Does Techron or Chevron gasoline help?

esfan · Post by **esfan** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 2:18 am

There's a problem regarding the fuel gauge needle on my 00ES for a long time. It always point less than the full level after I fill the tank fully. I've been told that it is related to the sulfur sludge stuck on the pressure sensor and techron or Chevron gasoline will solve this problem. So for almost 2 years, I keep using chevron gas with no exception, and I also add concentrated techron to the gas tank for 4 times. However, after two years, nothing really happen, it helps only a little bit but the needle is still pointing lower than normal. I just wonder if that (sulfur sludge) is the problem or something else causes it? or maybe techron is not as good as people think?

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 2:58 am

Any top tier gasoline really will keep deposits down. I did have a needle problem like that in my Roush however, and they [Ford] replaced my entire fuel pump and sender assembly instead of trying to spend all day diagnosing it. Works perfect now. They did tell me to make sure I didn't fill it up past two clicks of the pump shutting off. I'd just have to guess it might be the sender, based on past experience with it.

Have you ever taken the needles off before?

esfan · Post by **esfan** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 3:27 am

No. i have never taken the needles off.
Thanks for the advices. In this case if the sender is not working properly, will there be some symptom that shows it (CEL or something obvious)? Or is this something serious that have to be replaced?

MoxHair · Post by **MoxHair** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 3:55 am

I don't think there is a Neon made that the gas gauge actually functions properly. On my SRT4, I turned the fuel pump counter clock wise about a quarter of an inch and it made it at least some what accurate.

Mat · Post by **Mat** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:22 am

I'd try a Seafoam treatment before anything else.

Chris04sxt · Post by **Chris04sxt** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:53 am

MoxHair wrote:I don't think there is a Neon made that the gas gauge actually functions properly. On my SRT4, I turned the fuel pump counter clock wise about a quarter of an inch and it made it at least some what accurate.

Mine does the same thing. It's just one of those things. Even if I pump a whole $1.00's worth in after it shuts off, my needle never goes all the way up.

The thing I can't understand though is they say we have a 12 gallon tank, but I can never get more than 9 gallons into it. Seems pretty sensless to have 3 gallons that you can't use.

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:55 am

It's because when your light comes on it is EXTREMELY conservative. I've seriously driven an extra 60-80 miles after the light comes on.

hybrid-Srt2001 · Post by **hybrid-Srt2001** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:56 am

yep first 1/4 takes 130 miles then every quarter gets worse. Yet every time i fill up there is between 1 and 2.5 gallons left over.

Chris04sxt · Post by **Chris04sxt** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:58 am

The furthest I've pushed it when the light comes on is about 30 miles, so I guess that could be the case. Maybe one of these days I'll just go til it stalls, just to see what I can really get out of it. Keep a gas can in the car of course.

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 10:39 am

I've gotten a little over 11 gallons into my tank before. The space is there, don't worry.

chrisrunsi · Post by **chrisrunsi** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 3:03 pm

I've done the run till it stops method. Pushed it about 4 miles to the next reststop and it still only took 11!!

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 3:05 pm

I think I took mine 75 miles before I got scared and filled up. I've had the needle pegged past empty a few times, but I always fill up before it dies.

From what I've read, the chevron gas is only worth it if you used 87 octane. All top tier 93 octane has a healthy dose of the "techron" type additives already, so the chevron 93 is kind of overkill.

Chris04sxt · Post by **Chris04sxt** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 3:18 pm

I usually don't let it get to far below 1/4 cause thats a good way to fuck up your fuel pump. It just always baffled me why it would only take <9 gallons when I did let it go til the light came on.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:50 pm

The light comes on at 1/4 tank which I think is just stupid. Most other cars do it at 1/8 of a tank, not sure what dodge was thinking. I always wait until the light starts flashing at me, and I think it gives that annoying chime as well.

esfan · Post by **esfan** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 5:01 pm

Actually my light never comes on even the needle passes the red area. I'm thinking there might be something wrong but not seems to be serious there.

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 5:20 pm

Mine comes on right about when it gets to the red.

