Hello Scotty and crew,
If everything in modern vehicles is digital how come the auto mfg haven't provided a fuel gauge display that shows actual gallons? Why won't they do this ?
Too expensive.
I think it's more limited space, so engineers would have to perform more calculations, and the fuel level will vary widely as the tank empties. There's no demand for a precise fuel gauge than anything else, not necessarily that it's too expensive. Cessna 172s have analog controls for everything, and the fuel gauge measures in both gallons and overall fuel level. I think the Cessna 172 has around 40 gallons of fuel, and the fuel tanks are pretty much rectangular. You can recalibrate a fuel gauge to show gallons instead of a general fuel level the analog way with minimal changes to how the gauge works, but there's no demand.
not worth the cost. Why do you need to know ?
Why would you want to know precisely how much fuel is left in the tank? It's not like you're flying in a 747 or something like that and the amount of range is critical to a safe landing. If you're running a little low on gas, there are gas stations literally everywhere, and you won't fall out of the sky if you happen to run out of gas. Modern cars like my 2017 Mustang have a built-in range based on previous driving history. They are conservative, as well. Stuff like my 1999 Ranger whose fuel gauge is wonky after nearly 300,000 miles of driving, I put gas in every 270 miles. That's around a quarter of a tank before empty.
