Alright, so I pushed the limits on my gas tank today and my truck started to stall just as I parked it at the gas pump. After I filled up the tank, I had to turn it over for about 10 seconds or so before it started. But once it started, the idle was not very smooth and when I tried to drive it, the CEL started flashing and the truck was shaking pretty bad when I got on the gas a little. I turned the truck off and started it up again but I'm still having the same problem.

Is it bad to run the truck out of gas like that? Do I have to have the fuel system primed or something?

 

Yes it's bad. You might have sucked up some sludge into the fuel pump.

 

Fuel filter perhaps.

 

Next time instead of cranking it, let the pump prime a couple of times if you are going to abuse it.

 

Well, I've gotta get my truck to the shop this week anyhow (air bag safety recall) and I'll get them to check it out while it's there. It was running fine before it started stalling at the gas station so maybe I have air in the fuel system? Dunno.

 

Or... Maybe your fuel filter is clogged with sludge... Changing it is an easy necessity and is also a ton cheaper than a Ford diagnosis fee.

 

AMEN to that!

There is no reason short of a emergency to run one dry, it cost the same in fuel $$$ to drive it this month whether you fill it at 1/2 tank or run it dry ....
.... except that running it dry also leaves the fuel pump high and dry out of the cooling fuel around it while it's working and as less and less fuel is in the tank, more debris and sludge from the bottom is stired up.

 

ALL very true! A lot of people don't realize how detrimental it is to run the tank below about a 1/5 of a yank, to be safe. Run the fuel low consistently and let the motor run without cooling of the fuel and the lubrication of the fuel and and you will definitely be replacing an expensive pump prematurely. Same thing with not replacing the fuel filter in a timely manner. Gets progressively clogged and works the pump too hard and causes premature failure.

 

Just an update: I had to move my truck to our side of the street this morning to get it out from in front of the neighbors house. It had a hard time starting (but not as bad as yesterday) and it still wasn't running right. After a few seconds, I looked back and there was a plume of white smoke behind me. I then parked the truck, got out and immediately smelled raw fuel. I got to the back of the truck and there was some white smoke rolling out from my tail pipe and I bent down to smell it and it smelled like raw fuel as well. Interesting, huh?

 

The symtoms sound like a leaking injector. Regardless, change the filter. If there was gunk in tank, the filter will have caught a lot of it.

 

If it's a leaking/stuck open injector, I'd guess it'd be smart if I just had the thing towed to the dealer rather than me drive it...?

 

Yes, if it really is a leaking injector, you run the risk of hydrolock. It just sounds more like it is flooding rather than starving for fuel. Would help if you had a code reader.

 

Yeah, wish I had one but I don't. Guess I'll see what the Ford dealer says. Gonna see if I can get them to haul it to the dealer here in a couple of hours.

 

When that little dial goes to the E it means you need gas

 

Hahaha, yeah I know. I was on my way back from Atlanta yesterday and knew I would be cutting it close. So instead of pulling off somewhere and fill up, I just decided to try and make it back to Athens and would fill up then. I made it to Athens but my truck was stalling as soon as I pulled up to the pump. I made it 27 miles after my low fuel "light" came on. So now, instead of it costing me $110 for a tank of gas, it's gonna cost me even more because I made the decision to keep driving. Can't do anything about it now.

I'm meeting the tow truck dude at my house in the next 45 mins or so and he's gonna haul it to the dealer. It'll be fun to hear what they say.....NOT!