Anyone have any tricks to topping off the gas tank on the 2004 F150's ? I can sometimes get the tank full to the brim, other times I know there is room for 3-4 more gallons. Seems maybe to be temperature related (cooler weather allows more?).

Kind of a bummer when you are trying to get a really accuarte MPG calculation.

 

Not sure how this affects an accurate MPG calculation. To figure MPG, just set your trip to 0 after you fill up. Drive until the next fill up. When you fill up again, note how much gas you put in. Divide the number of miles driven by the amount of gas you put in and that is a very accurate MPG calculation. I find my truck's computer to be a little bit off from what I calculate. It usually shows about a half mile per gallon more.

 

If you are worried about the "extra" you are putting in when you refill for this calculation, just go to the same gas station both times and only fill er up till it initially kicks off. If you are really picky then try to pick a day with the same temps, but honestly who the hell cares that much?!

 

It is important to remember that gas will expand in hot weather. So if you fill it up to the brim in cold weather, and drive enough so that when you park in your newly paved driveway and the weather warms up, that there is enough room in the tank to handle the expantion you're OK. If you drive straight to your driveway from the gas station (Short trip), you'd be supprised at how much damage to a paved driveway, as little as half a cup of gas dripping in the same spot will do.

Don't ask how I found this out.


dpostman

 

When its full its full............Some pumps are more sensitive, but for the most part about the same, maybe you are getting better gas mileage than you think!? For real accurate mileage, keep a log, and combine them. This way if one time you don't get it full your mileage will look a bit higher, but then the next time it will take more (and get worse MPG) because it wasn't completely full.

After the pump kicks off, I usually go to the next 50 cents and call it good, other wise you can overflow you system, and gas ends up in the vent lines, charcoal canister and/or the driveway..........not good.

 

I actually know what you're talking about. Sometimes the pump stops and you can "nurse" in another Two gallons. Sometimes none. I've come to the conclusion some pumps shut off easier than others and the Ford design seems to make the "sensitive" pumps even more so. It's kind of weird.

It can definitely throw off your mileage calculations if you don't take the time to totally top it off. The "letting the pump shut off three times" or whatever rule just doesn't work consistantly.

 

Why does it matter how much fuel you put in ?, when you are doing your calculation all you need is gallons used and milage.

All I do is write my odometer reading on the top of all of my fuel reciepts and then calculate MPG with an excel spread sheet later.

 

When I fill up I just stop when it clicks off, try to resist cramming more in. Based on that, I am making between 15.4 and 15.8 MPG mixed highway/city driving. The info center stays around 16.1 and 16.2. I have not reset it in awhile.

I really enjoy the miles to empty feature. I have never ran the tank dry. Based on 27 gallons as full. I have calculated all this out several times and find that there should be 20 to 30 miles left in the tank when the info center says 0 miles to empty. Thats close enough for me.

I would assume that you can get more than 27 gallons in the tank. Does anyone know how much it really holds?

 

I thought that topping off to high causes a problem with the charcoal filter? Gets it wet or something.

 

Because if you don't fill it back to the exact level or to top then you're not able to get the actual amount of fuel used.

Say you fill it up to the very top the first time. Then the second fill up the pump shuts off but you could actually put 2 more gallons in because it's not really to the top. Now your calculations are off...

 

That is why you combine several tanks, and that problem goes away. (one tank fuller than the other)

The charcoal canister is designed to hold gas vapors, not liquid, during closed-loop this is vented to the engine and burned.

 

I have the 35.7 gallon gas tank. When I pay at the pump, it cuts me off at $50.00. I rarely get a full tank because of that. They only time I can get it full is if I pay inside or if I fill up before it drops below 1/4 tank.

There are a few gas stations that I know of around here that are somewhat on an incline. I have noticed that if I park my truck at the pump with the passengers side facing down hill, I can get it pretty dang full. It's a very minor slope, but just the smallest incline seems to help.

 

" I thought that topping off to high causes a problem with the charcoal filter? Gets it wet or something. "


you are correct. keep overfilling and you'll end up with a check engine light. seen it before.