Post by **occasional demons** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 5:27 pm

It depends on the cluster. I don't recall my non tach cluster having a low fuel light.
Like Mox said, turn the fuel pump module.
My gauge has full range, regardless if I have the SE cluster, or the R/T cluster. It will peg on full, the light comes on near 1/8, and does the warning beep/ flashing light at less than 1/8.

I can get 11.5 gallon in it at the flashing fuel light point.

Swordfish2Cowboy · Post by **Swordfish2Cowboy** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 1:10 pm

My gas gauge works. It works well, and the readings are as correct as you're gonna get with something like that.

Neon's gas gauges are notorious for being inaccurate. Simple fix is to do like Mox said and turn the fuel pump. That should help some, if not get it right back on track. If the free "tried and true" solutions don't work, then think about spending money.

Also, clearly it's not a serious problem as your car just doesn't die when you've a full tank or anything. You're fucking gauge is off. Oh noes!

OB · Post by OB » Fri Oct 16, 2009 3:04 pm

Chris04sxt wrote:I usually don't let it get to far below 1/4 cause thats a good way to fuck up your fuel pump. It just always baffled me why it would only take <9 gallons when I did let it go til the light came on.

That would be because the light comes on at just over 9 gallons. Would you prefer for the light to come on when the tank was 100% empty?

danman132x · Post by **danman132x** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:20 am

I drive by miles. The gauge in my SRT swapped cluster is pretty accurate, but not near the bottom. Sometimes my needle will be sitting on the peg, with the fuel light on, but not flashing. When it starts flashing is when I start worrying. The most I ever put in my tank after it flashing was about 11.4 gallons. I generally dont go over 300 miles on a tank, because thats pushing it in my R/T, which only gives me 25 MPG on 93 octane

iskyfly · Post by **iskyfly** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 8:39 pm

Chris04sxt wrote: The thing I can't understand though is they say we have a 12 gallon tank, but I can never get more than 9 gallons into it. Seems pretty sensless to have 3 gallons that you can't use.

12.4 here.

drive it past the first low fuel warning then drive it about 20 miles after the 2nd low fuel warning indication (blinking fuel light).

in winter i get about 400 miles per tank.
in summer i get about 350 miles per tank.

Pablodragon · Post by **Pablodragon** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 9:58 pm

occasional demons wrote:It depends on the cluster. I don't recall my non tach cluster having a low fuel light.
.....

yea, no fuel lite in the no tach SE or ES cluster... I was surprised when I first got the sound and the low fuel lite when I switched to the tach/SXT cluster... also thought it was neat the the check engine lite is in the shape of an engine (think it's just a dot on the old SE cluster)

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 1:47 am

The dot is for the Sentry key. It says Check Engine or something like that. Been awhile since I've seen it, lol, can't remember.

jetas · Post by **jetas** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:29 am

Atleast ur gauges work. the one in my truck dnt move for shit. I drive it til the light comes on then i would pump gas.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 12:32 pm

I've always wanted to see just how far we can go with our neons, but I always get scared before I actually run out of gas. I shattered my ankle a few years ago, so I really don't look forward to walking a couple mile because I ran out of gas.

I think I'll put a 1 gallon reserve can in the trunk just to see how far I can make it. I'd like to see just how far off my gas gauge really is.

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 1:07 pm

Just be glad your gauge reads. When I sold mine, the gas gauge wouldn't even work for the first couple of miles.

Everytime I'd fill it up it'd say it was empty for the first few miles and then shoot to the top.

Adionik · Post by **Adionik** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 1:57 pm

I am scared as shit of running out of gas haha. I usually fill up when the light comes on to be safe.

In the SRT I don't let it get that low because it has a Walbro. Scanguage always tells me that it comes on at exactly 1.5 gallons.

Haganracing · Post by **Haganracing** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 3:33 pm

I always try to fill up when the light comes on or before it comes on.. That way the shit at the bottom of my gas tank doesn't get picked up and could mess with the filter.

iskyfly · Post by **iskyfly** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 9:58 am

13.4 gallons when i refilled last night.
380 miles

bigbird · Post by **bigbird** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 1:30 pm

iskyfly wrote:13.4 gallons when i refilled last night.
380 miles

?????????