Ryan,

You don't have enough information or at least didn't give it to us.  How
much did it take to fill it up after it went to the red after only 145
miles.  How many gallons did it take to fill it after 275 miles the
previous time?  Gas pumps that cut out too quickly can cause confusion.
  Is it really empty or is the gauge misreading?  Also don't be too
quick to assume much is wrong until you get the problem for several
tanks of gas.  I would imagine that it is a gas gauge problem, as they
can be quirky at times.

My 84's gauge had a short and the gauge "came and went."  I just always
used the tripmeter to know when to fill up.  It would usually work a few
times during each tankful.  Never ran out of gas.

FWIW, 275 per tank is good.  I filled up my 84 plain vanagon at about
240 for years, although that was usually about 14 gallons and I could
have gone a bit more on a tank.  Get about the same but a bit less on my
85 Westy Weekender.  What is your usual speed?  My mileage improves a
good bit when I hold the highway speed to about 60-62 instead of 68-70.

Minor variations in tire pressure would not have impact on your gas
mileage of this magnitude.

Sam

--
Sam Walters
Baltimore, MD

89 Syncro GL
85 Westy Weekender
84 Vanagon, original owner, soon to be retired, just too many problems

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