I tried a search on fuel guage, and i got too many to look at, mostly fuel pressure, etc.
My truck was about 20 miles from showing the low fuel light, (I know from exp.) but when I went to put $40.00 in her, she stopped at 39.50... So I squeezed the other .50 in her and my fuel guage now shows past full. I reckon this $40 gave me about 13-14 gallons (and I PROMISS the low fuel light would have came on within 20 miles). BUT here is what gets me.......
I have been a broke college student for too long, so I have only been putting in $20 when I need it (just before low fuel light, or sometimes as soon as it comes on). Is is possible that I have always had tons of fuel left? No chance I have that small of a tank, right. (Should be 33 gal. or so, right??)
I know most of our 1st gens dont tell us the truth about remaining fuel, but I need to fix this.
I remember a thread about this awhile ago, but I can't find it!!!
Anyone have ideas???????
HELP!!!
P.S. I plan to run about 100 miles, then re-fill to check milage.
Thanks in advance

 

Am I the only one who has had this problem????

 

I have the same problem...and also my fuel gauge will wonder back and forth between full and empty .....sry i can't help...hopefully someone will.


bigwhite

 

Tank level gauges as you mentioned are notoriously inaccurate. This is the only vehicle that I can recall that the second half is quite a bit larger than the first half. It takes me 175 miles to get to 1/2 tank and 175 miles to get to the next 1/4. Weird!

 

How can I fix this problem? I'd love to be able to trust this gauge.


bigwhite

 

Ahhh, yeah, funny stuff guys.

 

I have 10 gallons left when my light comes on, you can drop the tank and bend the sender arm to adjust it but it is not worth the effort unless you have other problems, the tank is oddly shaped so you will never get it just right, but as long as you know how much you have left you are ok and watch your mileage.

 

The tanks on our trucks are not that large. The largest fill I ever made on mine was 110 litres compared to my V/6 chevy which took nearly 130 litres. I would guess our Dodges take about 26 US gallons from dead empty. You do not want to run out of fuel. Our older trucks can be hand pumped to get fuel up to the injector pump but you still may have to crack (bleed) the injector lines in order to get rid of the air between the pump and the injector. You do not want to have this much fun just because you were running a little low. Yes sometimes the low fuel light does come on a little early. It may be reacting to a hill, to surging due to acceleration or braking or just bumps in the road. Mine usually settles down and the light goes away for many miles.

 

Thanks for the replys guys, but my big ?? is why would it only take 14 gallons to fill my tank when I am reading E on the guage and the "low fuel" light" just lit?
Is there a way that I can check how much fuel is left in the tank?

 

I have not done this but it works for propane tanks and I think it should work for diesel tanks. Next time you truck gives you the low fuel indicator, park it on the level and pour some boiling hot water on the side of the tank. The part that dries fast is the empty part and the part that dries slowly has fuel in it which wicks away heat and slows evaporation. It is possible that a previous owner replace the stock tank with a smaller one from a short wheel base vehicle. It is more likely that it is just the usually crappy Mopar electrics which are at fault. As you probably know by now you CAN go a long way with the fuel light on but as you also probably know it is not a good idea to run out of fuel with these diesels. If you are driving hard and you think you may be running out, put it in neutral and stop. You probably won't do any damage to the old VE pump and you won't have any air in your injector lines which is a major PITA to remove.

The fuel tank on my truck is long and narrow. It is not very large but is larger than yours SEEMS to be. By the way, always running on the top of the tank is a very good idea. It minimizes condensation in cold weather and reduces the amount of crud that can get into your lift pump and fuel filter.

 

Mine shows empty after about 10 gallons used. Just hoping the fuel light doesn't burn out since odo isn't working properly.

 

I believe our trucks hold 24 glns, if your only putting in 14 .

 

All the info I have says we have a 30 gallon tank.

 

That trick that Bill mentioned does work on diesel or gas tanks also. Problem is, it can be real hard to pour boiling water on the tank on some vehicles. Your home water heater has a drain valve/faucet at bottom of tank. Hook a hose to that fitting and run the hot water out of water heater tank over your fuel tank. Touch your hand to the side of the tank after doing so and the cold part is full, warm part is empty. Boiling water isn't necessary, just real hot. NOTE: some home water heaters use a cheesy plastic drain valve so be prepared as it may not be real cooperative, and you may be ready to replace it anyway.....

Good to drain that water heater tank every year anyways as it removes harmful sediment from bottom of tank.

 

truck should have 30 gal tank. the most I have been able to put in empty was around 28 gal. i had a ford that had a small pin hole in the float after a year or 2 i dropped the tank and found it 1/2 full of fuel. it was a slow process but eventualy just showed empty.