Hello on this beautiful sunny California day! Cayenne here, and who thinks about their fuel gauge? You probably don't… until it doesn't work anymore. Then you have to guess how much fuel is in your tank, and that's no way to live life on the road. So today we will bark about the fuel gauge from E (Empty) to F (Full). Let filler up and get barkin'!
Fuel gauges, like every other part in your vehicle, can fail. And when yours stops working, you will probably want to head over to your service facility soon, because no one relishes running out of fuel.
The fuel gauge system is much more than just the gauge you can see on your instrument panel. Most systems have a float inside the fuel tank that rises and falls depending on the fuel level. It's called the fuel sending unit, and it sends an electrical signal to the gauge (located on the dash) telling it to display the amount of fuel remaining in the tank.
So, what could go wrong? Well, a few things. For one thing, corrosion from bad fuel can cause it to stick, and it won't move up and down anymore. So you could fill up your tank, and the gauge would still read Empty. If a sending unit needs to be replaced, often the parts can be costly. The good news is that fuel sending units rarely fail, and most drivers will likely never experience one malfunction.
Other things that can go wrong? An electrical problem could cause a fuse to blow and you won't get a reading at all. A technician can figure out where that electrical problem is and how to repair it. Finally, it's possible for the gauge itself (on the instrument panel) to fail.
One thing to keep in mind is that if your fuel gauge isn't working, you might be tempted to carry around an extra container of fuel. That's ok if it's outside the cabin, such as in the bed of a pickup. But if you carry it inside the cabin or trunk, fuel fumes can be very dangerous for your health, even fatal.
A working fuel gauge gives you peace of mind… so you'll never have that "empty" feeling.
I leave you with this quote for the week,
"My fuel gauge is firmly in the 'E' zone, but my determination is fueled by sheer stubbornness and the promise of snacks."
Cayenne
Allied Auto Works
2073 Grant Road
Los Altos, CA 94024
6509687227
http://alliedautoworks.com