How big is the gas tank on my 98 E250 5.4 standard cargo?

The manual says 35 or 37 gal depending on how you read it. I ran the tank to the gauge sitting on E, filled the tank all the way up, and it took 28 gal. I just don't believe that there is 7-9 gal reserve at empty? Most vehicles are maybe 2-3 gal on E.

Am I missing something or is the gauge wrong?

 

28 gallons is about the max I can stuff into my '00 E250 with the same 5.4--maybe 29 but that's after filling it past the advisable point of first click off of the pump handle. I don't know how the manual would figure its 35 or 37 since your experience and mine suggest 28 is about the max.

Two thiings though------don't run your tank that far empty very often, hard on the fuel pump as it'll over heat. Don't add too much fuel after the first pump click off as the tank needs venting and too high in the filler neck could interfere with that.

Is this the Ford original owners manual?

 

On '92 & up Econolines the only figure I've ever seen in FORD literature is 35 gallon capacity.

Never ran a '92 & up Econoline out of gas, but once put 31 gallons in. When I drove up to the pump the gas gauge had passed "sitting on E".

 

Yes, it is the original manual that came with the van. 35 or 37 clearly stated. I even checked on a few parts websites and it says 35 gal is the replacement tank size.

I don't get it? I could drive another 100 miles when the tank is on E before it would run out of gas? is that crazy or what?

 

Not sure if you "don't get it?" but I wouldn't count on "another 100 miles".

The 35 gallon capacity tank allows for: expansion space, reserve capacity & sump space below the fuel pump pick up.

The needle on the gas gauge can move past the E or the F. The gauge isn't calibrated to lab accuracy.

Suggest if you want to know if you "could really drive another 100 miles when the tank is on E" or if it's "crazy or what?" that you run the obvious test.

Carry a can of gas. Then intentionally "run out of gas" after choosing the point at which you think "the tank is on E" exactly & noting odometer reading. When your Econoline sputters to a stop record the odometer reading & subtract 1st reading. This will tell you how far you "could drive" after "the tank is on E". Simply pour in the can of gas you're carrying to get going again.

 

I've had mine for near 8 years, it's a 99 E-350, and like all, it has a 35 gallon tank, I've put $100 in it and it wasn't empty, at 30 gallons it still was not in the red yet.

 

On my 2008, the "Low Fuel" light comes on @ 28 gal. I've put as much as 31 gallons in it with the needle way below E.

The manual states 35 gal. capacity and that it will run when putting 1 gal. in the tank after running out. One day I'm gonna be curious enough to see for myself.

 

The tank's size is 35 gallons, but you can't fill it, because the top gets full of vapor and blocks the pump. If you could put a larger capacity EVAP system (Charcoal canister, lines, larger valves at the top of the tank, etc), re-program the computer, and fill it with engine running -- you could fill it more.

 

Sorry guys, but rare occasions I've run mine down and put 32 gallons in it, takes a long time due to stop and give time to go down, repeat process, it still registered, I try to never do it, the cost of fuel is painful at that point.

 

The problem with force-feeding is that the fuel shutoff (toilet-plunger) valve at the top can be overwhelmed, which will allow liquid through, which can saturate the Charcoal canister.

 

Canister is very far from the tank, so I seriously doubt that, when I don't sit/wait filling it, I wind up with 3/4 tank, I want it full, this is typical Ford crap, every one that I've owned has been a bitch to fill up.

 

Distance doesn't matter -- if that Toilet Plunger (fuel shutoff) Valve atop fuel tank does not close the flow, it doesn't take much liquid fuel to run thru the 1/4" line and fill the coffee can Canister.

When you can't fill the tank, the fault usually lies with that Valve, which is supposed to release vapors from the tank to the canister. Force-feeding causes malfunction in the EVAP system too.

These plastic valves are cheap, but tank needs to be lowered to get to it.

 

Been doing it 8 years, I don't believe it is that, the fault is the vent in the fill spout, as any Ford owner should know, it's common.

 

I fill mine as fast as I want and always round it off to the nearest half or full gallon, without any issues. Have no idea what either if you are talking about.

 

Mine clicks off, always has, every Ford I've ever owned has done it, does it to dad too, if you stop, you'll find it's not full.