Hi,

 

I am a new Subaru owner, and this forum has been really helpful, although I didn't think I would need to use it so fast when I bought the car in July 03. First, I had a backing plate problem that needed to be adjusted, then an issue with pinging/knocking, and now I've noticed that the fuel guage seems to be indicating that I have less fuel than I actually have; the guage is off about 2 gallons. Any ideas? I have read other threads that talk about a fuel guage issues in Subarus, but any suggestions/advice? What parts of the car are suspect - fuel sensors or fuel sending unit?

I have an MY03 XS Forester too and the fuel gauge is not accurate in it either.

 

Here's is what you do:

 

1. Fill up your tank and use it around town like you normally do and make a written note or a mental one for the mileages when the needle hits ¾ - ½ - ¼ and then again when the bowser light comes on.

 

2. Do the same thing when you do a long trip.

 

From then on you can make a mental assessment of how your car is running. I have done this in preference to fiddling with the sensors or gauges.

 

I also prefer to use the old rule of "If it ain't broke - don't fix it" or it will end up costing you double and being 2 gals out means it ain't broke so leave it alone. :D :D

 

My Forester does:

100kms before it move off FULL

200kms to ¾

350kms to ½

475kms to ¼

and 600+ before the Bowser light comes on for a trip.

Around town I fill it up when I have done about 520 - 540kms.

My 2003 Forester (23,000klms) only gets 360klms to a tank of gas....if that sometimes. What can I do?

 

Besides my bad fuel economy, I have had a water leak in my back seat twice. And my rims are rusty.

Each time I have acquired a new vehicle, I run the fuel tank to empty, just to find out how good is the gas gauge. Obviously I carry a spare can of gas with me to refill from.

 

My 2002 Forester ran 40km after the 'low-gas' warning-light came on, before it started to misfire, and stopped my test there. It took about 60L to refill the tank, so it must have been just about empty.

 

Now I know.

Originally posted by forester2002s

My 2002 Forester ran 40km after the 'low-gas' warning-light came on, before it started to misfire, and stopped my test there. It took about 60L to refill the tank, so it must have been just about empty.

 

You are gutsy, I start sweating when it hits the needle stopper way below emtpy.

 

For the first three years I had my 00' Forester the fuel gauge was more accurate. The needle would go pas the F when filled and I would always get at least 300km around half and in the end just below the E it would be around 450km.

 

This last year I cannot get the needle to go past the F no matter how much I filled the tank! I would hit the end needle below the E and be around 400-425km. Brought to Subaru and ... well it' ain't quite broken, is it? was the reply I got from them. I might start a thread on the stupidity of the service department later.

 

Can anyone post something we (accurate fuel gauge wannabee's) could do to fix this problem. I actually removed the plastic cover to move the needle further up, but it seems to operate on a voltage differrence (generated from fuel pump?).

 

Hope next year it doesn't get more inaccurate and I run out of gas 10km from a gas station in -40C or +40C degree weather. That would a bit annoying.