I have a 1987 f-150 with dual tanks. One of the tanks works, but the gauge doesnt, any ideas of what it might me due to? And if i go ahead and fill that tank up and run it out of gas..is it safe to switch tanks just driving down the road?

 

probably the sending unit. dealer part. might want to consider a fuel pump while you've got the tank down.

 

You should'nt have any problems switching while driving. Don't run the tank dry, pump needs fuel to keep it cool. Probably need new sending unit and change pump too.

 

does you gas gauge just read empty or does it rise past the full mark and stay there? the reason i ask is because i can't figure out if my gas gague is not working or if it is just out of sink. when i turn the truck on the gague goes past the full mark and stays there. Does this mean the gague is still working?

 

in my experience that pretty much means that the sending unit is sending a bad signal to the gauge.

 

ive got a problem kinda like that, but when either of my tanks is above 1/2 of a tank, it will stick on full,if either goes below 1/2 of a tank, the guage will jiggle back and forth between full and 1/4, when it goes below 1/4, it will stick on empty, then you start lookin for a go juice station

 

MattA, my gas gauge never leaves the full mark, and i am pretty sure it is the sending unit in my truck that isnt working, not really sure where to get a new one though??

 

yeah, i switch tanks while driving all the time, my front pump is toast though... drove it dry over heated, and runs like ****

 

dealers should have em, if not, the local parts house should be able to get you one if they dont have em in stock, like pep boys, or advanced

 

The pumps you can get just about anywhere. The sending units are a little more harder to find especially for the year differences. I bought one from www.rockauto.com for $75 and the other on ebay for $45. For this price neither came with pumps. Complete they run between $125 - 150 dollars. The pumps are about $30 each and the same for both tanks. The front are rear tank sending units are different.

 

I got a good deal from a friend who owns a auto shop. $150 for a new front gas tank and sending unit without the pump. I was wondering if i might have installed the sending unit improperly because the fuel gague doesnt work right. the rear tank gague works but when i switch to the front it drops past full. if i turn the truck off on the front tank the gague drops back to 3/4 full and when i turn it on it rises past the full mark like it wants to go farther.
i guess i am just going to have to live with it and pray that my leaky rear tank holds enough gas to get me home when the front runs dry.