When I first got my truck I could drive it until the gas light came on and I would go and get more Diesel. When I would fill up I would pump around 33 to 34 gallons. Here lately I haven’t been able to get the last bit of diesel out and my truck is dieing on me . When I get pulled to the pump I have been pumping in about 29 gallons. I've run out of diesel about 3 times now and it is getting really old. My fuel gauge shows I still have fuel and the computer always says I've got 70 miles to go. I know the fast fix of this problem is to just fill the truck up at the 1/4 tank mark and that is what I've been doing. But can someone tell me why for the last 25,000 miles I haven't been able to get all of my fuel out.?????

 

fuel gauges in these trucks are horrible....

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...threadid=38433

maybe thatll help some

 

Well the gauges seems to be right b/c I've had at least 5 gallons still in the tank when I've run out. I just can't get the last 5 gallons out of the tank to let the truck run.

 

I dont like letting mine get that low. I put around 26 gallons in everytime. Any little thing I can do to extend my fuel system life I will do.

 

Well I don't always have a fuel station to got to when I get low. Over the trucks life of 87k It has run out of fuel about 6 times.

 

Something else to think about.

The Injection pump is cooled by the excess fuel circulated by the lift pump and pumped back to the tank.
As the fuel level drops, there is less fuel in the tank to absorb that heat, and the fuel sent to the Pump gets hotter and hotter.
Kinda like letting the radiator get low on water.

I try to fuel up at 1/2 tank unless on the road, and then I try not to let it get below 1/4.

Ed

 

Running your truck that low on fuel is asking for injection pump problems. Not only do you suck up any trash on the bottom of the tank, sending it to clog the filter, you also cause over heating of the injection pump.

Your Injection pump is cooled and lubed by fuel passing through it and then returning back to the tank via the return lines. The more fuel you have in your tank, the better cooling ability it has.

Running on a really low tank, you are heating up the fuel, and reducing it's ability to cool your pump down. Not to mention the problems associated with running your pump dry, because you run out of fuel.

Do your self a favor, and keep some fuel in that tank, your Cummins will thank you.

 

Come on TOP, stop Tailgateing.

 

Sounds like you better invest in a 5 gallon can, it colud be a cheap insurance policy.

 

I hear ya, and I have been in that posistion before with my '97. Luckily I have had an "alternative" fuel source at those times.

If you are not near a station often, I would recommend an auxillary fuel tank. Thats what I would have if I was still hauling cattle. But since I have gotten a real job, I go to the city every day, and pass by allot of stations. I have no excuses if I run out.

 

Thanks for all the replies. But can yall tell me why I can no longer get to the bottom of my tank and get all of my fuel out. I ran out of fuel yesterday morning in the gas station's property. The truck had only been running for about 5 minutes and it was about 55 out side so the Injector pump shouldn't have been warm yet. Why can't I get to the bottom of my tank?
???

 

Sounds like you did get to the bottom of the tank...........

 

my guess is that your fuel pickup in the tank either has a hole in it or somthing has come apart on that fuel pickup line not allowing you to get as much fuel out of it as you were accustomed to.

 

No I have a 35 gallon tank and I only refilled it with 29 gallons.

 

Do you know if the fuel pickup is the same in a diesel as in a gas truck. I've had several gas engine tanks down, Is it the same set up