Bringing you up to date:
I gave up the idea of bending the float arm to improve the accuracy of the gas gauge partly because I can't get at it easily, but also because in fact it moves from the very top of the tank when full to a point where it can't seem to be pushed down any farther (and where the gas needle is pointing through the middle of the "E")......but at which point I was still able to siphon out a bit more than a liter and a half of gas (during which the needle had not dropped any farther).
In the city and suburbs I get about 93 mpg (high test) and about 100mpg in the exurbs and beyond..........when the needle reaches the low point after having traveled some 80 miles in town, that means that I have about another 40 miles remaining before I HAVE to get more gas.
I guess it's better not to tempt fate, the numbers, or your memory. When you notice that the needle is at the lowest point, STOP AND GET MORE GAS.