# Need help checking gas level in 2006 Malibu LT **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [July 16, 2014, 8:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-checking-gas-level-in-2006-malibu-lt/86045 "2014-07-16T20:50:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dj\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@dj\_brown](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dj_brown)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 8:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-checking-gas-level-in-2006-malibu-lt/86045/1 "2014-07-16T20:50:50Z")
Hello, I have been dealing w/ a broken gas gauge for a while and have been monitoring my mileage and fill-ups and have been able to calculate my gas usage pretty well, however sometimes I may get a little lost on where my level is at. I just recently have been using a long plastic tie strap that reaches the end (I think) of the gas intake and I believe hits the gas tank. (Its goes in about 4’ and I cannot push it any further at that point) My question is when it comes up w/ no gasoline on it I am wondering how many gallons are remaining. Looking at a diagram of the gas tank it looks concave, where some of the gas may sit lower that where my tie hits. But I am almost certain that I have at least a few gallons remaining. Does anyone have a guess as to how much I may have? For safety and other reasons this is not something that I am doing often, its just in this case I am a few miles from a gas station so I do not want to risk it. Thanks in advance! -dj ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 10:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-checking-gas-level-in-2006-malibu-lt/86045/2 "2014-07-16T22:00:57Z")
I see no way to tell from the diagram. How many miles can you drive on a full tank before no gas shows on your “dip stick”? ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 3:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-checking-gas-level-in-2006-malibu-lt/86045/3 "2014-07-17T03:01:15Z")
You can always “thump” the tank with your hand to ascertain if gas is left in the tank. A full, half full and empty tank is easy to recognize this way. In my younger days…I had to do this on an old Chevy pickup that I drove. The gas tank was behind the seat so it was really easy. You could just get the gas gauge fixed and solve your problem but that’s up to you. ---
**Author:** ![cwatkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@cwatkin](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cwatkin)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 3:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-checking-gas-level-in-2006-malibu-lt/86045/4 "2014-07-17T03:05:23Z")
If the car can go about 400 miles on a tank (just saying-it may be more or less), just fill it up every 250 miles if you drive a lot in the city and 300 miles if you drive on the highway most of the tank. This is a simple solution. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 8:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-checking-gas-level-in-2006-malibu-lt/86045/5 "2014-07-17T08:16:32Z")
My suggestion is to either replace the sender (99% of the time that’s the problem) or fill the tank twice as often as you are and skip the dipstick. If you’re currently filling up once a week, start filling up twice a week. Of course, fixing the problem is always better. ---
**Author:** ![Yosemite](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/yosemite/32/643_2.png) [@Yosemite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Yosemite)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 8:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-checking-gas-level-in-2006-malibu-lt/86045/6 "2014-07-17T08:32:36Z")
I agree with @CWATKIN; , but hit the trip odometer when you fill up and when you reach the miles you should go with 1/2 to 2/4 tank…stop and fill up…and hit the trip odometer again. But I would consider fixing it when you get to it. Yosemite