fuel capacity and gauge accuracy??

[rocket]

as im away weekend on first decent journey,300 mile round trip it seems fuel gauge never drops below 1/4 full..so..do other owners find this and if so how do you judge when your tanks almost empty?

[RotoFlexible]

In the spirit of Lotus, I carry a multipurpose, light-weight tool - a length of broom stick. It measures the fuel level with 100% accuracy and also holds the bonnet up. (Now that I have an operative fuel gauge, I hope to be using the stick less.)

Not sure this technique will work on a +2 tank but certainly does the trick on my car.

[Foxie]

The Plus 2S has a low fuel level warning light. A test showed there's 50 miles left...

Sean Murray

[1964 S1]

My +2 fuel gauge has never worked properly but the warning light does. It's not an everyday driver so I can easily calculate how much fuel has evaporated between sittings using the light.
I stick my S1 to figure fuel level as that gauge is naughty also.
The +2 can't be sticked as the crooks in the filler neck are too tight.

[garyeanderson]

A two gallon gas can in the boot is a nice thing to have (with a gallon of gasoline or so) until you figure out the milage thing. My S4 used to run out a a 1./4 mark on the guage, I didn't let it get much below a 1/2 before refilling. I don't think I ever ran out of gas in that Elan.

Gary

[peterako]

An additional gallon 'jerry can' in the boot is a must!

My gauge is pretty accurate, but I have been caught a few times without any fuel left in the tank....

If left to stand my +2 tank will happily empty itself (when less than 1/4 full on the gauge) through vent evaporation alone!!!

Amazingly....I can get close to 40mpg when driving the car....but can lose that same gallon while parked over a weekend....

Peter

[PWTrusty]

try this site for fuel gauge calibration. My +2 has a rebuilt sending unit and still never ranges more than 3/4 full to 3/4 empty..next on the list.
Phil in Tn 72 Elan +2
http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/electric/fg_06.htm

[peterako]

Ditto with teh 3/4 full. That's teh most I can get the gauge to read.

But I think it's right as it's very hard to fill a +2 tank.....

Peter

[1964 S1]

Hello Peter, I can't help but laugh. My +2 seems to evaporate more gas sitting still, turned off, than when running also.
We are, all nuts.
Eric

[Barney]

I can't help but laugh. My +2 seems to evaporate more gas sitting still, turned off, than when running also

Just goes to prove that "He" wants Lotuses to be in use on the road!

Bless Him

[1964 S1]

I think maybe you're right Barney. It's the only explaination I've heard that makes sense.

[Expat+2]

Are you sure the 'evaporating gas' isn't seeping out of the carbs? Even with new float valves my Dellortos will sometimes allow petrol to gravity feed from a full tank. It only happens if parked with a full tank and I only notice it in cold weather, otherwise it does evaporate, as it seeps out of the airbox. The +2 tank is unusual in that the top half is above the carb' float level. Before I changed the float valves I had literally gallons syphon out on occasion .