Topping off the gas, fuel gauge issue

[coach81]

Other than poor MPG, the other complaint that I have heard with the vehicle is that even after you "fill it up" it doesn't seem to really fill up the tank on the display, and that this may be throwing off MPG estimates and whatnot I'd like some feedback from current owners on this topic.. what have you experienced with this, is it a real problem? If so what can we do about it?

[terryb]

Other than poor MPG, the other complaint that I have heard with the vehicle is that even after you "fill it up" it doesn't seem to really fill up the tank on the display, and that this may be throwing off MPG estimates and whatnot I'd like some feedback from current owners on this topic.. what have you experienced with this, is it a real problem? If so what can we do about it?

Good Morning Coach,

I only have 120 miles put on my dealer fill, but the gauge looks normal to me. Used right at 1/4 tank for that 100+mi. It's gonna be a while at my post retirement age before I need a re-fill.

 

Good luck on your delivery today.

[acdii]

Yep. If you look at my fills, the MPG varies drastically. I haven't quite figured out the top off point yet. If you fill it too fast it clicks off quickly, it must have something to do with the venting. It could just be my car, so will have to see if others chime in, but it does affect the calculations.

[MXGOLF]

I am having the same problem! What gallon capacity is our tanks? My first two fillups only 10.5 and 9.9 gallons? The gauge would warn me about low fuel (like 5 MILES left) but I really think there was a bunch more. We may have to have the pump jocky (we can't pump our own gas here) be sure to get every drop in the tank. I'm not used to a no gas cap automobile.

[GrySql]

The Owners Manual suggests a slow to medium fill rate and two auto click-off's for continuity.

I ran my tank down to zero miles left with the Fuel alert on, it took 11.2 gal.

I am going to assume that the tank is what Ford says at 13.8 so I theoretically had 1.6 gallons left at that point.

That would leave me with a 40-60 mile emergency range.

 

I'll leave my testing at that because running these out of gas is a bad thing.

On top of that the fuel pump is in the gas tank and is cooled by the fuel, in real hot weather that can end up being problematic.

[TX NRG]

Hybrid fuel tank 13.5 gal (51.1 L), Energi fuel tank 14.0 gal (53 L). Manual page 302.

[coach81]

Wouldn't know anything about filling up yet.. and yesterday was month number one :drool:

[brcd131]

I think 3 clicks is more realistic. I fill on the lowest speed and after 2 clicks, the gas gauge is a little below the full line. With the lower MPG and small tank, the range is real short. If I had EV+ turned on, it would probably recognize the gas station as a frequent destination.

[hermans]

Maybe you were kidding, but EV+ is not something you can turn on or off.

[hermans]

Wouldn't know anything about filling up yet.. and yesterday was month number one :drool:

My wife has gone 2+ weeks on her last fill up and the gauge this AM was still between 3/4 and 1/2 tank. Coming back from the grocery store yesterday I got 59+ mpg on a 5 mile trip in 30 degree weather. I love this car.

[acdii]

I am wondering if Ford put a bladder in the tank like Toyota did. That would explain a lot of the fill problems. After the 10th fill or so they have been pretty consistent at the first click. Since I use the scan gauge on this car, it tells you first click and no more so it can compute the averages and calibrate itself to the car, which it did on the 4th fill. From 1/4 tank on the dash I get roughly 9.3 gallons in. It usually ends up even with the top of the gauge, sometimes a tad over and sometimes under. I fill at the same pump park in the same spot so its consistent.

 

On the other Fusion forum, there is a complaint thread and it seems that after a few fills the tank is easier to fill and starts to take more fuel, while others still are wondering why they cant fill a 16 gallon tank with more than 12 gallons of fuel from empty.

[acdii]

My wife has gone 2+ weeks on her last fill up and the gauge this AM was still between 3/4 and 1/2 tank. Coming back from the grocery store yesterday I got 59+ mpg on a 5 mile trip in 30 degree weather. I love this car.

Shoot I went through the first tank in under a week, then again I do put a LOT of miles on. Just under 7100 on it now, but its been parked until tomorrow evening when I drive it to the dealer, which will either be its last time there for me, or will be its saving grace.

[GrySql]

Maybe you were kidding, but EV+ is not something you can turn on or off.

Sure you can, left display>Settings>Driver Assist>EV+ Mode>On or off.

I just turned my EV+ off to see how much battery storage I have when I arrive in the garage.

Wondering if it helps with a cold start and how soon the EV is available once the ICE warms up.

[GrySql]

Hybrid fuel tank 13.5 gal (51.1 L), Energi fuel tank 14.0 gal (53 L). Manual page 302.

I split the difference. Since I have the wrong shift knob I might have the wrong fuel tank..... ;)

[MXGOLF]

Thanks for the information. I figured something was wrong when filling up.

[GrySql]

I ran today's tank right down to Zero miles left, lights flashing empty. (That's right Coach, I used another tank of gas :cry: )

I filled at the slowest automatic setting on the pump handle.

