Miles to empty?
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 192
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Miles to empty?
How many miles are usually left when the dash shows less than 5 miles to empty? I've had mine down to less than 10 miles to empty and the fuel level indicator looked like it had much more than that left. When I went to fill it, it took a few gallons less than the tank capacity (38).
Jäger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,491
Likes: 5
From: Northern Arizona
Mine is perfectly accurate. Found out the hard way when I limped into a station with '0' miles left. That's not only very hard on the injectors but running the tank low frequently can shorten the life of the in-tank fuel pump. It relies on the Diesel fuel for cooling which I believe is even more critical in hot weather.
Fill it up with 50 miles to go, when the 'alarm' goes off, and you're PSD will appreciate it.
Fill it up with 50 miles to go, when the 'alarm' goes off, and you're PSD will appreciate it.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 585
Likes: 0
From: Marco, Louisiana
Mine died at 4 or 5 miles to E one time and I was about 2 miles from the gas station. Then another time it started running rough about 12 miles to E, I was pulling a 24' loaded stock trailer.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,196
Likes: 10
From: Arizona
Originally Posted by Kepler4
Mine is perfectly accurate. Found out the hard way when I limped into a station with '0' miles left. That's not only very hard on the injectors but running the tank low frequently can shorten the life of the in-tank fuel pump. It relies on the Diesel fuel for cooling which I believe is even more critical in hot weather.
Fill it up with 50 miles to go, when the 'alarm' goes off, and you're PSD will appreciate it.
Fill it up with 50 miles to go, when the 'alarm' goes off, and you're PSD will appreciate it.
But running the truck low on fuel is still hard on the pump and especially the injectors. If you can fill up between a 1/2 & 1/4 tank you are better off, but as Kepler said when it hits the 50 mile to go alarm fill up asap.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,427
Likes: 10
From: Templeton, Massachussetts
well mine is not accurate at all then because mine is the opposite of you guy's findings. Mine will rear 60-80MPG left when the fuel lamp is illuminated. but I only put in a max of 33 gallons and I have a long bed so I assumed I had only a 34 or 36 gallon tank, If if is 38 then maybe the light is coming on too soon..
I avg 500-560MPT, what are you guys getting out of an unloaded tank on a long bed?
I avg 500-560MPT, what are you guys getting out of an unloaded tank on a long bed?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,414
Likes: 22
From: Tucson USA
VTX This summer was getting approx 650 miles withmy 04 running around 80 Mph accross I40 and up into colorado springs. took 36 gals (39gal tank) on FX4 LB. return trip we detoured thru Philmont to Espanola (low speeds, down hill) got to Sholow AZ where we had filled on the way up to the springs and had around 635 miles took again around 35 gals was indicating around 30-40 miles to empty which would be about right at what I was getting for mpg.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: ontario canada
Although my truck is pretty accurate and is empty when the light comes on i think i got ripped off on the size of my tank. I have a long box and believed I had a 38? gal tank. Even when the less then 50 comes on I never put in more than 30-31. What is short box fuel tank size?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,427
Likes: 10
From: Templeton, Massachussetts
I have heard of guys w/ a short box fueling w/ 26-27gallons, maybe my sendor is off then because I consistantly never put in more than 33 gallons, so I f were to wait till I went another 40-50 miles then I would be in the 580-600MPT range and should take the 36 gallons you are reporting. I hate to try it though..Think I am gonna make sure I have a 38gallon tank first!!!
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 821
Likes: 1
From: Nashville
The "official" fuel tank capacity of short box is 29 gallons, long box is 38 gallons. I've read that these specs include some amount of fuel expansion space, but I don't know how much, i.e., you might squeeze a tad more in but if it gets warmer afterwards it may expand and overflow.
I once ran mine down to where the lie-ometer said 4 miles to empty. Got a smidge over 28 gallons in it (short box), but it took a while since my tank's not harpooned.
I once ran mine down to where the lie-ometer said 4 miles to empty. Got a smidge over 28 gallons in it (short box), but it took a while since my tank's not harpooned.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,196
Likes: 10
From: Arizona
Originally Posted by moebdick
The "official" fuel tank capacity of short box is 29 gallons, long box is 38 gallons. I've read that these specs include some amount of fuel expansion space, but I don't know how much, i.e., you might squeeze a tad more in but if it gets warmer afterwards it may expand and overflow.
I once ran mine down to where the lie-ometer said 4 miles to empty. Got a smidge over 28 gallons in it (short box), but it took a while since my tank's not harpooned.
I once ran mine down to where the lie-ometer said 4 miles to empty. Got a smidge over 28 gallons in it (short box), but it took a while since my tank's not harpooned.
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/25...-the-tank.html
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, BC Canada
Based on my experience of harpooning the tank on my SRW there appears particular driving situations where the frame rail mounted pump may not pick up the few gallons of fuel remaining in the tank. Other posts I have seen verified this by some "running out of fuel" with approx. 4 gallons remaining while driving prolonged periods on steep grades; I beleive it was more pronounced on downhill.
As advised by others it is good practice to fill up before any warning indication comes on.
As advised by others it is good practice to fill up before any warning indication comes on.
