Hi All,

I recently filled my truck within a mile of the low fuel light coming on. The guage was just above the E. I pumped 22 gallons to fill it. I am supposed to have a 35 gallon tank which would have left me with 13 gallons. Has anyone else checked their tank for reserve and if so do these numbers sound reasonable for a 97 F-150?

 

No they don't. The number I most suspect is your "35" gallon tank claim in the 97 F150. You were closer to out when you pumped 22 gallons in it than you think! If I remember correctly it holds 25 gallons.

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97 F-150 SC Lariat, Styleside, White over Gold, 4.6L (Windsor), Automatic, 3.55 rear end, electronic 4X4, w/ every option of Lariat and ORP packages except the 17" wheels and the 4X4 decals, MODs so far: K&N air box mod, Gibson Super Truck, clear Bugflector II, Leer TSC 600 hard cover, Bridgestone Dueler OWL ATP 265/75 R-16's, TrailMaster Invader N7 shocks, Smittybilt step bars, Ford moulded mud guards, "White-white" head lamps, Bosch platinum + 4's.

 

Zeke, your tank size depends on your truck. If you have a long bed you have a 30 gallon tank. If you have a short bed or flareside bed, you have a 25 gallon tank. If however you have a regcab 4x4 model with a short bed, you only have a 24.5 gallon tank. Hope this helps.


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1999 Lariat SuperCab Flareside, Amazon Green with Silver trim, 5.4L, 4x2, 4 wheel disc/ABS, 3.55 limited slip, towing package, fog lamps, sliding rear window, captains chairs, keyless entry with alarm, spray-on bed liner, bug guard, and K&N. http://www.csc.calpoly.edu/~bfriesen/truck.html

 

Thanks for the replies. I'll have to go back and check the book about the size of the tank. I have a Super Cab 4x4 with the Short bed and thought it said I had a 35 gallon tank but it's probably the 25 gallon. this would make more sense.

 

If I recall correctly.
The manual says the low fuel light comes on when the fuel guage indicates 1/16 of a tank. So if this is correct you should have 1.56 gallons left when the light comes on (for those of us withe a 25 gal. tank).
My personal experience is that I went another 10 miles after the low fuel light came on and at that point it took 22.3 gal. to fill it up. So it appears that there is a small safety margain.

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Michael
99f150@pickupman.com
mkrieger@mailcity.com
99 F-150 XLT Supercab, 4x2, Bright Red/Harvest Gold, 4.2L, Automatic, 3.55LS, 255/70R16 Goodyears, Captains Chairs, Keyless Entry, CD Changer, Tow Package

Accessories: SuperChip, Donnelly Compass Mirror, Lariat Wheelwell Moldings and Bumper Cap, Ford Splash Guards, Bug Shield, Bed Mat, WeatherTech Deflectors, Mobil1 Synthetic Oil

Modifications: Painted Tailgate Handle, A/C on/off switch

 

My tank will take 20 Gallons when on Empty. The other 5 Gal is the "reserve" (I have the 6 FT Bed)

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99 F150 5.4 4x4 ORP 3.73 styleside deep wedgewood blue ..no mods (yet)

 

Hi Guys,

I went back and read the manual again. You guys were right. It said my truck should have a 25 gallon tank, not 35. It probably said that the first time I read it too. At my age, they say the brain is the second thing to go. I'm glad I wrote my original post though, otherwise I would have gone off thinking I had all that spare gas and run out in the middle of the woods somewhere. Which is more embarrassing, posting a stupid question for hundreds of people to read or running out of gas in the middle of nowhere? Thanks for the replies.

 

I guess its like all our other gauges. No further comment needed.

 

I have a Super Duty Long Bed Crew Cab. It has a 38 gallon tank. The first time the low fuel light came on, I filled it within a mile, like Zeke. I, too, pumped only 22 gallons! Last week, my wife drove it all over the place with the "Low Fuel" light on and brought it back for me to fill on my next outing (sound familiar ). This time I pumped 33 gallons.
The good news is that you can go 50-100 miles after the idiot light lights.