Spare Car Used Up Half A Tank Of Gas?!

[In_Correct]

So I drove my spare car to day. I had not driven it in ... I have never driven it. When I first got it, I parked it. and then it died. So I put the new battery and the new battery connections (The old ones were just corroded and rusted and rotted away ) and I drove it. Most of the time it drives fine. I do not not ice any issues but It had like 1/4 of a tank so I decided to fill the tank up. So I filled the tank up until the pump nozzle thing shut off all by it self. It only filled up to like 3/4 of a tank. And then I drove it and now it reads 1/4 of a tank?!

Also, the check engine light is on. I heard that if the gas gauge breaks if the check engine light comes on and the gauge reads E.



But it isn't reading E. It is reading 1/4 of a tank or 3/4 of a tank when it should read F.


It is actually a van. The Van is a 2005 Kia Sedona LX and it likes to consume half a tank of gas.


Is there a hole in the gas tank?!

Or it is a "smaller" problem such as the gas gauge is broken?

[Hemlock140]

If it was leaking you would be likely to smell it, and see puddles under it. When a car sits a long time with some gas in the tank, water condenses from the air and at only 1/4 tank that water can contact and rust out the sending unit and even damage the fuel pump. That's not exactly minor, it can be $600 or more to drop the tank, steam clean it, and replace the sending unit and pump.

[In_Correct]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

If it was leaking you would be likely to smell it, and see puddles under it. When a car sits a long time with some gas in the tank, water condenses from the air and at only 1/4 tank that water can contact and rust out the sending unit and even damage the fuel pump. That's not exactly minor, it can be $600 or more to drop the tank, steam clean it, and replace the sending unit and pump.

But I drove it. Can cars drive or even start with damaged fuel pumps?


Also, the check engine light was always on
(I paid $400.00 USD for it so I was like why not I'll risk it. lol ) (and not only that, when the woman moved it sit for a few weeks before returning. She started it a few times but the battery was corroding away etc. It was a bad battery {since replaced} connections {also replaced} and the check engine light.) So I was wondering if it never gave me an accurate gas reading.

A website says my gas the gas tank

19.8 gallon fuel tank

but my gas receipt said 11.129 gallons and then the gas nozzle clicked off. I did not try to force more gas in it. I guess filling up all the way was priority for me at the time. Do gas nozzles click off if there is a problem with the fuel system (in my van) or perhaps the gas station is malfunctioning ?

Is a bad sending unit causing the gauge to malfunction?

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by In_Correct

But I drove it. Can cars drive or even start with damaged fuel pumps?


Also, the check engine light was always on
(I paid $400.00 USD for it so I was like why not I'll risk it. lol ) (and not only that, when the woman moved it sit for a few weeks before returning. She started it a few times but the battery was corroding away etc. It was a bad battery {since replaced} connections {also replaced} and the check engine light.) So I was wondering if it never gave me an accurate gas reading.

A website says my gas the gas tank

19.8 gallon fuel tank

but my gas receipt said 11.129 gallons and then the gas nozzle clicked off. I did not try to force more gas in it. I guess filling up all the way was priority for me at the time. Do gas nozzles click off if there is a problem with the fuel system (in my van) or perhaps the gas station is malfunctioning ?

Is a bad sending unit causing the gauge to malfunction?

Yes, the gauge is only as accurate as the sending unit. If the float has a small hole and sinks partway or the rod corrodes and bends, it will read low on the gauge. It looks like your pump is plastic so not likely to rust.

[In_Correct]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

Yes, the gauge is only as accurate as the sending unit. If the float has a small hole and sinks partway or the rod corrodes and bends, it will read low on the gauge. It looks like your pump is plastic so not likely to rust.

I let it sit overnight before starting it again and now the gauge reads F.