Bad Mileage?

[rangerboy101]

My 5.0 gets terrible mileage...I think. The other day I filled it up(according to the gas gauge) it only took $25(which is only like 7 gallons worth) and within driving ~20 miles, it's below half a tank. I'm really starting to think my gas gauge is wrong. I'm afraid to run it for very long when it hits E because I don't want to end up stranded somewhere. What do you guys think? The car runs pretty rich but there's no way it's burning up this much gas in such a short distance. And there's no way it only takes ~7 gallons of gas to fill it up. Thoughts? Ideas? Thanks in advance.

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Sending unit is probably on its way out. It should hold more than 7 gallons.

 

[1991notchbackLX]

Change the plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fuel filter, flush the coolant and replace it, change the oil, and run a bottle of fuel injector cleaner through it. See if that helps, then figure out why you have a rich condition. Is your check engine light on? Do you have the stock emissions system in place, smog pump and all? Any information on the car at all other than it's a mystery Mustang?

 

[5.0Droptop]

its a 15 gallon tank so your sending unit is wrong.

 

[Boosted92LX]

Are they all 15? Most I've been able to cram in mine is about 12 1/2.

 

[5.0Droptop]

I just did a quick search on yahoo. Another mustang site had a similar thread about tank capacity and the general consensus was 15.1 gal.

 

[5.0Droptop]

1987 Ford Mustang GT LX

says 15.4 gal.

 

[Boosted92LX]

Good to know. I won't sweat it so much now when the needle hits "E".

 

[rangerboy101]

Change the plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fuel filter, flush the coolant and replace it, change the oil, and run a bottle of fuel injector cleaner through it. See if that helps, then figure out why you have a rich condition. Is your check engine light on? Do you have the stock emissions system in place, smog pump and all? Any information on the car at all other than it's a mystery Mustang?

Plugs, wires, and fluids are all good. I really just think it's my sending unit. I need to figure out the rich condition though.