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So I don't know cars all that well, but I'm getting a little frustrated, so I figured I'd get some insight before yelling at the dealer's service center.
So three weeks ago I purchased a new 2014 Subaru Crosstrek. Overall, I'm very, very happy with it.
However, whenever I fill it up, within minutes of driving away from the gas station, the fuel remaining indicator drops 2 tic marks (it's a digital reader), and the miles remaining drop from 400 to 340.
I've already taken to the service center, and said I believe there's a fuel leak near the top of the tank, and they said no, it's not, it's a gauge issue. They claimed they reset it and it fixed the issue.
Just made the first fill up since then, and it did the exact same thing - fuel gauge within 10 minutes was down by 2 tic marks, and I had 50 miles less remaining. I drove literally 1.5 miles from my gas station, to my house.
I'm convinced there's a small leak at the top of the tank, but I don't know cars well enough to know if it could be any other issue.
Can y'all advise on what else might be the issue? I'm going to be calling the service center tomorrow and before threatening going to Subaru North American headquarters with a complaint, I'd like to make sure I'm not missing something else.
If it were fuel leaking, more than likely you would smell raw gasoline., and once parked, you would probably see it still leaking after just filling the tank.
Sounds like a gauge issue to me.
Bob.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Software on modern cars, geez! Especially problematic on a new platform. Yes, you would smell it. Just keep taking it back until they fix it. Maybe check the Subaru XV Forum and see if others have that problem, or if there is a TSB on it.
Agree with CALGUY. If there was a fuel leak, the smell of gasoline should be felt several feet away from the car.
To the OP: fill the tank as you usually do, then move the car away from the pump and park it leaving the motor running. Watch the fuel gage to see what it does, and when the level in the gage changes, go outside the car to look for fuel on the ground, or at least the smell of fuel. More than likely there is not gasoline leaking out the tank.
There also are other possibilities as follows:
a. When you fill the tank the gage shows a level that's not exactly correct since the car is not moving. Once you are driving, the fuel in the tank moves around (when you accelerate the fuel in the tank moves toward the back of the tank; when you make a left turn the fuel moves toward the right side of the tank; when you make a right turn the fuel moves toward the left side of the tank). Once the float in the tank registers all the fuel movement around the tank, it adjusts accordingly.
b. When you pump new fuel into the tank the fuel level electronics adds this new amount of fuel to the existing amount in the tank prior to your pumping the new fuel, and a few minutes later it deducts the amount of fuel that's dedicated as a "reserve" amount of fuel, which is the amount of fuel left in the tank as the gage shows empty.
In other words, some "idiot-proof" electronics at work showing you that you how far you have to drive before the tank is empty
How does it know you have 340 miles remaining, if it doesn't know if you are going to drive fast or slow, city or highway, up a mountain or down? Maybe, in the first mile or so, the computer evaluates your driving skills and says "Whoa, this guy will never get 400 miles on a tank of gas!".
How does it know you have 340 miles remaining, if it doesn't know if you are going to drive fast or slow, city or highway, up a mountain or down? Maybe, in the first mile or so, the computer evaluates your driving skills and says "Whoa, this guy will never get 400 miles on a tank of gas!".
It calculates the estimate by using your average mpg prior to filling-up. If you were averaging 25, and the tank is 16 gallons, the estimate will be 400. If you were averaging 30, the estimate will be 480. Etc. Etc.
Fuel systems are totally sealed these days, and you would probably have a check engine light for the fuel system pressurization/ evaporative control system if it had a leak of any kind. If you don't tighten your fuel cap fully, the light will turn on because the sensors are so sensitive.
I agree that it is just the fuel level sensor or something in the electronics. If it really bothers you, take a video of the way the gauge acts and then show the dealer. Then they should check the sensor and system to see what is happening. It could be that the float in the tank, if it is hollow plastic, is filling up with gas and is dropping the level down or something.
The solution is to wait 5 minutes after you fill it up to look at the gauge,,,problem solved. evidently it takes several minutes to reset to the accurate number,,,
How does it know you have 340 miles remaining, if it doesn't know if you are going to drive fast or slow, city or highway, up a mountain or down? Maybe, in the first mile or so, the computer evaluates your driving skills and says "Whoa, this guy will never get 400 miles on a tank of gas!".
First two tanks I got 385 and 390 before the low fuel light came on. Last two tanks I got were 330 and 310 before the low fuel light came on, respectively, and there was no major change in driving - same routes, same congestion on the road, etc.
So, something is up. I'll call and ***** at the dealer.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElSneak
The solution is to wait 5 minutes after you fill it up to look at the gauge,,,problem solved. evidently it takes several minutes to reset to the accurate number,,,
Incorrect. It did not do this the first 2 times I filled up.
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