Gas Gauge Red Light : How much more gas in tank?

[tight as a bull's ass]

On my 83 SC, my fuel gauge needle is sticking at 1/4 full...

the only indication that fuel is low is when the red light comes on.

Once the red light comes on (and goes off in intervals, eventually to stay on), how much more gas do I have in gallons?

Thanks.

[Graham Archer]

When my red light comes on, I can fill the tank with about 18 gallons. I'm not sure, but I assume the tank will hold 20 gallons (never tested it).

[pwd72s]

That's my guess as well, somewhere around 2-2.5 gallons....based on the same logic of filling up just after the light came on.

[GT911]

Dido for my '81 Super Carrera oops I mean SC.

As a Porsche owner you have an obligation to fill 'er up when the orange fuel light comes on.

A 911 should NEVER sit on the side of the road for lack of fuel.

[masraum]

In the owners manual for my '88 it says the light comes on when there's 2 Gal left, I can usually get about 19-20.5 gallons in, and my car is supposed to have a 22 gal tank.

[Adam]

I don't tend to let it get that low. God knows how much crud is sitting in the bottom of the tank, I don't want that clagging up my shiny new injectors.

I replace my fuel filter in my cars regularly, but I still don't 100% trust them.

[Edit:] And/or rust in the tank...

[82SC]

on my first day of porsche ownership Tony Callas, my mechanic told me about he 911 gas guage.

if you break really hard and the needle swings you are ok...if the needle does not swing the car is VERY VERY close to running out of gas so you better get to a gas station...

this rule has never failed me yet

MJ

[MotoSook]

I drained my tank last summer to replace the strainer. I can't say that it is the case for all of us, but there was not as much debris in the tank after 26 years as I expected. There was no crud as I could tell. The strainer looked as good as the new one I bought! Maybe the PO(s) replaced it at some point, but it didn't look like it judging from the undercoating. I replaced it anyways. So unless there was crud put into the tank I don't think running it down until the light comes on is that terrible.

Adam, if you think there is crud in your tank, or if you just want piece of mind, change the strainer. It's cheap and easy. I got a bolt (can remember what size) and used it as a tool, else I'd have to get a 17 MM (?) allen wrench. There's a Pelican Tech Article on it.

[Adam]

Thanks, Souk. I'll probably do that. My 2.7's injectors were the original units and they quit late last year. That's not too bad from 26 years of service, but even though I've got new ones, I'm paranoid.