Fuel Gauge Incorrect!!!
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 132
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From: central ny
Fuel Gauge Incorrect!!!
Today, while cleaning up some snow plowing accounts I ACCIDENTALLY ran out of fuel! My fuel gauge was between 1/4 and empty. The low fuel light was not on and my diesel ran out of fuel on busy street at 5:30am. Within a few minutes a police car pulls up and tells me I have to move my truck - F350,6.o diesel, dump & snow plow on it - probably weighs around 9500lbs.
I tell him i think I ran out of fuel. So he asks me again to move it!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I ask him if he wants to get out of his car and help me push it to a side street - I was'nt really going to attempt this just wanted to see his reaction - he then asks me what the truck weighs and I tell him. Of course he does'nt want to get out to push but still insists that if I dont move it it will be towed!!!!
Anyway the nice police officer brings me to get fuel and my truck finally starts after 30 turns on the ignition.
Has anyone else experienced this fuel gauge problem.
I tell him i think I ran out of fuel. So he asks me again to move it!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I ask him if he wants to get out of his car and help me push it to a side street - I was'nt really going to attempt this just wanted to see his reaction - he then asks me what the truck weighs and I tell him. Of course he does'nt want to get out to push but still insists that if I dont move it it will be towed!!!!
Anyway the nice police officer brings me to get fuel and my truck finally starts after 30 turns on the ignition.
Has anyone else experienced this fuel gauge problem.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,708
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From: North Dakota
I've always heard that by keeping at least a 1/4 tank it will help the longevity of your fuel pump. The reason being the pump is cooled by the fuel and when you go below a 1/4 tank the sloshing around and that causes the pump to suck some air. also I have had very few vehicles that have had a 100% accurate gauge. heck if you have say a 1/4 tank and park on a hill it will tell you that you have either no fuel or a 1/2 tank, same applies from starting and stopping with low fuel levels. most gauges will show this unless they have a delay in sensing, My oldmobile had a delay where if I took it on a trip and drove say 250 miles it would show 1/3 tank before i shut it off and when i would go back to drive it it would only have 1/4????? just always better not to run them that dry unless its neccessary
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 364
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From: Redding, CA
My F250 v10 is the same way off and on. I've never "totally" run out but have been very close.
At one point I sat at a red light and was able to watch the needle go up then down; kinda like a mini-tach. Not sure what causes it really. The Ford tech said that my "sender" could be malfunctioning. I haven't had it checked out yet because it quit doin that.
To be safe, I reset my tripmeter every fill-up so I can guesstimate when I'll need gas... or where I'll be when I run out.
Mike
At one point I sat at a red light and was able to watch the needle go up then down; kinda like a mini-tach. Not sure what causes it really. The Ford tech said that my "sender" could be malfunctioning. I haven't had it checked out yet because it quit doin that.
To be safe, I reset my tripmeter every fill-up so I can guesstimate when I'll need gas... or where I'll be when I run out.
Mike
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 59
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From: Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Originally Posted by landstroker51
Has anyone else experienced this fuel gauge problem.
YES!! I had my 04 F-250 V-10 for two months when my fuel guage started acting up. My first indication was when I filled up the truck with gas and the next day it was reading between 1/2 - 3/4 tank. I knew this truck was a gasaholic but I knew I couldn't have wasted that much gas overnight. I took it into the dealership and it turns out that the fuel sending unit had gone bad so it was replaced under warrenty. You didn't mention the year of your truck but if it is still under warrenty it will be covered. They did mention at the service dept that they were having problems with the fuel sending unit on a few other trucks and some cars (crown vic if I remember correctly). Hopefully this will help you.