The car took 10.7 gallons on the 1st click-off, 10.9 on the 2nd click, 11.0 on the 3rd click and 11.2 gallons on the 4th click-off.

I stopped there.

I compared the 11.2 gallons from the pump to both of my Trip Displays, which I'd zero'd out for this tank, each said that I had put 11.0 in the tank.

Some differences there, but how to interpret?

Was the cars tank expanding, the car tank vents slow, should I have kept trying to add gas, car's computer get confused with more click-offs, is my gas station cheating or my glasses dirty....

 

The display now says I can expect 506 miles on this new tank of gas, I hope so.

 

Edit: Oh yeah, the cars fuel gauge indicates plum full, top of the marks.

Edited February 12, 2013 by GrySql

[acdii]

The trip shows you estimated gas used, not how many you put in. No way to calibrate it, which is one of the reasons I spent $172 on the scan gauge. Gives me really good accurate readings once zeroed in. It will also do a few other things I havent quite spent the time to figure out, such as state of charge, Kw used, etc.

[hybridbear]

The trip shows you estimated gas used, not how many you put in. No way to calibrate it, which is one of the reasons I spent $172 on the scan gauge. Gives me really good accurate readings once zeroed in. It will also do a few other things I havent quite spent the time to figure out, such as state of charge, Kw used, etc.

 

Where did you buy the scan gauge? Where does it plug in to the car? In the OBD-II port?

 

I'm a nerd for numbers and statistics so it might be worth it for me just to learn more about the car's operations. Thanks.

[acdii]

I picked it up at autozone, that was with tax. It plugs into the ODBII port, and you can calibrate the MPH by GPS. I used a TomTom and an iphone app for that. Then you fill the car for 3 consecutive fills at the same pump parked the same way to one click when the tank gets to 1/4 level. Adjust the tank size, then set the gallons put in, and adjust as needed, by the fourth fill it should be within .1 of a gallon. Once you have that set, then the gauge MPG is within.2 of a mile.

 

You can setup various gauges, and add others when you know the codes. Some guys have it setup to show state of charge, and other extras. Mine is setup with instant MPG, average MPG, RPM, and engine temp.

[hybridbear]

I picked it up at autozone, that was with tax. It plugs into the ODBII port, and you can calibrate the MPH by GPS. I used a TomTom and an iphone app for that. Then you fill the car for 3 consecutive fills at the same pump parked the same way to one click when the tank gets to 1/4 level. Adjust the tank size, then set the gallons put in, and adjust as needed, by the fourth fill it should be within .1 of a gallon. Once you have that set, then the gauge MPG is within.2 of a mile.

 

You can setup various gauges, and add others when you know the codes. Some guys have it setup to show state of charge, and other extras. Mine is setup with instant MPG, average MPG, RPM, and engine temp.

 

How do you find out the codes to put different gauges on the display? Is the MPG that you show in pics of your scan gauge the MPG for that particular trip? Or since last reset, etc?

[MXGOLF]

OK I just filled up yesterday. I had only a 1/2 tank done but am going on a trip today and wanted to start on a full tank. Well I ended up putting 3 more gallons of gas in after the nozzel clicked full. I got the gas gauge over the full mark by a bunch. Previous fillups were only to the full mark or way less which I did not realize until was told we have a 13.5 gallon tank. It really screwed up my Fuelly statistics. It said only 17 mpg that previous tank. :( The gauge was saying 36 for that tank? I delieted that last fillup on Fuelly. Dam computers! Just an FYI for you all.

Edited February 15, 2013 by MXGOLF

[acdii]

I haven't figured out the codes yet, and not in any hurry to either, not until it warms up so I dont have to sit there with the engine running in the garage.

 

The MPG is for that trip only, it has a different screen that has tank average, previous day trips, and current trips. It also tells you how much the trips cost in gas, how many gallons used, how long you drove, average speed, max speed. Handy little tool, especially if you like to see what you spend on the car in time and money.

[hybridbear]

I haven't figured out the codes yet, and not in any hurry to either, not until it warms up so I dont have to sit there with the engine running in the garage.

 

The MPG is for that trip only, it has a different screen that has tank average, previous day trips, and current trips. It also tells you how much the trips cost in gas, how many gallons used, how long you drove, average speed, max speed. Handy little tool, especially if you like to see what you spend on the car in time and money.

 

Hmmm cool. Are the scan gauge codes car manufacturer specific or are they the same for all vehicles?

[acdii]

Not sure, like I said I really havent dug into it. Once it warms up and I can spend more time without having to have the car running to keep it warm, I will play with it some more.

[MXGOLF]

OK just filled up after 550 mile trip. I put in 12.6 gallons. The nozzel clicked at 7 gallons and had to force feed the rest. Averaged 36.8 miles for the trip. Just used cruise control. 69 mpo on the way down and 65 mpo on the way back. I got better mileage on the way down at 38 mpg. Just passed 1600 miles too. Just getting broken in I guess. Weather is still cold so that's a problem with mileage.