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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - How far can I get?

When the fuel gauge on my midget 1500 shows zero ie. is as far to the left as it can go - how much fuel is still in the tank at this point and how much further can I travel? Been caught short of late and was just wondering!
Bill.
W Wood

Put a gallon of petrol in a can in the boot and experiment. Then you'll know for future reference.
Trevor Jessie

I always carry a gallon in the boot. Hate walking.
Neil (K series)

When the fuel guage in my '72 hits zero, I've run out a 1/3 of a tank ago!!

When it reads half a tank it's time to fillerup.

Phil 'always carry good walking shoes', or a gas tank
Phil Burke

On mine there is 5 liter left when the needle points to empty an that in 27liter tank....
Empty is when the needle is way above the empty mark.
I just use the empty mark as a hint that i should get in to a petrolstation
Onno Könemann

Gas in the boot
explosive dangerous
walking better

Midget Haiku (4-6-4)

Never run out
fill it at halfway point
happy driving

or this one:

Quite exiting
I am running on fumes
no gas station

or:

Petrol in tank?
maybe so maybe not
so exiting

someone stop me:

Seven gallons
how many miles is that?
God only knows

Filled yesterday
seems to be empty now
Prince of Darkness

Petrol in boot
these are great twisty bits!
do I smell smoke?

What's wrong says I?
out of petrol says she
I'll get me coat...




Richard Reeves

I 'calibrated' my fuel gauge. It's quite straightforward to do. I made sure I had a 5 litre can of petrol and drove until I ran out of fuel. I then put my 5 litres in and set the gauge to E. So when the gauge reads E I have a 5 litre reserve.

Gauge calibration is fantastically described here :)

http://www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/fuel.htm#4

Mind you, my gauge only goes up to 7/8 full when I have brimmed the tank (it used to go all the way to the top before I changed the bottom end of the cal). I'd much rather the 'E' end of the gauge was accurate though :)
TonyJHamilton

Stack fuel gauge. When it says empty there is a small splash of fuel left - maybe a quarter litre or something.
Daniel Thirteen-Twelve

Most Midgets I have owned normally run out about half way between empty and 1/4 full damn anoying :-(

You normally grind to a spluttering halt going up hill as the feed is on the front of the tank.

Best not run it to low unless you have a good fuel filter though as there is usually a load of bits in the bottom of the tank and if you run it too low they get all swirled up by the fuel sloshing from side to side. Then sucked up by the pump and usually land up upsetting the float valve in the carb or something.
Ben Brown

mine is like Phils, 1/4 full means running on fumes. Fill every 200 miles, have got 240 miles without running out, but who knows how my driving style affects that, 200 is safe
Will Munns

I never like to have my fuel tanks fall below 1/2 tank on any of the vehicals i own, as thats where all the trash lives that gets sucked into the fuel pump, fuel filters, fuel injectors, and carbs

plus by keeping the fuel level high in the tank you also slow down the oxidation of the inside of your fuel tank.

The draw back about never letting you fuel tanks drop below 1/2 tank...you never get to experiance those drive by geers as you walk to the pump.

last time I ran out of fuel Bush 1 was still just a lowly VP
Prop

Mine gets close to zero when I've done 250/60 miles; believe there's not much left, as fuel starvation sets in on decent acceleration...

A
Anthony Cutler

Hi,
Thanks for all your views on this thread - even the wierd and wonderful!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not in the habit of allowing the fuel to go below the 1/4 mark on the gauge but recently I have been returning home after a run out and been very close to the mark so to speak- only for my wife to remark, don't worry, there's plenty to get us home! Think I will go back to filling up when it reaches the 1/4 tank full.
Bill.
W Wood

In early 1978, was commuting Sheffield-Southampton on weekend basis with std 1275/RWA - around 220/230 miles. Had to make sure the tank was brimmed before setting off Monday 4am or returning 5pm Friday. Around 4 hours each way.

Happy days; in 6 months commuting, car gave no problems; good not sell it, as originally planned, and still (of course) have it today.

A
Anthony Cutler

1500 should have the (nominal) 7 gal tank (but it might not have, never take things like this for granted)

mpg depends the the driver/car/roads combinations and variations plus also allow for instrument and human inacurrancy on readings and consumption - so very rough guide only

If your fuel guage, sender unit, voltage regulator and electric supply are all as they should be then (allowing for the fact it's only a guage measurement) the actual instrument should show fairly accurately - it should be very close to E when empty and not run out at a 1/4 or read less than F when full

My car has a (nominal) 6 gal tank (should have a nominal 7 gal) I carry a full spare 5 litre plastic can of petrol in the boot(but no spare wheel)

On the motorway, two up with luggage, at a constant 50 mph in 4th gear I got aprrox. 50 mpg (tested over 100 miles much to my wife's annoyance)

then when we meet our friends and travelled at 'normal' motorway speeds it dropped to about 25 mpg
Nigel Atkins

PROP will certainly never run out of petrol as he never gets it to run long enough.
GO PROP GO.
Sandy
SANDY SANDERS

Thats right sandy... 8.^ P

Im still running on the same tank of gas I was starting my 3rd year this comming sept 27th...Now thats what I call garage floor fuel economy. LOL
Prop

Hello, As the Spridgets were raised on their suspensions over time did the added road clearence allow the fiting of a bigger gas tank? What would be the biggest production tank I could bolt onto my Bygeye?--Thanks,--Bob C in Kansas
chamberlain Bob

7 gallon.


Mine is a aftermarket alloy 9 gallon.
Not sure if Frontline still suply them tho...


Arie de Best

Ha - you lot are spoilt having a fuel guage that reads less as you use up your fuel. Mine reads in reverse and I know it is time to fill up when it reads full!!

I have the correct fuel guage so I must have the wrong sender (but can't figure out which guage I need)
Chris H (1970 Midget 1275)

below half a tank and you're in the hands of the gods :P

Im now going to do the calibration as described above
PeterJMoore

Chris, yours has the best antitheft for a midget!!!

When they steel it they run out of petroll beside the road or leave the car because its "empty" or stop at a fuel station to fill it while its already full but by then they are on camera.


When you figure it out let me know, I might build mine like yours is now. :)
Arie de Best

Simples - never let a man drive it - coz they always bring it back empty :)!
rachmacb

At least men bring it back... in one piece! LOL
Arie de Best

LOL - oh - so THAT is why you withdrew your offer of letting me drive your car ...!

Anyway, that is really debatable after my sojourn of letting a man drive Primerose .... NEVER AGAIN!!!
rachmacb

You let a man drive Primerose?

Where you shocked to find out the car can be driven in more then just 2nd gear? LOL
Arie de Best

LOL - it's comments like that that will result in her not coming next year - and me having to suffer loud bangs from stupid slip diffs and transmissions - just to go a few mphs faster - hurmph - that sounds like a typical man to me ... ;)
rachmacb

This thread was discussed between 17/09/2010 and 22/09/2010

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