Jim and LIstees:  My gauge, when I fill the tank, reads above the full
mark, at about 75 miles, get  down to the full mark, at about 175 miles
it's at the half and from there, it's a crapshoot.  If I get to the red, I
could run out at any time.  I'm thinking the wild oscillations happen when
there's more fuel in the tank.  Once the oscillations cease, there's likely
very little fuel left to slosh around down there and maybe time to find a pump.

Thanks to all

DM&FS

>Ah yes, the venerable, typical, inaccurate Vanagon Gas Gauge.  The
>calibration between the sender and the gauge is perhaps the worst of any VW
>model made.  Every Vanagon I have encountered, gas or diesel has been pretty
>dismal in the fuel gauge reading department.
>
>Proper reading of the gauge (if it was accurate,) from R to L, is Full, 1/2,
>1/4, Reserve.
>
>These are the readings on my 84 Westy that I have gotten used to over the
>years (with both old and new senders - my coolant gauge has always been
>relatively spot-on).  After about 45 miles, my gauge needle falls to half
>and stays there until around 110 miles, then it falls to 1/4.  When I have
>reached about 160 miles, it falls to the edge of the R Band.  As I travel
>the next 30 miles and turns are involved, it wildly flucuates (I love that
>word), sometimes buring the needle into the extreme left (Empty) side.
>
>When it first falls to the edge of the R's Red Band, I generally fill up
>around 10 to 11 gallons (I usually tow a small loaded trailer, around
>800lbs, as on my recent trip from SoCal to Tennessee and back).
>
>YMMV ;-)
>--
>Jim Thompson
>

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