I just bought a 2002 Ford F250 w/7.3 Powerstroke yesterday. I filled the fuel tank today and drove 50 miles and the fuel guage is reading 5/8 of a tank. I guess I expected to get more than 175 miles to a 29 gallon tank. There has to be a problem. Any ideas?

 

You didn't fill up all the way.

The fuel tank design makes it so that the foam goes up the filler neck when fueling. So when the pump "clicks" off automatically, it's because the filler neck is full of foam. You have to dribble the remaining fuel in slowly, which is a pain. Or you can do a search and read up on the "Harpoon Mod" and fill your tank completely every time.

 

Yeah, i thought it was kind of strange that I only got 16 gallons in from the 1/4 tank mark. I didn't realize that the foam would actually lift the float and effect the guage like that.

 

After doing the harpoon mod I am able to get 36.2 gallons in an tank with about 1 gallon in it before the pump cuts off. The tanks are 38 gallons. Check the Common Mods and Maintenance link in my sig for the harpoon and look at the Hutch also.

 

I had my truck down on almost empty one time i filled it up. I spent only about a minute dribbling fuel in, and i got about 44.xx gallons in (!?) The pump clicked off at 42 some gallons. I reset the Lie-O-Meter, and it said "one oil change till empty"

 

Unless his truck is a shortbed, like mine. Then he's got a smaller tank

 

On my F350 W/ 6Sp. DRW and weighing 12500 lbs. I can go 400 miles on my rear tank. That equates to about 12.5 MPG.