Fuel Gauge didn't go above F

[pmesfun]

I filled up on Monday and noticed the needle was right at F instead of going above F and staying there for about 60-70 miles like always. Now I'm at 99 miles a little above 3/4 when usually the trip reads from 110-130. Might I add that the last tank was 19 MPG which is low for me, so I'm wondering if this happened last time I pumped gas which was December 8th, and I didn't notice. What could be some possibilities as to why this is happening. I was thinking of trying fuel injection cleaner towards the end of this tank. I haven't been under the hood for the past 2-3 months, and the only thing recently done was replacing the speakers and adding a 4 channel amp a couple weeks ago.

99 Toyota Avalon, 144k miles.

[BMR]

Maybe the last time you fueled up, the car was tilted such that the tank couldn't be fully filled?

[fenixus]

probably the fuel distrubutor at gas station clicked off too early. sometimes it happens.
also maybe your local stations just switched to Winter formula with ethanol hence lower MPG by around 10%?

[pmesfun]

I think you are right fenixus, I'm at 136 miles right now with the gauge right below 3/4 so its not looking too bad. Thanks guys for your input.

[bdy0003]

How do you get 23mpg and have the needle stay at F for 60-70 miles??

I do think it was the click. The pumps are not all the same and will shut off at different volumes, however shouldn't be dramatic unless they put a cap on how much you get or its broken.

Side note: Ethanol in gas is

[pmesfun]

Originally Posted by bdy0003

How do you get 23mpg and have the needle stay at F for 60-70 miles??

I do think it was the click. The pumps are not all the same and will shut off at different volumes, however shouldn't be dramatic unless they put a cap on how much you get or its broken.

Side note: Ethanol in gas is

That is just how the gauge works, by 3/4 I'm usually at 110-130max, from 3/4 to 1/2 the needle drops much faster, at 1/2 the trip reads anywhere from 190-220-230ish. At 1/4 I'm at 290 to 310 and by E I can be anywhere from 370-410max. This is similar in our 07 Avalon as well. I do almost all city driving btw.

What's crazy is I put 17.6 gallons and the tank is 18.5 so maybe running that low contributed as well. I'll keep an eye out next fill up.

[julyaric720]

probably the fuel distrubutor at gas station clicked off too early. sometimes it happens.

[mail2_jb]

Originally Posted by pmesfun

That is just how the gauge works, by 3/4 I'm usually at 110-130max, from 3/4 to 1/2 the needle drops much faster, at 1/2 the trip reads anywhere from 190-220-230ish. At 1/4 I'm at 290 to 310 and by E I can be anywhere from 370-410max. This is similar in our 07 Avalon as well. I do almost all city driving btw.

What's crazy is I put 17.6 gallons and the tank is 18.5 so maybe running that low contributed as well. I'll keep an eye out next fill up.

This happened to me a lot at various pumps, sometime the gauge don't even touch the F mark.
I too get over 100 miles til 3/4 and then it drops like an old man

[pmesfun]

Filled up today, 21.9 MPG not bad for 95% city. The needle went all the way up this time. I also discovered you can use Kroger .03 cent fuel discount at Shell.