Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) 1997 +8 fuel tank capacity

Does anyone know the total fuel tank capacity for a 1997 +8 please?

When I fill mine up the fuel gauge shows just over 3/4 full mark which I am told is normal as the VDO gauge never shows the needle at the full mark. So I am trying to calibrate how much fuel I have left at 1/2, 1/4 etc as I understand that when the needle is showing anywhere near empty then I'm running on fumes!

Back over 60 years ago, my dad, who was a builder always dipped his tank with his folding rule rather than trust a fuel gauge. Is that possible on a plus 8 I wonder or is the entry pipe too curved?

I would have thought 55l like my 97 +4

1997 is a changeover year between short door and long , do you know which yours is ? Easy to tell , are the bulkhead and valances stainless steel (long) or painted mild steel (short)

Assuming a long door , the stated capacity of the tank is 50 litres , having said that the original purchase invoice of my car when new stated "full tank of petrol 45 litres" . I think this shows the accuracy of the sales brochure!

Like you when the gauge reads reads 7/8ths I know I have a full tank.

When the gauge first reads empty I know I have 3 gallons (say 15 litres) remaining, and that is when I start looking for the next filling station.

Have you noticed that when you switch on the headlights , the gauge moves by almost a segment, which can be somewhat disconcerting when driving at night.

I have not tried to calibrate any of the intermediate points as I doubt it would be much use. 95% of the time I fill up based on the hodometer reading. When I have covered 200 miles I can normally get 36 litres (8 gallons in before the first click of the auto-cutoff on the pump. I average about 25 mpg when cruising , less when pressing on.

Thanks Andy - mine is a short-door and I doubt that will have made much if any difference!

I do as Andy does, just reset the odometer and fill up at about 200 miles, I average around 23mpg so it leaves a bit in hand.
My fuel gauge is not far out on this car but the previous two have been a joke, so it's learnt survival behaviour.

Even on the newer Roadsters the gauge is crap. I fill at 200 also if not before

You do get a warning on the digi screen bit when you have (IIRC) 50 miles left & it's quite accurate

I can get 57L in my 1980 +8 leaving the hoses to the tank empty. Done 290 miles on a tank full in Poland but the gauge was on E. Sweating!

Agreed Jon. It seems on mine at least the most I can get in is just under 40l when 50 miles is shown so at 26 mpg average that is quite accurate unlike the gauge. Why MMC can't supply working fuel gauges baffles me.