Fuel gauge issue
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Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Gibsonville,NC
Fuel gauge issue
Hello all, I've got an 86 F150 XLT Lariat, Auto, 302, EFI w/OD & dual tanks. For years the gas gauge would work for the first 50/80 miles, the show empty for the remaining 150/175 miles. I replaced the front tank sending unit & pump with a Spectra Premium (parts house suggested it over the Delphi & Airtex). After it was installed the gauge is still doing the same thing. Asked a few mechanics & they told me I bent the float arm on install. So for the rear tank I had my mechanic replace it & guess what? Filled tank yesterday(gauge showed full) & today driving to work, the gauge shows half a tank after only 20 miles. So, has anyone here had the same issue with these aftermarket sending units? I checked for OEM parts from Ford & they only offer the fuel pump for $325, hanger has been discontinued. Suggestions? Thanks
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It's normal for the fuel gauge to not be consistent. But it should not be way off either. Everyone of these trucks I have had the fuel guage has a little quirk to it. So long as empty is fairly acurate, I don't worry about it.
For instance the truck I have now, when on the front tank the needle stays past full for a long time. As soon as it moves back to the full mark it's a steady decent at a fairly high rate till it's empty. So I know when I get to 1/4 of a tank it's time to start looking for a fuel station.
The rear tank is not like that. It does not stay past full for very long, but it's decent is slower and more steady than the front tank. When it get's to a 1/4 I can let it go till it gets lower before looking for a station.
For instance the truck I have now, when on the front tank the needle stays past full for a long time. As soon as it moves back to the full mark it's a steady decent at a fairly high rate till it's empty. So I know when I get to 1/4 of a tank it's time to start looking for a fuel station.
The rear tank is not like that. It does not stay past full for very long, but it's decent is slower and more steady than the front tank. When it get's to a 1/4 I can let it go till it gets lower before looking for a station.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 85
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From: Gibsonville,NC
Ok, I talked to a few more mechanics today about this issue & was told there was no way that I had installed 2 bad sending units, and I shouldn't have to adjust the float arm, because it was correctly set from the maker. They suggested looking at my electrical connections on the sending units & cleaning them. One said it could be due to a dirty tank interfering with the resistance on the float arm sensor. Another suggested that the selector switch on the dash was dirty creating extra ground & screwing with the fuel gauges correct reading. Can anyone elaborate on any of these? Ever had the same happen with their truck? Thanks!
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DavidHenshaw
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Jul 11, 2006 06:47 AM
