Question for those who use odometer/trip odometer vs fuel gauge...

[fallingat120mph]

86' 3.2 and I am on the road with a fuel sender that went bad. Fuel gauge is stuck on 1/2 tank all the time and I have a rallye and long trip home over the next week. Have a new sender but it is home and I don't have time to ship/install.

In three decades of ownership I have never had a non working fuel gauge so been lucky there and I rarely use or reset the trip odometer.

So, for those that have a bad gauge, sender, etc. what kind of mileage are you getting per tank and when should I fill up to be safe?

I am guessing 180-200 miles with my 22 gallon tank would be a good start.


Probably will be using the odometer and trip odometer combined just for piece of mind.



Thanks for any insight, really miss the working fuel gauge.


Erik

[ccallana]

I quite typically get 18-20 MPG in my 86 3.2.. you should be able to go well beyond 200 miles on a tank... Probably wouldn't try and stretch to 400 unless it was all easy cruising freeway at 75...

[John W.]

My 89 3.2 gets 25 mph - mostly freeway driving at 75. You’d be safe at 350 miles.

[Ian Comerford]

My fuel gauge hasn’t worked for a while, and it’s not the sender at fault. I now fill the tank, zero the trip and around the 400 mile stage start looking for fuel. It has gone to 450 on longer drives.

[PeteKz]

When my sender was not working, I just filled it up on every even 200 miles on the odometer. I don't think I had to put more than 10 gallons in it at those intervals, even if it was mostly in town driving.

[chrisbruck]

Mine all works fine but sometimes the gauge "sticks" so I usually look for gas close to the 400 mile mark... 20 mpg at 20 gallons with 2 gal reserve.

[darrin]

Erik -- recommend you first fill up, zero trip odometer, drive for 200 miles and fill back up. In my '86 targa, I get around 20mpg and a fill-up at 200 miles would require around 10 gallons. If you experience the same (i.e. you confirm that your car's, in fact, getting around 20mpg), drive for 300 miles before your next fill up and again confirm your car only used around 15 gallons (leaving a 7 gallon cushion). You should then feel comfortable continuing to fill up at 300 mile intervals. If your car's using more than 15 gallons per 300 mile interval (or 10 gallons per 200 mile interval) adjust accordingly. Have a great trip home!

[911 Rod]

Do yourself a favour and grab a small jerry can of gas and keep it in the car until you change the sender. Peace of mind.

[fallingat120mph]

Originally Posted by darrin

Erik -- recommend you first fill up, zero trip odometer, drive for 200 miles and fill back up. In my '86 targa, I get around 20mpg and a fill-up at 200 miles would require around 10 gallons. If you experience the same (i.e. you confirm that your car's, in fact, getting around 20mpg), drive for 300 miles before your next fill up and again confirm your car only used around 15 gallons (leaving a 7 gallon cushion). You should then feel comfortable continuing to fill up at 300 mile intervals. If your car's using more than 15 gallons per 300 mile interval (or 10 gallons per 200 mile interval) adjust accordingly. Have a great trip home!

My thoughts exactly…cars solid but less than perfect so my mileage may very a bit.


Thanks for tor the response -

Erik

[fallingat120mph]

Thanks everyone for the responses! I have my father in law as a passenger so last thing I want to do is run out of gas. I figured 18-20mpg to 20 plus gallons would get me at least to 300…but honestly I have never paid attention in the 911..


Alright back on the road…thanks again all!

Erik

[PeteKz]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Do yourself a favour and grab a small jerry can of gas and keep it in the car until you change the sender. Peace of mind.

And this! ^^^

[carreradpt]

I always reset my odometer when I get gas. And then use both the gauge and the mileage. I know I can go 400 miles (in flat FL) but will always gas up before I get too close. I count on the mileage, not so much my gauge.

[fallingat120mph]

Well, made it home to the Midwest from the Hill Country Rallye in Texas with just the trip odometer and overall I can say I am already used to it. Fuel gauge will get fixed in time but looks like hard driving on the back roads was around 18 mpg and highway on average (very windy all the way home) was around 22mpg. I have generally been filling up around 200-250 and doing the math seems pretty consistent.

I honestly never knew how many miles I was driving per fill up so thanks to everyone giving a response. My fuel gauges have always been spot on so guess I've been lucky.

Going to push this tank to 300 and do the math one last time then fix the sender and like some have suggested use both for the future.

Anyway, drama free road trip and wanted to thank those for chiming in.



Erik

[porschedude996]

Drink water and base the fill-up interval on your bladder, stretch your legs, look around and enjoy the scenery.

[GH85Carrera]

That bike on top caused a LOT of drag.

I take regular cross country road trips. I have often gone 500 miles on a tank of gas in my 85 with the AC cranked up to chill. One most return trips I stop 500 miles from home to fill up with gasohol and deliberately try to get home with the low fuel light on. I can fill up with pure gas a few blocks from home.

I love my 21 gallon fuel tank.

My bladder can't go much more than 200 miles.

[fallingat120mph]

Originally Posted by porschedude996

Drink water and base the fill-up interval on your bladder, stretch your legs, look around and enjoy the scenery.

Always!

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

That bike on top caused a LOT of drag.

I take regular cross country road trips. I have often gone 500 miles on a tank of gas in my 85 with the AC cranked up to chill. One most return trips I stop 500 miles from home to fill up with gasohol and deliberately try to get home with the low fuel light on. I can fill up with pure gas a few blocks from home.

I love my 21 gallon fuel tank.

My bladder can't go much more than 200 miles.

Yes, bike made a noticeable difference, especially with the winds across the plains. Took everything off the top for a day and drove in high winds and felt like I was on glass. But I use the rack and bike so...

I drink a lot of water on cross country trips, especially coming from a moto back ground, so gas and water fill ups went hand in hand...miles may vary


Erik