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I just noticed that on my 92 SE, when I give it a decent amount of pedal the gas gauge will rise dramatically.. like from a 1/4 to a 1/2 tank... and then slowly go back down. I don't know if it's nothing to worry about or indicative of some other problem. What would cause it to do this? Never had this problem with any of my other bonnevilles.

Maybe the tank has broken baffles that fall back when you step on it and push the float up? Just guessing... haven't seen this one before.

WOW......I want a car that can make it's own gas.....

1992 fuel tank baffles were very inadequate. You want a tank from 95 or newer to solve the problem. This is a known issue.

haha I know I wish it was real! the only other fuel problems I've noticed is that the exhaust smells very rich, and it DOES have some very old fuel in it.

How old is the O2 sensor? It's the cheapest of all years, single-wire, non-heated. If you don't know, change it.

It is a new denso unit.... but I just saw your post about the fuel tank, that makes sense (good guess JWikoff). Aside from the inaccuracy of the fuel gauge, does this cause any other problems?

The 92 has a single wire O2, I am positive its bad... They are a tune up item on those cars and generally stay happy for about 30k.... They can last 60k but generally slow down in function by then..

On the fuel gauge... 87-96 used the fuel sender signal directly from the fuel level sender... The arm moves as the fuel gets jiggled around... On the 97+ the PCM monitors the fuel signal and then sends the signal to the dash... So the 87-96 will have the ha ha movement swing... The 97+ will be incremental...LOL

Rachael, beware of fuel starvation and stalling issues on hard cornering/turning when you have 1/3 of a tank remaining or less.

I had heard of that happening before, didn't know why though. good to know, I guess I will keep a good amount of gas in it

willwren wrote:Rachael, beware of fuel starvation and stalling issues on hard cornering/turning when you have 1/3 of a tank remaining or less.

willwren wrote:1992 fuel tank baffles were very inadequate. You want a tank from 95 or newer to solve the problem. This is a known issue.

I'd like some more information on this, please. I have a 93 SE, still running OK after 255k miles on the original engine and transmission.

First, I have just recently noticed a tendency toward "fuel starvation and stalling" on "hard cornering and turning" when the gas level is low. I have had this car for 17 years, and the problem just started. Why do I have this problem now, but did not have it before? I used to run on fumes for years.

Second, since I have a pre-95 gas tank, it must have "very inadequate baffles." what does that mean, and is there anything to be done about it, short of replacing the gas tank?

Any possibility that this represents a problem in the fuel pump or the hoses inside the tank, or possibly sludge accumulating after all those years in the bottom of the tank?

Roberto

It is very possible that one of the baffles broke loose inside the tank in your case. I have the same issues when fuel starts getting below 3/8ths of a tank, and it gets worse and worse the lower it gets. I can reliably stall the car with a firm foot on the brake pedal and 1/8th of a tank of gas. I know the solution is to drop the tank, but I don't want to do that, so I just keep it full of gas. Your options are to drop the tank and see what is going on, or keep the fuel level high.

Thanks, Randall. You very likely are correct about this. I noticed that, just recently, the level in the fuel gauge varies much more than it used to. As I drive around, it might be as high as 1/2, settle down around 1/4, then drop to almost zero, and stall. Going up and down hills is a problem for stalling (lots of hills here in San Diego). I guess the answer is: just fill it up if it gets much below half.

With my alternative being a new gas tank, I pretty much came to the same conclusion, roberto. lol. just keeping it above 1/2 tank!

Replacing the fuel strainer will help. On the no-baffle early tanks, a dirty/partially clogged strainer sock can make the problem worse with age.

This requires dropping the tank to perform the change though.