How much fuel is left when the light comes on?

[C. Ludwig]

Anyone ever ran there Ram out of fuel? In both my 95 and 01, the fuel light comes on when you still have about 10 gallons of fuel left. The capacity is indicated at 35 gallons and there are many times I'd swear I was running on fumes and only be able to put 25-26 gallons in. How much reserve capacity is needed?

Chris

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2001. 5 2500 LWB Quadcab 4x4 Auto 3. 54 Scotty Air

 

[Mad Max]

I've got a QC/SWB, light comes on right about nine gallons for mine.

I've run it as low as 4. 5 gallons, but I wouldn't want to run one too low, the 24V's use the fuel to cool the injector pump, if ya really get low on fuel, it will most certainly get heat saturated and not do much for cooling.

MaX

 

[RobMitch]

The light will come on with 9 gal. left in my 2001.

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RobMitch, Temple Texas, 2001Quad Cab,SLT 6 speed 3. 54 Dark Garnet recieved in Oct. 2000
NRA Life Member, TSRA Member, Viet Nam Vet

 

[Fireman Dave]

About 8 gallons for me.

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2001 2500; SLT; 4x4; QC; LWB; Auto; 3. 54 LS; 265s; Camper; Tow; Sliding Rear Window; Travel Convenience Group; Cab Clearance Lamps; BedRug; Forest Green; Isspro Pyro, Boost, and Trans Temp Gauges; 27' TT

 

[MCummings]

Just thought I'd put a bit of experiance here.

I put 40 Miles on my truck after light came on (ALL IN town. ) and I put 28 Gallons in, at Fill-Up

MerrickNJr

P. S. Note that I am "straight Piped" so, my miles are a wee bit "less Mileaged" (aka Heavy footed)

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1998. 5 Dodge 3500, 2wd
5-Speed, Light Driftwood
Replaced the Resonator and Muffler with 6ft of 3" Aluminized pipe.
3. 55 rear-end
A. R. E. Camper
Michelin 245/75/16's

 

[cullyguy]

Light comes on with about 7 gal left in tank.
SWB.

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Steve in Spokane,01 4x4 Auto Quad Cab SB, NRA Life Member, 99- H-D FLHRCI Coalbalt Blue,00 XR650R Power Upped, Former PSD owner

 

[KWIKKURT]

I like the extra fuel "Reserve" it is nice having plenty of fuel left to find a Station that has diesel. . They seem hard to find when you need them the most.

some of the reasons the engineers designed the low fuel light warning system this way is :
1. As MadMax posted it is very hard on the injector pump if it is run low on fuel. and probably the lift pump too.

2. It can be very difficult to restart a Diesel engine that has shut down due to no fuel... (We used to have one of our Hvy trucks set up with extra hoses and valves. . When one of our drivers ran out of fuel we would hook up the running trucks fuel system to the dead truck and bleed and prime until the truck would start. . Then the driver would get a day OFF!) of course these were our Detroit diesel powered trucks.

3. You need a lot of fuel in the tank to keep the fuel pickup from sucking air when driving up and down hills, Steep driveways and high speed turns not to mention when you are leaving the fords and chevys behind in a puff of smoke #ad



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"Have you driven OVER a phord lately"
2001 2500 BRT WHT SPORT QUADCAB 4X4 ETH 3. 54LSD TRLR CMPR PKG ALL OPT XCPT LTHR

 

[EMDDIESEL]

About 9 gallons for my 2001 also

 

[MikeR]

Having owned 4 Rams now,it's suppose to have 9 gallons left when the 'low fuel' light comes on.

-Mike

 

[Bumble]

8 here. Thought I was going to find out how hard these trucks are to push one day, trying to get to a station from the sticks... all the while running on E. Still only took 27 gallons to the filler neck.

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2001, 3500, 5sp, 3. 54LS, 4x4, pyro and boost on the A-pillar, 165 watts of backup lights, Thomas powered on-board air system, Grovers.

 

[C. Ludwig]

Thanks guys. That's what I thought. GUess I can quite panicing when the light comes on. Though I do agree it's a good idea to not run it dry, it's nice to know you got that cushion.

Chris

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2001. 5 2500 LWB Quadcab 4x4 Auto 3. 54 Scotty Air

 

[jt1]

I airheaded and ran mine out one day. Light and chime come on at 9-10 gallons remaining. I poured 5 gal in, drove to a station about 2 miles away, and put in 29. 2 gal, so the pickup seems to get most of the available 35 gallons, at least on fairly level ground. The fuel pump recirculates fuel, and this is areally stupid thing to do. It doesn't cost anymore to ride on a full tank than one sucking fumes.

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01 2500 QC w/leather,SB,5 spd,SB,Flame Red,EZ, plus 7 other Dodge/Cummins in my business.

 

[Okie-Go]

My light comes on the oem tank and I normally just swith to the other tank. When I fill it up it takes about 27 gallon of go juice.

