[vince1]

I should have also written that before filling it up with the key turned to on the reading would jump from 1/4 to 1/2. The amount of fuel I put in was more than half leading me to believe that it always reads about 1/4 too high.

The 1/4 reading with key off or gauge out of the vehicle leads me to believe that the gauge is defective. Should it not zero itself at the empty position? A picture of a new gauge shows the needle on E.

I guess my options now are to run the tank dry and take it down to have a go at the connections (not going to happen unless absolutely necessary), or undo the crimp on the bezel and reset the needle (something to play with), or buy a new gauge.