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2type2 Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2002 Posts: 975 Location: SW Colorado
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 9:07 am Post subject: Measuring fuel without guage, how to do?? On late bug and early |
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Need to figure fuel amount in tanks , guages are nowhere near accurate. Other than pulling sender on 71 std. bug, any tricks to measure it ? How about on a 66 bus?
I would be happy to determine the level in these (installed) tanks and seeking a way. I somehow recall a method with hot water on the tank exterior ? _________________ "A life of peace and happiness depends on your own gratefulness" |
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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 12850 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 9:39 am Post subject: Re: Measuring fuel without guage, how to do?? On late bug and early |
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Fix it, keep a log of miles since last fill up, or carry extra fuel. _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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anthracitedub Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2007 Posts: 3241 Location: Michigan
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:29 am Post subject: Re: Measuring fuel without guage, how to do?? On late bug and early |
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Weigh it... a gallon is about 8 pounds.😉 |
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KTPhil Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006 Posts: 34003 Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 11:02 am Post subject: Re: Measuring fuel without guage, how to do?? On late bug and early |
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Gauge calibration:
Stick:
Mileage counter:
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CanStan Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2005 Posts: 1037 Location: Calgary, AB
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 12:52 pm Post subject: Re: Measuring fuel without guage, how to do?? On late bug and early |
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Pull the line off the bottom of the tank and drain it out. Check the filter sock and change the fuel line while you’re at it and it’s easy to get at. Then fill a few Jerry cans, checking the gauge after every couple gallons you add. Make note of where the needle sits after every can of gas. |
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2type2 Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2002 Posts: 975 Location: SW Colorado
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 12:56 pm Post subject: Re: Measuring fuel without guage, how to do?? On late bug and early |
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Sounds right, or maybe fill to full ,siphon half, and know where 1/2 sits on guage, or1/4. _________________ "A life of peace and happiness depends on your own gratefulness" |
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Joe 20 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2005 Posts: 655 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 8:03 pm Post subject: Re: Measuring fuel without guage, how to do?? On late bug and early |
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On a 57 I owned I just used a stick with my own markings for full/1/2 etc. Nothing too fancy. No gas gauge on those old ones, but did have a reserve tank. _________________ "Someday the world is gonna be populated by nothing but Volkswagens'" Corporal Klairvoy |
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my59 Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2003 Posts: 3791 Location: connecting the dots
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:17 pm Post subject: Re: Measuring fuel without guage, how to do?? On late bug and early |
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TDCTDI wrote: |
keep a log of miles since last fill up |
Been using the PO's logbook since I got the '59. One of the benefits is that you can figure mpg out, and when it drops might be time for a tune up. _________________ my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget. |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22645 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 12:31 am Post subject: Re: Measuring fuel without guage, how to do?? On late bug and early |
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Drive it until the IFuelGauge App bleats that you need fuel. Available for Android, Google, and OilOs _________________ .ssS! |
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coad Samba Scapegoat
Joined: September 12, 2002 Posts: 7552
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Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 6:52 am Post subject: Re: Measuring fuel without guage, how to do?? On late bug and early |
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Get a a few feet if clear aquarium hose. Put one end in the tank, pull a siphon and see where the fluid level is at the other end of the hose--that will match the level of fuel in the tank. |
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mark tucker Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2009 Posts: 23937 Location: SHALIMAR ,FLORIDA
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Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 8:53 am Post subject: Re: Measuring fuel without guage, how to do?? On late bug and early |
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I JUST FUEL IT UP when I figure it needs it...200 miles or so it should need fuel. it's not rocket sciance....or every 2 weeks if that is how much Ive determaned =7 gallons of the same old routine...or once a week for when the routine changes...like summer time and lots of more driving. |
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KTPhil Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006 Posts: 34003 Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 11:30 am Post subject: Re: Measuring fuel without guage, how to do?? On late bug and early |
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Before I upgraded my '67 to an electric gauge from a Ghia (or found the instructions posted above), I used to just rock the car at stoplights. If I heard sloshing, then I know I had a gallon or more left. If not, head for the first gas station I find.
Looking back, it probably looked pretty "odd" from other drivers' point of view...
Last edited by KTPhil on Thu Apr 22, 2021 9:46 am; edited 1 time in total |
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mark tucker Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2009 Posts: 23937 Location: SHALIMAR ,FLORIDA
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Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 3:26 pm Post subject: Re: Measuring fuel without guage, how to do?? On late bug and early |
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dont rock the juke box..did your raidieieio go quiet ?. |
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kpf Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2017 Posts: 852 Location: California, US
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Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 5:50 pm Post subject: Re: Measuring fuel without guage, how to do?? On late bug and early |
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I ran out of gas once and I made note of where the needle pointed when the engine quit. Now I just use that as my "totally empty" level. I make sure to refuel before reaching that point. _________________ 1971 Super Beetle |
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KTPhil Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006 Posts: 34003 Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2021 9:48 am Post subject: Re: Measuring fuel without guage, how to do?? On late bug and early |
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kpf wrote: |
I ran out of gas once and I made note of where the needle pointed when the engine quit. Now I just use that as my "totally empty" level. I make sure to refuel before reaching that point. |
Yes, that is the idea behind VW/s calibration process above. It assures you KNOW you have a certain amount left when the gauge hits "R".
Of course the car has to be perfectly level, or no mechanical gauge will be accurate. |
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baldessariclan Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2016 Posts: 1378 Location: Wichita, KS
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Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 4:29 pm Post subject: Re: Measuring fuel without guage, how to do?? On late bug and early |
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The wooden “dip stick” measuring method was fairly common in much older / basic cars.
The really early Beetles had a “reserve” fuel switch/lever on the front floor wall, near center of car. When driving w/ low fuel and engine began sputtering (due to fuel starvation), you reached toe of your shoe over and moved it to the “reserve” position, giving another 10-20 miles or so of range to get to next gas station.
Then you forgot to move that switch back from the “reserve” setting after filling up, and ran the car completely out of gas the next time around... _________________ 1971 Standard Beetle — fairly stock / driver
baldessariclan -- often in error, never in doubt... |
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vwwestyman Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2004 Posts: 5688 Location: Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2021 10:13 am Post subject: Re: Measuring fuel without guage, how to do?? On late bug and early |
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Heh, if you're unlucky enough to get to the sputtering point at a stop light or drive through and don't kick that lever fast enough, the engine may still die, then you have to crank and crank until more fuel gets pumped into the carb! Happened to me a couple times.
Also, the original reserve lever started leaking on my old '60 beetle so I replaced it. It took a couple times running all the way out to figure out it was built bass-ackwards so the tank/reserve positions were reversed! _________________ Dave Cook
President, Wild Westerner Club
1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing |
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60vwnewengland Twin #2
Joined: June 25, 2003 Posts: 1784 Location: District of Columbia & Cape Cod
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Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2021 4:37 pm Post subject: Re: Measuring fuel without guage, how to do?? On late bug and early |
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Keep a log. My general rule in the buses is to add fuel every 150 miles. _________________ 77 Westy - Cape Cod Sage
LLAP |
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KTPhil Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006 Posts: 34003 Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2021 5:06 pm Post subject: Re: Measuring fuel without guage, how to do?? On late bug and early |
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2type2 wrote: |
I somehow recall a method with hot water on the tank exterior ? |
This works for propane tanks, but it is less likely on a funky-shaped gas tank like ours. |
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