Gas tank float problem?

[nesslar]

My car stumbled yesterday, felt like I was running out of gas. Although the gauge registered about 3/8 (warning light was somewhat lit), it sure felt like fuel starvation (as in "empty"). Upon second "stumble", I put in six gallons, Chevron station within a block of where I was) and the gauge went to about 40%.
Would the "float" get stuck perhaps and allow the reading to be incorrect? Never happened before, and no further problem arose during the next 8 miles to home. Car ran like a top, as usual. I'm not familiar with what's inside there, so what could cause a false reading like that? I HAD noted that through about twenty miles of driving prior to the incident the fuell level never appeared to fall.......so it definitely looked to be stuck somehow. ...'86 Carrera.....

[ossiblue]

You are not alone on problems like this and to answer your question directly, yes, the float can get stuck. Simply put, the float "rides" on two thin resistance wires as it travels up and down a central shaft. Varnish, rust particles, or even slight bending of the resistance wires can prevent free travel of the float which will then give false readings. It sounds like your float got stuck a little ways from the bottom of its travel. It is possible to remove the sending unit, remove the outside cover and carefully clean up the float mechanism. If you choose to do that, be sure to order a new gasket before re-installation of the sending unit.

[nesslar]

Thanks, kinda as I figured, but I don't see any reason for anything to have been bent. I intend to keep the fuel level higher (usually below half a tank to near empty) from now on so as not to pick up any particulate, could be the problem. Seems fine now, measures about where it should. Maybe some good hard cornering will "rinse it clean"......