Fuel gauge got stuck on low, triggering light for low level of petrol although I have a full tank?

[noogieman]

When filled, did the gauge show 'full'?
Because if it did....

.... the chances of the sender sinking to the bottom (without being able to subsequently resurface) are so remote as to be improbable.
But it's working now - just a glitch (until it happens again).

To answer your Q.
"When filled, did the gauge show 'full'?
Because if it did...."

Yeah, fuel gauge went straight up to max after filling her up and drove away.

Yesterday in the garage when I started my car to move her a few metres in a different spot perhaps it just was a temporary glitch and fuel gauge was stuck on spare fuel and yellow light illuminated for a few minutes then gauge went straight to the top.

 

[DSM10000]

Percentage of ethanol in fuel increased recently this summer, the issue with stuck fuel gauge happened after with the new petrol.
This summer I have filled my tank a few times with the new E10 petrol.

Can't say if it's an age related wear n tear issue or from the new petrol causing sticky fuel gauge?
Maybe only a coincidence?

Correlation is not causation.

Just take a moment to think about it!

E10 has been sold on many parts (14 countries) of the EU since 2009 and in many other parts of the world

Many millions of litres have been sold.

If your Mercedes is rated as suitable for use wirh E10 why do you assume that a (presumably) sticking fuel sensor on a 23 year old car is related to the fuel in the tank?

Plus the fuel gauge is now working again with the same fuel.

Just change the fuel sender unit. After 23 years it will be worn mechanically and the electrical portion will be showing signs of wear and could be giving you the intermittent signal.
.

 

[noogieman]

I've red MB Enthusiasts buyers guide mentioning faulty fuel sender units caused by poor fuel quality this is the reason of my concern making a thread.

 

[DSM10000]

I've red MB Enthusiasts buyers guide mentioning faulty fuel sender units caused by poor fuel quality this is the reason of my concern making a thread.

Where is the evidence of"poor fuel quality"?

E10 is NOT lower quality fuel It is still made to the same British Standard.

All that has changed is the percentage of Ethanol blended into the base petroleum stock has increased from the 5%to 10%.

Some countries run on E85 fuel

 

[noogieman]

There's different grade of fuel quality.
World-renown companies like BP and Shell are known to sell 100% top notch fuel

 

[DSM10000]

There's different grade of fuel quality.
World-renown companies like BP and Shell are known to sell 100% top notch fuel

There have been many many threads on here regarding fuel where the total misconception keeps being repeated.

ALL FUEL MADE IN THE UK IS OF EXACTLY THE SAME QUALITY.

BP, Shell, Tesco, whoever all have exactly the same base fuel. The refineries do not make individual fuels for each retailer.

Some companies add extras chemicals that act as detergents etc. These are sold as "Premium Fuels"

This is purely a marketing term.

This is not about changing the quality of the base fuel, it is giving the consumer the choice of buying fuel with additives that may or may not be of benefit to the end user.

 

[noogieman]

@ DSM10000

You explained it very well "some companies add extra chemicals" where others don't
This is what I meant to say.

 

[Bellow]

The only problem more ethanol in the blend could throw up is if the fuel got the chance to absorb water - which ethanol is prone to doing.
The opportunity for that is upstream in the fuel handling/delivery and dictated by procedures in place to prevent it.

 

[DSM10000]

@ DSM10000

You explained it very well "some companies add extra chemicals" where others don't
This is what I meant to say.

That doesn't make standard fuel (on which all others are based) poor quality though

The UK has a very strong regulatory mechanism for maintaining the such standards.

 

[noogieman]

That doesn't make standard fuel (on which all others are based) poor quality though

The UK has a very strong regulatory mechanism for maintaining the such standards.

In my country there's offered both premium blend and lesser blend depending on petrol company.
Known companies always sells premium blend.

Keeping a high manufacturing standard is important.

 

[mercmancdi]

Lucky it worked again I had one that stopped working and ended up it was Sam unit in rear never fixed it
too expensive.

 

[DSM10000]

In my country there's offered both premium blend and lesser blend depending on petrol company.
Known companies always sells premium blend.

Keeping a high manufacturing standard is important.

If you don't mind me asking, where are you based?

 

[noogieman]

Went for a drive with my car tonight.
Fuel gauge did not right away go to max after I had turned the ignition ON or when I started my car.
It took about 1 minute or two before fuel gauge took a white gauge can't jump to max marker.

Shouldn't fuel gauge go to it's fuel level when I only turn on the ignition to show how much petrol there is in the tank?
Mine stayed on low when I turned on the ignition

 

[optimusprime]

Each time i have had a faulty reading on my fuel gauge i put 1/2 bottle of Red X in a full tank of fuel , this works for me .

 

[noogieman]

Each time i have had a faulty reading on my fuel gauge i put 1/2 bottle of Red X in a full tank of fuel , this works for me .

I have some bottles of STP Injector cleaner and Injector trim I could use, perhaps I should add one of them mountain dew's into my tank see if it helps or not?

 

[optimusprime]

Why not put some gravey browning in there to colour it up a bit .. mountain jew --i ask you ?

 

[noogieman]

Why not put some gravey browning in there to colour it up a bit .. mountain jew --i ask you ?

I wrote Mountain Dew nothing else.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/324790272290?hash=item4b9f024122:gKkAAOSwBuBhQT68

What is gravey browning?

 

[optimusprime]

BISTO

 

[DSM10000]

BISTO

I doubt that is helpful!

 

[noogieman]

BISTO

I dunno what Bisto is?