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Monday, January 6, 2020

Outta Gas

Above, the driver's side with the fuel opening. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today, I found out the hard way what the fuel tank capacity of my 1952 Willys Jeep M38A1 is.

I was on my way to the Flying J to have dinner at Denny's when the Jeep ran out of gas near the freeway. I was also planning, coincidentally, to fuel it up while I was there. It had been a while since I last filled up and I didn't think I drove it enough to run out of gas.

Prior to this, I read that the M38A1 tank capacity was 17 gallons. Now, I am reading tank capacities ranging from 13 gallons, 14 gallons and 17 gallons as well as 14 imperial gallons. The Jeep's gas gauge only works on 24 volts. The Jeep was modified to a 12 volt system, so it is useless.

Many Jeep owners use a yardstick to see how much gas is in the tank.

Fortunately, friend Nandoh was on his way home and he had a gas can with gasoline in it and put some in my tank. The Jeep fired up and I proceeded to the Flying J and filled the gas tank.

Interestingly, Nandoh said his 1962 CJ5 has a five gallon fuel tank capacity. He also found that out "the hard way".

The amount that went in was almost 14 gallons (with a good amount in the intake fuel line). Unfortunately, the gas pump's receipt gadget was out of paper or something, so I don't have the exact amount I put in.

So, from now on, I will consider the capacity to be around 13 - 14 gallons. I will also keep with me a gas can filled with gasoline, along with a yardstick.

No wonder many Jeeps carry Jerry cans.

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