So today I fill up the beast with fuel....dang...$2.14 per gallon! I took over 24 gallons...over 50 dollars!

Then, I go happily off to work. As I'm sitting in traffic, about 10 minutes or so after I fill up, I look at the fuel gauge and it's on empty again with the low fuel light on (it did say full right after I filled it up) This scares the heck out of me so I pull into the nearest gas station and put gas in to see if maybe I have some horrendous fuel leak. Nope, only took a little bit of gas, so I continue to work.

After work I get in and start the engine and the Service Engine Soon light comes on. I've only got 6600 miles on this thing. So I call the local Ford dealer and ask if this light comes on when the first oil change is due or something like that and she sez no. So I gotta take it in in the morning!

I hate that!!!!

Any ideas on what this might be? Would running the fuel so low mess up the computer?





K

 

unplug the batttery to reset the computer.

Do you have autozone there ? If so they can read your codes.

Doug

 

I would say a bad sending unit for the gauge. Let them deal with it. That is what the warranty is for. Make sure it is stock. Goodluck and let us know how you do. -Mat-

 

uhh if you still haven't gotten your oil changed, you should !!!

every 5k-8k for a normal engine

every 3k-5k for our engines

 

Mat -

Yes, it's stock. Always has been, always will be (except fot maybe a JDM Silver Bullet catback)


Probleminfected-

First oil change was done at 1500, and the second change was done at 4500.

 

alright you scared me.

had a guy come in that didn't change his oil for 12K miles, he wanted a new engine hahaha what a dumb @ss

 

I'd believe that. You know, if you use synthetic oil you NEVER have to change it.

Actually, I'm switching to synthetic at 7500 miles (Mobile 1 5-30)

Only the best for my baby.

 

well when i have 3180 miles on this oil change and it looks black, i think it needs a change haha.

 

Did you leave the truck running when you filled up the truck? If so then the gas gauge will not reflect the amount of gas put in the tank.

And I believe you will get a "light" if the gas cap is not fully locked on.

I use synthetic oil and still Change it after 3.5k miles

 

Gator -

No...the truck was not running when I filled it up. After filling it up it read FULL then dropped to zip about ten minutes later.

The service writer at the dealer said letting it get so low (I put in 24+ gallons so I was on fumes) has been known to cause the SES light to come on. We shall see. This dealer's service seems to be OK (Beverly Hills Ford) I took my first L there and they did a good job. Only hope they do good this time. Got the free loaner car (gotta love SVT service) and am now waiting for the call and to hear them say "it was nothing"

(Fingers are crossed)

 

letting it get so low? I run mine almost dry every time before filling up. I like to get all the old gas out before I put new stuff in. Probably not doing me any good but thats my mind set.."out with the old in with the new." ...I actually wait untill the fuel light comes on...then you have aprox. 3 gallons left = about 45-55 miles or so if you dont floor it. Does anybody use any kind of fuel additive for their injection? I used to on my 99 4.6L but have not wanted to even try on my L..anyone use it? I heard the Techron stuff is good.

 

Evidently letting the fuel get so low and - as mentioned earlier - after filling up and then the gauge dropping back to empty only minutes after filling up...well, that caused the computer to freak and it activated the warning light. The code showed that there was a fuel gauge error. Computer was reset and all was fine.

Damn these cars are smart these days.

Was told by the service dude not to let the fuel get below a quarter of a tank (which I don't usually do anyway)

So there you have it.

SVT PREMIUM SERVICE

Got the free loaner car (even though it was only a few hours) and the washed and vacumed and even cleaned up the exhaust tips!

B.H. Ford rocks.

 

The common understanding here is to NOT let the tank get that dry often since the pump is cooled by the fuel around it. AND the urban legend is that when the tank is lower you suck more of the CRAP from te bottom of the tank into the system...

In the old days when I drove 60's and 70's cars it was pretty common for a fuel pump to give up when the level was run real low or even more often if the tank was run dry. Happened to me and my friends pretty often.

Doug