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2001 quadcab slt 2500 HO 6spd. LWB,2wd,dk garnett red, trailer tow package,camper special, anti spin 3. 54 axle, speed liner,oversized stainless steel chicken slide,66 gallon in bed aux. tank,K&N air filter,Reese 20k hitch, Terry 2000 EX 30ft. double slide 5er, 2000 20ft gooseneck for haulin jeep, firewood and huntin stuff. 5X12 tagalong for haulin the 4 wheeler. Okie Newton

 

[CUMINNTSTRKN]

mine also comes on at 9 gal. coming back from bd's loaded with our trailer i was just about to town and my computer said 0 miles to empty. i drove about another 10 miles and only put in 29 gal.

jim

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if it ain't broke fix it till it is!!
2001 eth, ez box, dd2's,southbendclutch

My Ram Pics

 

[brobeson]

My light comes on at about 530 miles when running empty or about 330 miles when towing my 5er. At that point I can put in 28 galons leaveing about 7 galons.

I have run mine down to the "E" and have put in 31 galons and have run it well below the "E" and have put in 34. 5 galons (boy was I glad to see that station)

I have never run out of fuel.

When towing and the light comes on I know I MUST get fuel within 70 miles. (based on 10 mpg). I have always made it because I get more than 10 MPG when towing.

Good Post!

Bob



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1998. 5, 2500, SLT, Red over Driftwood, 24V, 4X4, Auto, 4. 10, Light Group, Camper Special group, Convenience Group, Travel Group, Trailer Group, Keyless entry, 5 band EQ and 6 disk changer, towing 35ft. Travel EZE 5er

On Order, due end of April, early May. 2001 3500, SLT+, Green/Tan leather, Duel Power Seats, HO, 6 speed, 4X4, 4. 10, Towing Package, Trailer Tow Mirrors, Camper Package, Sliding rear Window, Jacob’s E-brakes (Dodge), Electric Steps (Dodge), Mud Flaps on all 4s (Dodge) Every option offered by dodge except the snowplow, even has the front Air Dam.

 

[Karl2500]

I knew it was stupid when I went 100 miles after the light went on, now I've learned it was more stupid than I thought! PS I put in 32 gal. on that fill up.

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'01 2500 All stock ( for now) 4X4, HO, 6sp, Quad, tow, camper special,SLT 4:10s

 

[MikeR]

Karl,

You wanna talk stupid... the last three times(and yesterday as a matter of fact) I had to fill up,I drove days past the warning light coming on. All three fillups came to 34 to 34. 5 gallons! Doh! #ad
I kid you not!

My idiocy get's worse. #ad
My wife's '95 has an inop fuel sending unit. I do have a new sending unit sitting here,but haven't had time to put it in yet,so she drives 675-680 miles before filling up. Well,two weeks ago her and her cousin were driving home from a bar. I was there but left right before they did. I sat at home and after 45 minutes,I kinda wondered what was taking them so long. I figured something was wrong so I jumped on the highway to backtrack... sure enough,there they sat on the northbound shoulder,outta fuel! Good thing hers is a 12 valve,because those have a built-in hand plunger to re-prime the fuel system. Ontop of that,finding a gas station that was open *AND* that sold gas cans AND diesel at 2:30 in the morning was next to impossible. Meanwhile I was 100 miles past the warning light on my truck.

Okay you can quit laughing now!

-Mike

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'00 2500,QC,4wd,LWB,Dark Garnet,6spd,3. 54lsd,SLT,DD stage II,Psychotty air,10-level PM3,Jacobs ebrake,Isspro pyro & boost gauges,2wd-low,Airoquip fuel lines,Smittybilt nerfs,BFG 285/75 AT's
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'95 2500,Reg-cab,2wd,LWB,White/Star silver,Automatic,3. 54,SLT,Michelin 265/75


[This message has been edited by MikeR (edited 04-27-2001). ]

 

[Fireman Dave]

Mike,

You are the king of pushing the limit! #ad
Sorry, but still LOL!

 

[Posm]

As a rule I go another 100 miles after the light comes on. I ussually put in between 30 and 32 Gal. out of 34 on a QCSWB. I did make the mistake of running out about two months ago. I was trying to make KY and buy cheap fuel and I ran out at the 2 mile marker in TN. I put in 4 Gals and spent two hours bleeding the system. I had to crack #2 and # 3 inj. lines and bleed them. I talked to the dealer and he said as a rule if you will bump the starter and run the lift pump 7 or 8 times the should fire every time. He checked my lift pump and replaced it as a preventative measure. That cheap KY fuel was not worth the hassle. Incedently I got my worst milage ever on the tank I ran out on, 9. 74 MPG. 75 mph pulling a trailer with a big round baler on it. It does not way much,about 14K GVW, but it has the aero package of a parachute. I routinly get 14 mpg with the same trailer and a GVW of 22K.

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Y2K 2500, QC, 4X4, 3. 54LS, ST, 5 speed, SWB,Cummins E-brake,Westech Pyro and Boost Dual guage, 12 Disk JVC CD

 

[John Berger]

I ran mine down to 3 gallons once. I was towing as well. I rode on E for what seemed like forever before finding a station. It never crossed my mind #ad
about the fuel return from the pump. That is a very good reason to fill up when the warning goes off. I've filled up right after the indicator comes on and was only able to put in 26 gallons.




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1999 Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab 2wd; 5 spd; 4:10 LSD rear; Mag-Hytec differential cover; US Gear EGT and Boost gauges. Stewart Warner Fuel Pressure Gauge with dual senders, Westach Oil Temp Gauge for differential. Amsoil foam air filter and synthetics in the motor and differential. Cummins Power, don't leave home without it