by Rex Coker

Created on: May 04, 2010   Last Updated: May 07, 2010

Technology has come a long way in the form of gas measurement of your car's fuel tank. In the olden years the gas tank relied on vacuum lines and floats to measure the level in your gas tank. Today's modern cars measure your car's fuel by sensors and onboard computers to give you the best means for gas consumption.

The modern gas gauge mounts in the top of your car's gas tank. Four bolts hold it in place, and the tri-shaped housing has a long probe that runs from top to bottom of the tank. The out side of the tube still has a float that rides on the sensor probe with a light weight wire the tells the probe at what level the gas is in the tank. 

The probe sends the information to the on-board computer beneath the hood of your car, and relays the information to your fuel gauge in the dash. Over a period of time you may notice that your car's fuel gauge may be sticking or not work at all. This is due to the sensors going bad inside the probe in the tank. 

You may have to take your car to a qualified service tech to get the fuel pump replaced. Back in a day the fuel pump was separate from the gas gauge. Now it is built in with the gas gauge of more modern cars. When one or the other stops working it will not be long before the car will not run. Your gas gauge is still independent of the fuel pump, but to get it to work you have to change out the complete system. Your fuel pump will still work with out the gauge working, but you take the chance of running your car out of gas and getting trash in your fuel filters. 

When your fuel gauge stops working it will be only a matter of time before your fuel sensors stop working. This is a safe guard to keep from getting your injectors and fuel line filters completely clogged. Never rely on estimated fuel mileage to guess where your fuel level may be. Projecting mileage according to your previous mileage record could deteriorate over time and leave you sitting on the side of the road with out gas in the tank. If for any reason your fuel gauge becomes sticky or non-responsive, please take it to a profession to check it out.

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