Gas Gauge Problem

[Greg Clemens]

I have a 2001, last summer my heads up display gas gauge didn't match my dash gauge. I had the gas tank removed, and the sensor replaced, it worked until now, same problem. Is there some type of additive I can add to my gas to clean & keep clean the sensor? I have put less tha 1500 miles on the car since the sensor was replaced. Is it the gas I am using? I use a variety of brands, always 93 octane.
Thanks Greg Clemens

[Glennm27]

Sounds like a Sunoco user to me. There is something in Sunoco fuels that Corvette Fuel sensors do NOT like.

Hopefully someone else will be able to reply with more info on this...

Do you use Sunoco?

[cenzo]

Try some Techron, a 20 ouncer if you can find one. I think they come 12 and 20 ounces. Any Shell stations in the neighborhood?

[hcvone]

Here we go with the Sunoco bull again, I ran nothing but Sunoco in 3 of my 4 C5's (can't get Sunoco in Switzerland where I took one of the cars) and never had a fuel sending issue. Bryner seems to have a Sunoco issue. The funny thing is when talking to many of my Corvette customers that have had sending unit, and or transfer pump issues I could only one or two that used Sunoco fuel. It's not the fuel, it's a poor design that has effected many Corvette's since the first C5 came out in 1997 as a 98' model. Mnay west coast customers had these problems and Sunoco gas was not sold in their state. :)

[Norm Clemmer]

Greg

I don't believe the problem is Sunoco. When I bought my Vette I had two situations where the gas guage went to zero when the tank was half full. I had been running 100% on Mobil at the time. I switched to Sunoco 94 and have not had a problem for several years. I believe it is the sulfer in the gas does't work well with GM's design.

I would also recomend you try Techron. If it works you might continue to add a can about every 3,000 miles. I stopped buying Sunoco when they dropped 94. My personal preference is now Amoco/BP. Don't know what kind of gas you are using but suggest you switch gas stations and or brands.

Norm

[Greg Clemens]

Thanks fot the advice, thinkI'll try the techron, don'tse Sunoco, but I do switch gases, could be sulfur.

Thanks greg

[92RAGTOP]

Petro-Canada backs off on fuel fault
No longer blames bad gauge on GM `There is more work to be done'



TONY VAN ALPHEN
BUSINESS REPORTER

Petro-Canada now says it's not sure if a General Motors part is the reason why vehicle fuel gauges are malfunctioning and causing hundreds of motorists to run out of gasoline and stall.

The Calgary-based oil giant said yesterday the company needs to do more work with General Motors of Canada Ltd. before it can determine whether a sensor in the fuel tank or something else is the source of the gauge problem.

"We're not entirely clear what the problem is," said John Hamilton, senior communications adviser with Petro-Canada. "At this point, there is not one specific thing we can point to. There is more work to be done."

Last week, another Petro-Canada official charged that a "faulty" and "inferior" part is causing the wildly inaccurate gauge readings on some GM models.

The official also revealed Petro-Canada had temporarily added a special ingredient to its gasoline that may be useful in correcting the problem so GM has time to fix it.

Hamilton said the company doesn't know how long it will continue adding the ingredient.

Petro-Canada and other oil companies such as Shell Canada are also trying to find out why the problem only appears to affect motorists predominantly in the GTA and nearby regions.

The initial comments from Petro-Canada came after GM said its engineers believed the problem originated with the fuel.

Oshawa-based GM, the country's biggest auto maker, also said it was working with the major oil companies to improve the compatibility of their gasolines with fuel-tank sensors.

GM won't disclose how many customers have raised concerns about inaccurate gauges since the end of April, when the problem started. But one industry source said hundreds of customers have experienced problems.

The Canadian Automobile Association reported fuel-related claims from members jumped 62 per cent in May. More than half of the 1,612 calls involved GM vehicles.

The other top auto makers, Ford Motor Co. of Canada Ltd., DaimlerChrysler Canada Inc. and Toyota Canada Inc., say they have not spotted a problem.

"We're not getting calls," said Ford spokesperson Lauren More.

But Ford and DaimlerChrysler owners have contacted The Star about running out of gasoline recently while their gauges showed they had plenty of fuel.

Dave Cook, who drives a Ford Focus, ran out of gasoline on Highway 401 on Saturday with his gauge reading more than 1/8th of a tank remaining.

"No one was hurt," said Cook of Aurora.

"I only lost time and money. However, I was sitting in a very dangerous spot for an extended period of time with my entire family in harm's way with me."

The problem has turned into a headache for the auto industry because it affects customer satisfaction and safety, two key factors influencing sales, which have dropped this year. GM's business, for example, has slid 13 per cent in the first five months despite price incentives.

GM dealers are advising motorists who experience inaccurate fuel gauges or stall with empty tanks to monitor their mileage, make sure they top up fuel tanks regularly and use fuel injector cleaners periodically.

If the problem persists, GM said it will replace the sensors in late models for free. The company says it has no plans for a massive recall.

[jim4242]

Steve Spencer also reccomends the Techtron, they sell it at Bryners. I had the same problem and it worked on mine.

Jim

[Glennm27]

Techron cleans the fuel injectors very nicely.

You can buy it at Walmart