when does your low fuel light illum?
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 64
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From: up state VT
For whatever its worth, I have a 2000 350 4x4 SD, 29 gallon tank, and have had a problem getting the full fuel in after the gauge gets close to "E". 22-23 gals usually. When I travel this really stinks because you have to stop more frequently and lose more time. I searched every forum I could find and finally found a guy that was as ripped as I was because of this. He took the tank apart to find out that the fuel fill tube extended too far into the tank and prevented a proper fillup. He cut the tube back and problem solved. You can tell if you have the same problem if you can squeeze in about 5-6 gallons extra.(takes a few minutes, and no, the tank is not stretching). I think he happened to find this out by having a heavy load on board that tilted his truck to the right. I have not cut mine yet but try to fill up at a station where the lot is sloped...or driving up on the pump curb really works well but not always practical.
Moderator
Joined: May 2004
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From: Home Base Nebraska
Originally Posted by garyle
For whatever its worth, I have a 2000 350 4x4 SD, 29 gallon tank, and have had a problem getting the full fuel in after the gauge gets close to "E". 22-23 gals usually. When I travel this really stinks because you have to stop more frequently and lose more time. I searched every forum I could find and finally found a guy that was as ripped as I was because of this. He took the tank apart to find out that the fuel fill tube extended too far into the tank and prevented a proper fillup. He cut the tube back and problem solved. You can tell if you have the same problem if you can squeeze in about 5-6 gallons extra.(takes a few minutes, and no, the tank is not stretching). I think he happened to find this out by having a heavy load on board that tilted his truck to the right. I have not cut mine yet but try to fill up at a station where the lot is sloped...or driving up on the pump curb really works well but not always practical.
Denny
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 64
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From: up state VT
I hear ya rvpuller, but the design of the tank and tube only lets you put in about 25-26 gallons in a lot of these 29 gallon trucks at best. Some are more fortunate and get in 27-28. If you really squeeze it, the tank will hold 31 gallons with the OEM tube, which is at the point where all the expansion room is gone... Not good there. But on the other hand, a 25 gallon tank in these trucks is not good either, which means 60+ miles on the highway. A lot of guys falsly think that they have about 5 or 6 gallons left when the low fuel light comes on. All I can say is, get out your gas can and check it like I did and then do the math. I ran it out and filled it till the pump clicked and only got in 24 gallons...That was including 5 gallons from my gas can.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 267
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From: La Mesa Ca
NO WAY!
so your saying when the light goes on i need to haul *** to the gas station instead of further driving around town?
i might need to do that gas can trick once i get close to the light coming on!
so your saying when the light goes on i need to haul *** to the gas station instead of further driving around town?
i might need to do that gas can trick once i get close to the light coming on!
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 182
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My light poped on today after I read this thread abd I noticed the needle was still way off from "E" I ran another 10-12 miles and filled er up. 24.7 gallons and $62 later back on the road. Calculated 16.8 mpg, thought I got better than that but I have romped on it a couple of times since I have only owned her for about 2 weeks.
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 417
Likes: 26
Ok, I can't find it in my owner's manual now, but I know I read somewhere that the light comes on with 6 gallons remaining for the 29 gal tanks and at 8 remaining for the 38 gal tanks. This is the "reserve capcity" because we are all too dumb to go get gas when the needle gets near "E" so they have to warn us for 60 or so miles 
It's documented somewhere, I just can't find it right now.
It's documented somewhere, I just can't find it right now.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: up state VT
The guages and trip computers are different on vehicles. I have 2 expys and an SD and they all read different..the electronic pick-up is not all that accurate in the way you read the guage, which is how everyone thinks they know when to fill up. Non of this matters when traveling locally but when you hit the highway, its nice not to have to fill up every 250 miles when you get 16-18 mpg, just because the guage tells you to or you don't trust it. Thats why I run them out so I know, then refill to see what you really have for fuel.
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 64
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From: up state VT
Originally Posted by MobeyDick
I have run mine out 38 Gal tank! I coasted up to the pump (Almost had to push it) I put in 42.8 Gals.
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 33
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I ran my 38 gal tank to as low as I dared. Even with the e mark and it took 35 gal to fill up. I felt like Kramer in the Porsche test drive episode on Seinfeld. I should have gone further. Just one more exit. Just one more.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 268
Likes: 1
From: 39 24'34.8" N 88 47'51" W
Does all super duties have the low fuel light? On my 05 XLT I have put in 34.330 gal on a 38 gal tank and I haven't seen any low fuel light. Maybe I need to go and read the manual and see if my truck has the low fuel light.
