Fuel Pump Question
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2008
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Fuel Pump Question
Are there any typical signs of the fuel pump going bad? Reason I ask is when I bought my truck, I accidentally ran it out of fuel. I was in Florida where I bought it, and I ran it down well below a 1/4 tank on the rear tank according to the guage (at the time the front tank was on E and I hadn't filled it up yet). On the road trip back up north, I ran it down to the same point....about 225 miles into the trip, but both times I could only get about 14 gallons in the tank which means there was about 4 gallons left. On the next leg, just under a quarter tank and at about 200 miles, she died....out of gas...BAD news 
After getting her primed thanks to a tow truck driver, I hit the next station and sure enough....still 3-4 gallons in the tank
So now I'm afraid to run the tanks much past 1/4 on the guage.
Does this have anything to do with the pump getting weak, or should I just accept the fact that I have 18 gallon tanks but can only use 14 gallons at a time?
After getting her primed thanks to a tow truck driver, I hit the next station and sure enough....still 3-4 gallons in the tank
So now I'm afraid to run the tanks much past 1/4 on the guage.Does this have anything to do with the pump getting weak, or should I just accept the fact that I have 18 gallon tanks but can only use 14 gallons at a time?
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,010
Likes: 5
From: Johnson City, TN.
What type truck/cab config do you have? Long bed or SB? Reg cab/ex cab/crew cab? 4X2/4X4? Different configurations have different size front tanks. I think the smallest is 15 or 16 gallons and the largest is 19. Not sure exactly. Someone posted here recently on these sizes.
I have 4X4 ex cab SB and my front tank is 16.5
I have 4X4 ex cab SB and my front tank is 16.5
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,266
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From: Levittown
In the tank you have a fuel pickup screen (pre filter).
If you have a restriction in the screen from dirt, gelling ect it will
open a bypass valve to allow fuel flow. Alot of these valves are defective and flow fuel all the time.
The valve is located higher up in the pickup line and the reason for running out of fuel.
Its not a good thing to run a diesel out of fuel.
Bill
If you have a restriction in the screen from dirt, gelling ect it will
open a bypass valve to allow fuel flow. Alot of these valves are defective and flow fuel all the time.
The valve is located higher up in the pickup line and the reason for running out of fuel.
Its not a good thing to run a diesel out of fuel.
Bill
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2008
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Yeah - I found out the hard way its not good to run out of fuel
My truck is a 94.5 PSD F-350, dually, extended cab w/long bed. According to the manual it has 17.9 (I think thats right) gallon tanks front and rear. It was the rear tank I used all the way home because the front tank was really low when I bought it and I wasn't sure if it was clean or too dirty for use. However I now use both tanks.
Is there a way to remove and clean or replace the pick-up devices in the tank?
And back to the fuel pump.....so my scenario is not a sign that the pump is going bad or getting weak?
My truck is a 94.5 PSD F-350, dually, extended cab w/long bed. According to the manual it has 17.9 (I think thats right) gallon tanks front and rear. It was the rear tank I used all the way home because the front tank was really low when I bought it and I wasn't sure if it was clean or too dirty for use. However I now use both tanks.
Is there a way to remove and clean or replace the pick-up devices in the tank?
And back to the fuel pump.....so my scenario is not a sign that the pump is going bad or getting weak?
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,835
Likes: 3
From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
Not your issue is in the tank not the fuel pump. What MADVAN said could be true or the pick that he is referring to could have broken off completely leaving the actual pickup tube a few inches off the bottom of the tank. It has happened many times before.
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2008
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OK, so is this part easy to remove for cleaning or replacing? Seems if this is the case, then the pre-screen is no longer functioning and aside from the fact that I am only using 77% of the tanks capacity, my fuel filter is having to work more since unscreened fuel is traveling up to the filter.
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2008
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Is the pick up unit different/separate from the sending unit? I find replacement sending units all over the web, but they look like devices that only trigger the fuel guage - nothing with a tube or screen on it for the actual fuel to go through. Or does the sending unit also act as the pickup for fuel to flow?
Can I just pull the pickup unit out and either clean the darn screen (if it is still on there) or add a new tube that extends down to the bottom of the tank? If so, how long does it need to be?
Can I just pull the pickup unit out and either clean the darn screen (if it is still on there) or add a new tube that extends down to the bottom of the tank? If so, how long does it need to be?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,835
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From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
This is what the sender should look like. It function both at the pick up and the fuel level sender. The black foot on the bottom maybe the problem. There is a screen (larger hole like window screen, keeps leaves and large rodents out), the screen may be getting plugged or the foot has broken off. If the foot broke off you could extend it with tubing.
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