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  •  » How many gallons are in a 16 gallon tank?!?!

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    10/04/2020 9:02 AM  #1

    TremendousWand
    I FYI 24-7

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    Registered: 5/16/2013
    Posts: 657

    How many gallons are in a 16 gallon tank?!?!

    1966 Mustang Coupe, 5.0 Swap, EFI-MAF, T5z

    I have to calibrate the fuel gauge in my Dakota digital setup.  I have to do a custom calibration because none of the stock settings apply to my restomod setup.

    Instructions call for taking a reading resistance at empty tank, 1/3 tank, 2/3 Tank, and Full.  After that the readings are saved and your good to go.  Easiest way to do this was to have an empty tank and just add the appropriate levels of fuel and capture the reading at each level.

    Knowing I have a 16 gallon stock tank that I purchased new I did some highly complex rocket science level math and determined I needed to set the readings at empty, 5.3 Gallons, 10.6 Gallons, and 16 gallons.

    The fuel tank was full at 14.5 Gallons!!!!  WTF?!?!  I filled it till it was basically pouring out the hole?  I know the tank was at empty b/c I was circling the Walmart parking lot waiting till I ran out of gas.  Once it sputtered and died on empty added maybe a half a gallon of gas so I could make it to the gas station.  

    Needless to say, I'll have to do the entire calibration again again knowing that 14.5 - 15 gallons is max capacity?  Am I an idiot here to expect a 16 gallon tank to take 16 gallons of gas?  How much gas does your tank actually hold?

     

    10/04/2020 9:39 AM  #2

    DC
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: Marshall, MI
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 1,251

    Re: How many gallons are in a 16 gallon tank?!?!

    It  does not take much out of level condition to make up for one or two gallons. There may have been a bit of air trapped because of not being exactly level. Since you want useable capacity, your 14.5 number should work for your car and it's stance.

     

    10/04/2020 9:53 AM  #3

    Nos681
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: Atlantic Mine, Michigan
    Registered: 7/14/2016
    Posts: 3,336

    Re: How many gallons are in a 16 gallon tank?!?!

    This may take some time, worth the effort.

    Since you have an electric fuel pump.
    Get 3 empty 5 gallon gas cans and pump into the cans.
    Once you have your fuel line in the portable tanks and secure,
    I would suggest pumping gas tank out until pump starts to sputter.
    No need to damage a good pump.

    If you have an internal baffle around the pickup tube/screen, you may need to run to sputter a couple of times.
    At this point, a small amount of gas will be in the tank.
    This will be true empty for “real life”...you’re pushing the car to gas station.

    I would add 2 gallons as a reserve and call that Empty for gauges.
    Then add your gas as needed to calibrate.

    If you are using EEC-IV, you can install a jumper in Test plug to run fuel pump.
    Look it up, it’s been a while since I’ve done it.
    Don’t want to give wrong information.

    I have 22 gallon tank and stock gauges.
    When I get to Empty, I still have plenty of gas to not have to push the car.
    I haven’t truly calibrated mine, it is on my to-do list.
    Besides, my buttocks tells me to pull over for a break long before the gas gauge does.😂

    BTW, that’s a lot of circles in parking lot even at 16 gallons.😁

     

    10/04/2020 9:54 AM  #4

    Cab4word67
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: Portland, Ore
    Registered: 4/06/2019
    Posts: 1,154

    Re: How many gallons are in a 16 gallon tank?!?!

    Yes as DC said, i set my truck up with Dakota to run out before my tank did. I have 2 gallons left for "just in case" Empty is much more important that full being really full

    Slammed Big Blue, ran over the varmints that messed with the Stang. Now all is good in the NW
     

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  •  »  How many gallons are in a 16 gallon tank?!?!

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