fuel gauge scare!

[Forrest Nearing]

well, I'm getting ready to make my Dallas to Cali trip for the first time in my 91. 5 Cummins...



I've been averaging 17-18. 5 mpg on the highway...



I was watching the gauge like a hawk yesterday because I'm getting ready to take a longer trip... well, I'd put 120 miles on it, and it'd dropped past 1/4 tank... looked like 5/16... I was worried my mileage had dropped to 13-14mpg and was scared that something was wrong with the truck!!!



but, I filled it up, and it only took 7gal... WHEW... ok, 17mpg, that's more like it...



Forrest <-- not used to the non-linear antics of this fuel gauge!

 

[ETOBICOKE]

Fuel Gauge

The fuel gauges in our trucks tend to be rather non-linear. Usualy I can go 2-3 hours on the highway on the first quarter and about the same distance to the 3/4 mark from there.

Neil

 

[Forrest Nearing]

yeah, I'd never paid that much attention to it, but as this was going to be my first long haul, I wanted to make sure it was running as it should... the truck has 200k on it, and I THINK it's the original pump... it's my first Cummins, so I'm kinda wary of something crapping out on me... not anticipating it, but being ready for it...



but as of yet, all is well!



Forrest

 

[JFitzgerald]

It's all relative...

My fuel gauge actually seems to be pretty linear compared to my old Chevys. The first half of a full tank seemed to last twice as long as the last half. The Dodge will go about 100 miles on each 1/4, unless it is towing.

 

[KEENO]

I'm w/ JFitzgerald!



Mine is fairly linear... a 1/4 per 100 miles!



Wait a minute... That can't be entirely correct! I go further than 400 miles on a tank!



KEENO

 

[JFitzgerald]

I have to go below "E" to get 400 miles... unless I decide to go real easy on the thin pedal. And that is not easy for me to do for a whole tank, so it doesn't happen much.



Mine doesn't get the mileage that some here have stated. I'm not complaining though, it does very well on fuel for the capabilities it has.

 

[Woodenhead]

Oops

I usually fill up at around a 1/4 tank and had never let it get much below 1/4. One day while in a hurry to get somewhere I let er get below a quarter figuring I'd fuel up when I had a chance. Turns out my gauge is out a little cause somewhere betwen 1/8 and 1/4 tank while at WOT on the highway she drank the last drop and coasted to a stop. Made for an entertaining evening of calling a buddy getting some fuel and bleeding her out beside the highway.



Now I know that empty is actually somewhere between 1/8 and 1/4 tank (another lesson learned).



Mike

 

[JFitzgerald]

Wow, that stinks, Mike. I have pushed mine below "E" at times, just because I know I have a 30 gal. tank, and if I fill up at a little over "E", it takes about 24 gallons to refill.



It's kind of funny how I'll be driving along, looking at the gauge and the trip odometer, figuring in my head how far I can push it, just to save stopping at the bank because I might not have enough cash on me to fill 'er up. Does anyone else do this, or am I the only one?

 

[AlK]

Around town I can easily drive 400 miles and on the highway 500. As a rule I usually fill up when the needle is at the 1/4 mark.

---

Al

 

[Deezul1]

Welcome to the wonderful world of Dodge quality fuel senders, I think they all do that if they work at all.

 

[ETOBICOKE]

Deezul1 first gen fuel senders do actualy work, they just seem to read rather non linear. They very rarely have the failure problems that the second gen trucks do. The good news is that the second gen fuel sender just tends to fall apart and can be repaired better than new. I have done several that have so far gone more than three years with no further problems.

Neil

 

[ggorremans]

Don't you guys have the 'low fuel' light on your message panel working? Mine comes on with about 6 gallons left (usually around 500 miles on the trip odometer). Time to look for more diesel tho I have gotten over 600 miles from a tankfull before refueling! No longer bother looking at the fuel gauge.

gary

 

[AlK]

Gary,

I have the low fuel light, but I usually don't wait for it to come on before I fill up.

---

Al

 

[JFitzgerald]

The low fuel light comes on at about 24 gallons on mine too, which shows about 1/8 tank on the gauge.

 

[pwknapp]

ETOBICOKE



I'm itchin' to know how to fix it. Mine goes to full E, light on when filled, then jumps up to 3/4 after 100 mi, then has 10 gal left when it says empty again. Dealer fixed it when I had a warranty a couple of times but its been like this for about 200k.



Enlighten me.