Fuel Gauge Issue

[PhilipM]

Yesterday I drove from Andorra to Lyon to see my son. About 80 km from Lyon the fuel gauge was showing 80 km range with 80 km to go, so I thought I'd better put some petrol in, so stopped at a motorway services and put about 9 litres - 2 gallons - about 60 miles/90 km - in.

Getting back in I noticed that the fuel gauge was showing no more fuel and no more range than before but carried on. I was driving around Lyon showing zero range but this morning I filled up immediately I got out of the hotel and it took just 58 litres - so 6 litres short of capacity. But the fuel gauge at least showed full.

Same again this afternoon on the way back. Range showing as 71 km with 120 km to go, so put in 10 Euros worth - about 8.5 litres - again no change in the display or the range.

So has anyone else had this happen?

 

[mr pg]

Can't comment on 992's but this is well known on 996 4wd's due to the fuel tank being saddle shaped to clear the front drive shafts. The float being on one side means that if you don't put enough fuel in it won't register until sufficient in both sides to bridge the saddle. Is yours 4wd?

 

[PhilipM]

No it's a C2S, but I'll check next time I refuel it. I'll put in 15 litres and see whether it registers. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[pwebb]

Philip, they all do that, sir. For some reason, if your Fuel light comes on and you only put a few litres in, it doesn’t register. I recently found exactly the same when on the motorway and found the 169.9p per litre a little too strong for my taste, so did a splash and dash but the mileage countdown to zero continued.

 

[PhilipM]

Philip, they all do that, sir. For some reason, if your Fuel light comes on and you only put a few litres in, it doesn’t register. I recently found exactly the same when on the motorway and found the 169.9p per litre a little too strong for my taste, so did a splash and dash but the mileage countdown to zero continued.

That's exactly why I just put in 11 Euros worth. Motorway prices in France are a rip off. Find a LeClerq, Intermarche or Super U off motorway and you're talking 20c a litre less. Anyway you have all put my mind at rest so thank you!

 

[LRR_uk]

Hi PhilipM.

I hope Mr PG and PWebb's explanation is the right one in your case. Since I haven’t yet spent the time to type up the LONG list of issues I've had with my FANTASTIC 992 C2S over the last 2.5 months yet.....

But the FIRST issue was....

I had agreed to purchase a ten day old 992 C2S dealer demonstrator that had 300'ish miles on it of which I had driven 30 on its first day of registration...

While the car was being prep'ed for me it was identified the fuel gauge sender didn't work, as until then no-one appeared to notice the gauge hadn't gone down!

So they had to order a warrantee replacement part from Germany....

A week later still no part had arrived and no delivery date for the part, so they agreed to remove the part from their freshly delivered 992 and cover the extra workshop hours to remove and then later refit the part once it arrived effectively having to do the job twice, but allowing me to have the car (and obviously them making their sale []).

Hope that helps,

Lee.

 

[PhilipM]

Lee

I'm happy with the replies thank you. The car is indeed very good. I hope your woes with the fuel gauge sender are over soon.

Hi PhilipM.

I hope Mr PG and PWebb's explanation is the right one in your case. Since I haven’t yet spent the time to type up the LONG list of issues I've had with my FANTASTIC 992 C2S over the last 2.5 months yet.....

But the FIRST issue was....

I had agreed to purchase a ten day old 992 C2S dealer demonstrator that had 300'ish miles on it of which I had driven 30 on its first day of registration...

While the car was being prep'ed for me it was identified the fuel gauge sender didn't work, as until then no-one appeared to notice the gauge hadn't gone down!

So they had to order a warrantee replacement part from Germany....

A week later still no part had arrived and no delivery date for the part, so they agreed to remove the part from their freshly delivered 992 and cover the extra workshop hours to remove and then later refit the part once it arrived effectively having to do the job twice, but allowing me to have the car (and obviously them making their sale []).

Hope that helps,

Lee.

 

[rtwright]

Yes I did have this happen once when I did not fill the tank...the gauge did not reflect the additional fuel for about 30 minutes, and then suddenly showed the change. So far a once time issue...

 

[LRR_uk]

I'm currently driving a 992 C4S demonstrator that I've had for a week. It only had 67 miles to empty when I collected it.

Friday night I parked it up with 5 miles to empty. I drove it to the gym on Saturday morning where the display switched to "---". I then added 21 Ltrs of fuel (£30), but the display didn't change;

I then drove numerous journeys over the course of a number of hours including driving to the petrol station to fill up a 5 ltr fuel can and taking the car back to the Porsche dealership to show them where the display still didn't update;

Took the car out Sunday for two journeys, again it was still blank. However, I then put in another 14 Ltrs (£20) and the display came back;

So it appears it may need to cross a threshold ?

Hope that helps,

Lee.

 

[LRR_uk]

I returned the C4S demonstator today.

It was displaying 9 mile to empty yesterday evening when I parked it. Today, the range display switched to "---". The dealership is 4 miles from home, with a Tesco very close by. I put 10 Ltrs in at Tesco, the display stayed as "---". I took it back to the dealership with this display. Fingers crossed this will get escalated to Porsche Germany and a fix is produced.

 

[Lancerlot]

It's been a characteristic of 911's for many years. it's not a defect as such. It happens because of the configuration of the fuel tank and the baffles, which are there to prevent surge during heavy cornering.

When low on fuel, the fuel level reading is inconsistent. But why would anyone want to run the car so low on fuel anyway - it's always been considered bad practice.
Regards,

Clive

 

[LRR_uk]

Thank you Clive, seems rather dissapointing mulitple members of staff at the dealership appear to not know about such a feature especially as I mentioned I took their car back on two occassions with this displayed.

Oh well, I know not to do it in my own [].

Cheers.

 

[Lancerlot]

You're welcome, Lee. If staff turnover at your dealership is as high as it is at mine, I doubt there are many there that have 30 years practical experience of driving 911's. []
Regards,

Clive