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Old Oct 13, 2009 | 09:47 PM
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Angry Fuel Issues

I have a 2003 6.0 with 87K. It began "running out of fuel", at 1/8 tank about a couple of months ago. It has now started doing it at 1/4 tank. I thought it might be junk in the bottom of the tank plugging up the filters and replace them 2 weeks ago. I also thought maybe it was a fuel guage going bad, but now am leaning towards pump or the pick up line is FUBARed. Any body had these issues?
 
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Old Oct 13, 2009 | 10:26 PM
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Some fuel tanks were steel and they "delaminated". Bio-diesel made it words. Not sure which models had the steel tanks (just can't recall at the moment), but you might check to see if yours is steel. If so, it could very easily be the pick-up tube.
 
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Old Oct 13, 2009 | 10:38 PM
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That just may very well be it.. I have run a couple of tanks of B20 and 1/2 tank of SVO through it. Both were over a year ago, but it could have just gotten bad enough now to show the effects? Thanks for your help. That will be a lot easier fix that the pump!!
 
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Old Oct 13, 2009 | 10:45 PM
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Pretty sure I have a steel tank, never have run bio though.
 
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Old Oct 15, 2009 | 10:21 PM
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I was kinda planning on dropping the fuel tank on Saturday to see if there is anything going on inside. I decided to dump some injector cleaner/cetane booster in the tank just for s.a.g. last night, actually doubled the amount, and it ran like a champ today. I did however start acting wierd again aroung 1/8 tank (I drove a lot today), so I'm leaning toward checking the tank out on Saturday.
 
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Old Oct 16, 2009 | 07:07 AM
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I seem to recall some old threads about trucks with a bad level indicator (sending unit maybe) on the fuel tank. The tank was actually lower than the level indictaion. They were running the tank down and starving the fuel pump.

A fuel pressure gauge is SO IMPORTANT!
 
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Old Oct 16, 2009 | 08:41 AM
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I had the same issue. It was the fuel sending unit. I ***** when the fuel gage went to E upon driving to work. I shut the truck off....turned it on...and it was back to a 1/2 tank. $510 later Ford dropped my tank and replaced the sending unit.
 
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Old Oct 16, 2009 | 09:04 AM
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Don't procrastinate fixing this. If you are starving your injectors of fuel it is sure to kill them.
 
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Old Oct 16, 2009 | 05:03 PM
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2600.00 later fuel tank rusted out and cloged and fried my fuel pump i have a f450 2007 with 100,000 miles on her
 
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Old Oct 18, 2009 | 10:38 PM
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Didn't drop the tank yesterday, figured if it was something with the tank it would most likely do it all the time, other than if the pick up tube is bent or broken off. That makes sense about the tank being at a different level above or below the sending unit on the frame rail. It would explain why it doesnt act starved for fuel until it gets to 1/8 tank. I'm not going to pay someone to replace it for me though. What is the price on a sending unit, and where is the best place to get one from? I have my own first choices, but am looking for where anyone else has had good prices, quality, and service. I'm thinking about going to an upgraded one if there is such a thing for a sending unit. Might as well while I'm spending the $$$.
 
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