Ok, now I've filled my new truck up 3 times. I run it until the display says 0 miles left to empty..then fill the truck up until fuel is visible at the top of the fill tube (in other words it's FULL) and the most I can get in is 23.5 gallons. This tells me I'm not anywhere near empty since my sticker clearly says 27gal tank and yet the gauge as well as the annoying every five miles BEEP - LOW FUEL seem to think I am. What gives? Dealer says nothing is wrong with the system, surely this is not normal?? If it's leaving 4 gallons in the tank when it says empty...that's hosing me out of a large chunk of cruising time.

A 27 gallon tank is a joke on a towing vehicle but 23 is beyond funny....anyone else have this trouble?

Bill
05 F150 Scab lariat

 

It's normal. You're provided a 3-5 gallon buffer even when showing empty. The fuel pump itself is cooled and lubricated by fuel, if the tank is run dry, you may damage the pump over the long run.

 

I am still smiling after reading this, thanks.
I don’t think you have a problem at all.
You think Ford jipped you and gave you a 23 gallon tank?
You think that maybe there is a reserve left even after the computer says Zero Miles Left?
Are you really trying to run out of gas?
I came to give you an answer but actually left with more questions…..Sorry.

 

I ve put over 26 in mine and it was just a few miles past the 50 miles to empty warning. I would much rather fill up than take a chance on running out of petrol. Amazingly, that has never happened to me.
I always try to get a feel for the gas gauge and warnings in a vehicle. Just figure out how much is in hte tank when the warnings come on and adjust your stops based on that.

 

And slamming the fuel tank full as rip, up to the filler neck may saturate the charcoal canister and cause hesistation/stalling problems as liquid fuel is taken into the evap system. Don't do that.

 

Yes, I stop filling the first time the pump stops no matter if it is a round number or not.

 

The only reason I am bothered by this is since I put 40K miles a year on my work vehicle...filling up every 23 gallons is a serious pain in the ****



It also seems rather ignorant to me to have both a fuel guage and an early warning system...only to have neither of them tell you the truth. Empty means empty, not 1/6 of the tank left. In other words, I have over an hour of highway driving left when it reads empty and the warning system has been warning of impending empty for another full hour PRIOR TO THAT. Stupid design. And if the fuel pump can't handle the tank being emptied...then they should place it in a section of the tank that the fuel pickup can not pull fuel from. Rest assured I'll be running this down to the last gallon on a regular basis once I have a feel for where that is...and if the fuel pump goes out every other week..well ford's bottom line gets smaller as they warranty it over and over. Now to disconnect that BEEP - Low fuel tone..that goes off every 10 minutes..starting nearly 2 hours before the tank is actually empty. I'm still shocked they meant to do that.

Bill

 

It took my truck a few tanks (like 10 give or take) till it started giving correct fuel readings. I think that the factory gives the truck a approx. range per tank from the factory and the truck basis the total range based on that.

Having said that if you do a lot of freeway driving you will exceed that amount. Give the truck some time.

I can get down to as low as 26.5 gallons per fill for my 27 gallon tank right when the reserve gets to 0.

 

Stormbringer, that is what I was hoping to hear. I love you man...



Bill
05 scab lariat

 

Crap! I knew I should have opt'ed for the larger tank.

 

No worries, it happened to me when I first got my truck on the first tank as well.

23-23 gallons and then it stopped, I was confused as well. The total tank range gauge is way off for me sometime even now when I do a loong 400 mile trip. I get like 19 mpg on the freeway and its used to the 15 combined that I normally get.

 

I ran my 27 gal tank out once (unfortunately, not on purpose.) Pushed the truck to the pump (fortunately I had made it to the gas station driveway.) It took 27.01 gallons to fill it until the pump clicked off. The tank is 27 gallons, and evidently to a great deal of precision. My low fuel warning generally comes on at about 23 and a half gallons to fill, which leaves 3.5 gallons (roughly 50 miles) in reserve.