biodev

I have a 2004 430 w/60kmiles. This weekend I was driving up a steep highway and ran out of gas. At the time the gauge was reading 1/4 full and there was no yellow light. Between AAA and the gas station 6 miles away, I needed 17 gallons to fill the tank. The manual says this is a 22 gallon tank, so I must have had about 5 gallons in the tank when I stalled. This doesn't seem right. Anyone have any ideas?

LS430inDE.

Sounds like it was one STEEEEEP hill! Curious...was your gas cap installed & tight? My thoughts are leading to lack of pressure if the cap wasn't installed & tight...

Jabberwock

That is weird, maybe something is not right with your car. I can easily put 20 gallons in my tank when its on E.

usermel

Maybe his gas indicator isnt correct? Sounds like a possible miscalculation of gas due to a gas gauge malfunction, this is known to happen on cars and its random. Those gauges can be tricky as we know when cars speedometers are of and cause speeding tickets! I dont think theres a hill that they'd allow us to drive on that would cause this members issue. I would check the fuel gauge out because it cant say your empty or indicate it with you yellow warning indicator until the fuel gauge goes down to that point! Hope the best for you sir!!! L.G.N.M

REV-01

iTrader: (13)

i usually wait til the light is on then fill up...always at 20 gallons...one time i was too busy doing other things and ran out of gas too..fill it up it ran fine.

jayclapp

Sounds like a failing fuel pump.

GeorgeT

By any chance has the fuel tank been damaged so as to reduce the total capacity? I have seen cars (not lately though) that had partially collapsed tanks due to excessive vacuum. This would result in the same problem you are having - innaccurate gauge and reduced volumn.

waijai

iTrader: (9)

If the hill was steep and all your gas was at the back of the tank, the pump probably wasn't able to ingest any fuel to distribute. Did you try starting it on level ground before refueling?

AlexusAnja

I see you're from CA... SanFran? Those hills are pretty steep and could just be steep enough where 5 gallons left, hit the right angle, and the fuel is just not pumped out. As for damage to the fuel tank itself, if you've dented it enough to now not be able to compensate for about 5 gallons, then I'd say you would have a ruptured tank instead of a dented one.

I would say do a quick visual underneath, and you probably just should not drive up those hills with less than 1/3 tank.