Truck left me stranded today... (inaccurate fuel level)

The gauge is just an estimate ballpark of what is in the tank.

OP if you decide to go in and check the float; it is easier to remove the bed from the truck than it is to drop the tank.

 

Never run your gas tank below 1/4 and you’ll never have to experience this. Pretty simple.

 

I have NEVER run out of gas - I've been driving since before the gas embargo days in the early 70's, gas was scarce and effetively rationed in Calif. and other major metropolitan areas. Since then a number of factors (huricanes, earthquakes etc) can interupt the flow of fuel around the country. I ALWAYS have at least one of my (3) vehicles FULL of fuel and seldom let the others get below a quarter tank. Screw the gauge, keep it full.

 

I’ve had my float gauge or whatever it’s called get stuck once. Filled my tank up from roughly 1/2 and got back in the truck and it still read at 1/2, then I drove around for a few miles and I guess that freed up the gauge and it rose back up to F. Hasn’t done it again since.

 

I never did his. He did it on his own

I’ve seen 5 other trucks run out of fuel at the same mark. I’m willing to say that it was the fuel leveler (float gauge) inside the tank that got stuck

 

I realize that it's apples and oranges, but C5 corvettes have pretty sensitive fuel floats, apparently, and running a can of Techron fuel system additive was was always a quick fix when it happened on mine. It's probably not a bad idea to run a can and give it a shot; it can't hurt and will only cost you a couple of bucks.

 

do we have a link for this Ultra Gauge? never heard of it before but im interested now lol

 

http://www.ultra-gauge.com/ultragauge/

 

Not sure about gauge cluster mods and the potential inaccuracy or damage to the gauges from removing and installing needles

But it is rare for the float to stick. Usually there is a problem with the variable resistor and wiper getting corroded and then sending out the wrong reading.

 

I do roughly the same. I've been in several situations where no gas was available for days at a time. Or if it was available there was no power to pump it. All vehicles are topped off at least once a week and often sooner. I'm rarely below 1/2 tank unless on a road trip and even then I try to time fuel stops with eating and bathroom breaks. If I stop to let my wife pee, it doesn't take any longer to top off while stopped.

Even with that I almost never look at the gauge. The trip meter is a better indicator. On the open road I've gone 350 miles without the warning light coming on, but I rarely go beyond 300 without filling up. For daily commuting I subtract 50 miles from that.

 

Welcome to the club. Happened to me, I messaged Jerez, he mentioned the same thing happened to Aaron.

I usually fill up at 1/4 but now I always do no matter what.

 

All I can think of is that episode of Seinfeld where Kramer drives the car with the needle on e just to see how far he can go.

 

https://youtu.be/tDnAzGpxR4k

Awesome!

 

Haha

 

Yeah probably not worth fixing unless it goes completely bad. Just fill up earlier now it's probably good habit anyways. Never knew it was "a thing" on these trucks