Techron additive causes fuel gauge failure?
03-13-2009, 06:01 AM
#1
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Techron additive causes fuel gauge failure?
I usually add a bottle of Techron at the last fill-up before I do an oil change. This time, that procedure seems to have made my fuel gauge lazy again. Since I refueled, my fuel gauge seems to be optimistic, showing 1/2 tank with 200 miles spent. About nine months ago I pulled the fuel level sender and cleaned the varnish off the potentiometer and contacts per AW posted procedure, and that restored normal operation. Since I refueled, my fuel gauge seems to be optimistic, showing 1/2 tank with 200 miles spent. Do folks here usually use fuel system additives/cleaners, and if so, have they notice the same correlation? I only fuel with Chevron, Texaco, and Shell, NEVER discount, grocery store, or wholesale club fuel.
Note that the Pac NW reformulates our fuel for "winter blend", consisting of up to 10% ethanol too.
Note that the Pac NW reformulates our fuel for "winter blend", consisting of up to 10% ethanol too.
03-13-2009, 06:19 AM
#2
Chevron Techron is great stuff (in fact recommeneded by the venerable Dick Shine @ Shine Racing
Service) and the much less venerable JoeS4.
But srsly, I doubt that's your issue. Plenty of peeps on here use Chevron Techron - it's good stuff. I've used it with no issues for a looong time.
But srsly, I doubt that's your issue. Plenty of peeps on here use Chevron Techron - it's good stuff. I've used it with no issues for a looong time.
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03-13-2009, 08:06 AM
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I ran Chevron for a long time and my fuel sender recently failed
It was one of the surface mount resistors that failed. And by failed I mean, there is no longer resistance across it making it an open circuit and affecting the lower half of the gauge sweep.
IT could be that it breaks down the resistive material they place on the ceramic board.
IT could be that it breaks down the resistive material they place on the ceramic board.
03-13-2009, 02:22 PM
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I've used Techron for years with no ill side effects. But I did replace my sendor a few months back
but I don't think it was the Techron. It just went up and down too many times and wore out.
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03-14-2009, 01:18 PM
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Incline parking
Actually, yes, I park on a sideways incline at work that puts the driver's side higher than passenger. Seems odd that it would contribute, but we could theorize that parking like that than driving home level would confuse the sender. I didn't think it'd be that "smart". It was just interesting that this last fill-up, when I added the Techron immediatly coincided with the flaky gauge.
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