Can't top off for extra fuel?

[AH64ID]

Several times a year I would spend 10-15 minutes and slowly fill my 05, after the click, with 3-4 extra gallons. Usually when going on an extended back roads trip for camping or hunting. I would also do this when entering Yellowstone as fuel is quite expensive in the park.

Well in preparation for elk hunting this year I wanted to try it out on the '18, and Yellowstone seemed to be a good place to try. Lo and behold my truck got scared and piddled everywhere at about .8 gallons past the click, a VERY slow .8 gallons.

With the new capless fuel filler I can't see into the neck... so how is everyone adding extra fuel after the click?

Or am I SOL, or looking at a Titan tank?

There is SOOO much room under this truck, I can't figure out why FCA made the tank smaller.

And yes I do carry extra fuel cans for long trips but if I can reduce that by 1 can that's beneficial. Between not being able to topoff and the 3 fewer gallons it looks like I am carrying an extra 5 gallon jug into elk camp unless someone has a great remedy.

 

[TFucili]

I had read about not being able to top off, so I sort of adopted the TFL method of waiting a while after the first shutoff, then engage the first detent, and when it shuts off again the party's over. I don't have the patience to wait 30 seconds, but I wait long enough for the contents in the neck to settle down.

I did pony up for the Titan 55, and I am really liking the range. The DTE is off, but I figure it gives me more "reserve" when the low fuel light comes on. Basically, if the light is on it will generally take about 48 gallons.

 

[SnoKing]

Common issue with the new trucks. I goes to first click off, wait a few second and go again adding a small amount, and do it once again and get even a smaller amount in. Go any farther and it pees it's pants.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I fill with nozzle fully inserted when it clicks I retract to where the flapper does not close. I continue to fill slowly til a drip hits the ground. I have gotten over 32 gallons a few times!

 

[Ozymandias]

You're al funny, you finally get a fuel tank designed that really fills to the top without shutting of the nozzle to early- and now this is also not good?

Just kidding

 

[AH64ID]

You're al funny, you finally get a fuel tank designed that really fills to the top without shutting of the nozzle to early- and now this is also not good?

Just kidding

Haha... that part is nice for 90% of my fillups. It's the lack of 3 extra gallons and can't squeeze any extra in a couple times a year. Oh well, Titan may earn my business.... I'll see how this hunting season goes, and if AlfaOBD can change the tank size to 55.

 

[Cummins12V98]

On my 11 HO DRW I had no issues hitting fuel stops to and from SoCal. With the 32g I have had to modify my stops. Amazing whet 3 gallons less will do.

 

[R.Taylor]

I used to get almost 34 gallons in my 06 when the "low fuel" message would flash. Now with my old 2018... When it said "low fuel" I could only get about 27 gallons in it. I heard that when it says it's empty it actually has 6 gallons in there.

 

[Regcabguy]

I did the tank vent mod on my ancient '07 5.9. It picked up 3-4 gallons and fills easily.
I don't imagine anything's available for the new ones or if it's applicable.

 

[MAtkinson]

Here's what I did to my 06. I removed the tank and relocated the breather tube connection to the "Higher" portion of the fuel tank. This will allow a complete fill of the tank all the way to the filler neck. It will also waste no time in delayed filling. I gained 4 gallons of capacity and as you drive on to your next destination air space is automatically created. It's worked great for years and now my mileage calu

 

[BarryG]

Yeah that 3 or 4 gallons difference doesn't make that much difference until it does. I also am considering very hard the Titan tank. My normal day to day it is no real issue. However when towing or out in the boonies it sure seems to be a pita having to keep a much closer eye on the gauge compared to my 01. Less tank and less mpg starts to add up when you are in the middle of nowhere. 1 or 2 less mpg coupled with less fuel to start with starts adding up to be well over 100 miles less distance between fill ups.
I even stopped by a local to me Titan dealer only to find out they don't sell the tanks anymore due to "liability" reasons whatever the heck that means. I took it to mean they cant get a decent installer on their their staff as it cant be that hard and cant see how the liability would be any different than any other repair as long as it is done correctly. I had the tank down on my 01 at least 10 times over the years I had it and could do it in less than 30 minutes. Though I had made a couple modifications to the process after the first time. Like lengthening the fuel lines and gauge wiring so I could drop the tank without having to mess with trying to get those off while on the truck nor did I have to mess with lifting the bed for that access.

