tank pump takes up .4 gal. of space maybe?
The shop manual says the tanks have a "fill limiting" system to allow a 10-12 percent tank volume air space.
This allows for thermal expansion of the fuel and is needed for the vapor vent system.
It doesn't say if this is additional space over and above the 20.6 gallons or what.
There is no gas smell anywhere. I drive almost 75 miles a day. The gas consumption does not seem out of the ordinary for the distance I drive. 13 gallons seems to be all can get in the tank. I have had fuel up to the rim of the filler neck at 12.9 gallons. The needle is touching E right now and i'm headed to the gas station to get an emergency can of gas for the trunk. If I indeed has a 20 gallon tank then I have roughly 7 gallons left even though the needle is on E. I should make it to Friday morning but we'll see.
I was able to squeeze 17 gallons into the tank and that is from a pretty dry gas tank. If I hit a turn too fast the fuel pump would suck air and stall.
I must be running extremely rich as I am only getting roughly 10 mpg. I know I need to replace my TPS (pulled codes a while back) and a few other minor parts.
Could a turbo tank have been put in it?
Does it have a dent in it?
Does it have a secret compartment where drug runners used to hide cocaine?
I doubt the tank was replaced. It could be possible. There are very small dents in the tank but not 3 gallons worth. If there is a secret compartment for drugs (and the drugs are still there) then I would like to know so I could make some fast money to finish this project.
:2gunsfiri
It has been a long time since I have been inside a gas tank.
My son had a '71 Torino 30 years ago that would only take a half tank of gas.
The filler pipe in the rear center behind the license plate had been bumped and tipped down deeper into the tank. The vent tube was attached to the filler pipe and was also tipped down deeper into the tank.
The vent was supposed to curve up to the top of the tank but was now down half way into the tank.
When the gas level got to the end of the vent tube, no more air could get out, and no more gas could get in.
The gas gauge on my 84 T-Bird pegs above the F and finally moves down to F after about 110 miles.
Maybe your missing space is above the Full mark. I have not been inside these Fox tanks so do not know how they are vented.
If your tank stops venting before it is full that could explain it.
The interesting thing is that the gauge reads over F when I have it filled to the brim. To fill up from well under E to over F is only 17 gallons at best.
If it is my gauge, then could the fix be as simple as swapping in a new one or is there more work involved?
As the gas fills up I noticed it coming out of the vent. I'll have to investigate that one.
Check the charcoal cannister in the engine bay...more than likely it's either full of gas, or the charcoal inside has disintegrated.
ummm where exactly?
or
What should I look for?
Passenger side, front of the engine bay, bolted to the framerail...it's down low. You'll see the hoses going to it.
You mean this thing? There are two "caps", one with letters and one with numbers. There is only 1 hose attached (the letters side).
Yep, that's it. One bolt holds it onto the mount on the frame (I think it's 8mm). The missing cap may indicate that it's shot. You'll find out as soon as it's in your hand.
I'm getting 17mpg with my Mountaineer (V8, AWD) in the city, and 22mpg on the highway. Then again, I only fill it up once a month. :flip: ;)
I appreciate that. I'll take it off in a sec. I'm in the middle of trying to break free one of my o2 sensors. I have the tool and my ratchet just can't get it. (any ideas?)
A few years ago I replaced my stock tank with a replacement unit from a local auto supply house and it looked very much like the stocker. The plastic pan that the tank sits in fit perfect, the holding straps fit just like before, the pump is all the way to the floor of the tank. The only differance I noticed was the internal construction of the fuel box(?) that is supposed to keep the pump submerged/supplied all the time.
Last night I finished putting my empty tank back into the car which was out for some fuel pump issues. I had a full 5 gallon can that I dumped into the tank. I started the car and went to the local gas bandits which was only 4.3 miles. I filled the tank and it took 21.723 gallons! Considering I had just put 5 gallons in and only drove a few miles, I have to estimate my tank capacity at around 26-26.5 gallons. I have no leaks and my tune is spot on. I don't know how they squeezed a larger capacity into what appears to be a similar size tank.
Last year when I installed my 255 pump it took a similar amount but I didn't think much of it.
Rick
I just looked in my 1988 car shop manuals for our cars. It says the 3.8 and 5.0l cars hold 71.2l or 18.8 gallons. The 2.3l turbo with A4LD holds 83.7l or 22.1 gallons. The normal 2.3l turbo (manual i presume) holds 68.1l or 18.0 gallons. Hope this helps.
The stock 1986-88 gas tanks on 3.8 and 5.0 cars was 22.1 gallons. That same capacity tank was also used on 1987-88 Turbo Coupes. The older turbo cars (1983-86) got the 18-gallon tank. The 1983-85 3.8 and 5.0 cars got a 20.6 gallon tank.
So let's assume that the original tank in this car was 22.1 gallons. If the stock replacement tank has the same capacity then the first fill should probably take a little more fuel than "normal". And you have to figure around 1 gallon in the filler neck. Don't forget that there are some internal baffles in the tank that will hold fuel.
In that instance, I don't think a 25-gallon fill-up would be abnormal. But when you're talking almost another 2 gallons, not so sure about that. How accurate is the fuel pump that you used? When was the last time it was inspected and/or calibrated? Was it from a national supplier or a local mom-and-pop gas station? Especially with fuel being so high in price now, fixing or gouging at the pump is probably going to become more prevalent. Locally there is one known gas station that has a faulty pump; as soon as you lift the handle but before you start pumping, the price shoots up to ~50¢. This could be unintentional...or it could be on purpose.
So what I'm saying is, you would need another known-capacity fuel tank to fill at the same pump at the same station to know whether or not it's an accurate fill. It could be the pump/station being off in calibration or intentially rigged.
Or your tank could really hold ~27 gallons. Which, again, I would find a little difficult to believe. I don't know of a Fox fuel tank that was larger than 22.1 gallons for the mid-1980's cars. Anyone else know?
I personally have put a bit over 20 gallons in my car that was pretty dang low.
One time I was driving, running pretty low on gas, so headed towards a gas station. I ran out and luckily coasted into the station right up to a pump (from a freeway exit ramp, through a green light). IIRC I put in right at 19 gallons (late production 85 TC), completely empty to topped off.
Also, if the gas gauge doesn't provide a near linear progression, try changing the sender. The factory sender read full until the tank was about half empty.
Not to hi jack a thread but is the charcoal canister available anywhere. I noticed the one on my kids car is rather damp looking.
I'm going to have to check mine.
I remember putting at least 25 gallons in my cougar when it was a daily driver.I also remember spending about $30 to fill it when I just bought it in 89. I thing gas was about $1.20 back then.
I also remember the guy I got it from saying that it had a larger tank then the rest of the cars. He said it was requested by the original owner, because he was a salesman, and used the car for a lot of traveling. I also se the tank on the ground pulling into most driveways. Does anyone else have this problem?
We'll see in a few weeks when I drop the tank.
i've noticed that the fuel pump clicks off at different times with mine, depending where i fill up..... some pumps actually have stopped and i've been able to add as much as 3 more gallons..... it's amazing how much more you notice things like that at $3.79 a gallon :)
i think its the ed station pumps. lol
trying to screw us out of 3 gallons
wow, revived an old thread, lol. What size were the Mrk. VII tanks?