DieselGoose

Wondering if any of you guys have had this happen as well.

In short i have ran my truck out of fuel 3 times in the past due to the friggin fuel gauge. I am no dumby and know not to run a diesel out of fuel but here is what happened. I usually would drive it until the fuel light would come on and then i would have around 30-50 miles left. Well one day i was coming back with a loaded trailer and decided to try to make it to the next town just 10 miles away and the fuel light wasnt even on yet. Well the light comes on half way there and then within 2 minutes of it going on the dang thing ran out on me. So that was the first time. The second i thought maybe it was a fluke cause i was pulling or something like that and my light usually goes on right at an 1/8 tank. Well i was close the the 1/8 and the thing ran out on me again. both times it was right around 517-530 miles on a tank and i used to be able to make it go 600 but anyways. Next time around i knew not to let it get that low well at a darn 1/4 tank it ran out on me right at 500 miles. Since then i fill up before i get much over 500 miles.

Just wondering what you guys think may be the problem. I was maybe thinking it was the sender unit for the gauge but i dont know with it running out at 500 and im getting 17 mpg at the worst and 20+ at best. The fuel mileage alone should put me above 550-600 miles per tank. Please help. It sucks cranking fuel lines.

Shovelhead

I've seen reports of folks have pulled the tank unit out and discovered cracks in the inside-the-tank fuel pickup tube that were uncovered before the tank was near empty, effectively shutting off the fuel supply when the tank was still reading 1/4 tank.

Might be your situation unless the miles driven are still the same.
The tank gauge sending units are notorious for going bad, so I rely more on the trip odometer, and try to refuel at 1/2 tank or ~300 miles.

BarryG

I have ran out of fuel twice both due to faulty sending units with over 1/4 tank showing on the gauge and no previous warning for those senders. I have not replaced the sending unit for the third one. I have found some other sending units which I may end up using instead of the pos stock one. But it will require placing a fuel gauge somewhere in the cab and just not sure if I want to clutter it up anymore than it already is up there.

GlennRMK

Mine reads a higher then actual, so I am careful

Filled up after 500 miles and put 28 gallons in. With no light on but almost to 1/8 tank.

Tiny

Keep in mind that the VP44 is cooled by diesel, and when you run low you run the risk of overheating the VP. Shovelhead has the right idea about keeping at least 1/2 tank, more fuel will dissipate the heat better. Cooler fuel = happy VP44!!

blackdiesel

ive never ran out of fuel but my guage has lied to me before too. i was driving to town and i knew that it shouldnt be ANYWHERE near empty, but my tank was reading close to a 1/4 of a tank. i just kept driving and slowly the guage climbed back up to were it was supposed to be. Which was around 3/4 of a tank. its done that to me twice.

dawgo1

My truck lies too! It usually lies most when its cold, it will read from a 1/4 to empty and the tak will be from half way to full. I bought a sender but have not wanted to pull the bed and hitch nor the tank! Any one had a tank strap break? mine did on the rear, not helping the gauge tell the truth much!

2500CTD

Mine is playing games. When I first got it it ran to E (I have learned not to do that anymore thanks to this site ) So I filled at the light. One day it hit the light and maybe 5 miles later it stalls. So I fill at a 1/4 tank (hadda wait for payday) And it stalls. Man that this is a beast to push, of course it stalls in the worst place. Well I'm converting over to an intank LP fuel level sender, all in one thingy. Hopefully this fixes 2 things at once.

BoostdCTD

Mine only acts up when I have less than a half tank, so I normally keep it on the upperside anyways. I just have to get around to changing the sender out.

Saxet Nomad

I've had mine run out twice...both times the tank showed 1/4 tank or more...dropped the tank and cleaned the sending unit and checked out to be good...now every once in a while my level will be at 3/4 and then I'll shut off the truck and turn it back on and then the level will be at full...turn it off again and it'll be back to "normal"...don't trust the guage...I keep the trip odo set and fuel every 300 miles...