 

[JR]

Yeah that 3 or 4 gallons difference doesn't make that much difference until it does. I also am considering very hard the Titan tank. My normal day to day it is no real issue. However when towing or out in the boonies it sure seems to be a pita having to keep a much closer eye on the gauge compared to my 01. Less tank and less mpg starts to add up when you are in the middle of nowhere. 1 or 2 less mpg coupled with less fuel to start with starts adding up to be well over 100 miles less distance between fill ups.
I even stopped by a local to me Titan dealer only to find out they don't sell the tanks anymore due to "liability" reasons whatever the heck that means. I took it to mean they cant get a decent installer on their their staff as it cant be that hard and cant see how the liability would be any different than any other repair as long as it is done correctly. I had the tank down on my 01 at least 10 times over the years I had it and could do it in less than 30 minutes. Though I had made a couple modifications to the process after the first time. Like lengthening the fuel lines and gauge wiring so I could drop the tank without having to mess with trying to get those off while on the truck nor did I have to mess with lifting the bed for that access.

I whole heartedly agree a larger tank would be nice on the 13+ trucks. But are you saying your gen 2 returned better towing mpg than your gen 4? For me, Going from a modded 98 to a 14 towing the same camper and the same 14k rated tilt deck netted a 10-15% improvement in fuel economy in favor of the 14, Essentially making the 3 extra gallons my 98 OE tank carried a wash.

 

[AH64ID]

My '18 gets nearly the same mileage across the board as the decently modded '05, maybe slightly better on the top end but the aerodynamics are different.

Towing the TT at 70 is ±.5 mpg between the two, probably even closer.

I really noticed the 3 gallons missing coming home from Yellowstone, but we did have a 30+ mph head wind with an instant readout of 7-8 for 40-50 miles... overall ended up at 9.11.

 

[lpennock]

My 18 Aisin 4.10 gets 0.5-2 mpg less than my 06 G56 3.73 with my truck camper. Unloaded is it is 2-3 mpg less with the 18.

 

[SnoKing]

Here is one from you, we have towed a 12.4k and 16K 5th wheel with the 2015, and a 8K TT. All resulted in similar mileage on round trips from NW Washington to Arizona and back. The 2001.5 Ram lightly bombed at around 325/650 got around 2+/- better mileage with the 12.4K 5er.

Empty the 2015 does better out on the freeway at much higher speeds to boot. BTW the 2001.5 had 47RE and 4.10's.

 

[AH64ID]

The 5er to TT weight difference with the same mileage isn't surprising at all, TT's tow really heavy based on the large drag increase with them... to top it off I use an 18" shank, so I bet that costs me 1-1.5 mpg's at 70, but I like being able to open the tailgate anytime. I am looking at using a shorter shank on longer tows thou.

 

[SnoKing]

Here is one from you, we have towed a 12.4k and 16K 5th wheel with the 2015, and a 8K TT. All resulted in similar mileage on round trips from NW Washington to Arizona and back. The 2001.5 Ram lightly bombed at around 325/650 got around 2+/- better mileage with the 12.4K 5er.

The 5er to TT weight difference with the same mileage isn't surprising at all, TT's tow really heavy based on the large drag increase with them... to top it off I use an 18" shank, so I bet that costs me 1-1.5 mpg's at 70, but I like being able to open the tailgate anytime. I am looking at using a shorter shank on longer tows thou.

I turned the Lipper electric tongue jack 90 degrees for more room to open tailgate when the truck is not straight.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...to-lippert-travel-trailer-tongue-jack.267589/

 

[AH64ID]

I turned the Lipper electric tongue jack 90 degrees for more room to open tailgate when the truck is not straight.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...to-lippert-travel-trailer-tongue-jack.267589/

I saw that, with my current TT the tailgate will hit the frame and jack (non-elec). The tailgate only has about 3/8" clearance above the ball when hooked up... it's a VERY tall trailer.

 

[BarryG]

Yes my modded 01 did get better mileage than my 17. I routinely run ac375 mile route from Denver to the Durango Cortez area the 01 empty would always get me 20-21 mpg hand calcd. The 17 does high 18’s exact same route. In town the 17 gets 17 mpg if I am easy the 01 was routinely 19. Towing the fifth it is closer to more like 1 mpg less than the 01. The 01 had a dtt trans , rv 275s, piers hybrid 35/40 turbo and a mild Hamilton cam, smarty and edge attitude with juice with 354 gears and 285 tires. Loved that truck. Love the 17 as well but it is a different type of love

 

[JR]

I think the 47re and 3.54's with slightly larger than OE tires were all factors in my experience getting less mileage than my 14. The 47 was built and I ran a good TC but unless you were on the freeway in OD the engine had to work to make up for such a large gear spread.

I don't drive my truck empty alot, especially on longer runs but I did do a long run last fall to the other end of the state to pick up a new wood burner. I'd say 2/3 interstate travel and 1/3 rural secondary roads averaging 55-65 mph. I have a fuel tank at the house so I filled up before I left and as I was turning onto my road on the return leg 2 miles from home the low fuel light dinged on. For an 8k lb truck and the available power on tap these rigs have I was quite pleased.

I don't recall how many gallons it took to fill up but even if it was 29, which is probably on the high side thats still better than 20mpg.