Miles to empty question

clintusaf

Clint
Joined
Apr 15, 2009
Messages
562
Reaction score
0
Location
Bossier City
Just curious about this one. I do not trust my miles to empty reading due to the superchip throwing everything off. It still is inaccurate with the mpg reading with my DP tuner. My questions are:

1. How many miles do I have to go once my fuel light comes on?

2. The first owner told me that I had a 35 gallon tank w/ 6 gallon reserve. Is this accurate?

I usually try to fill up at 1/4 tank anyway due to there being a $75 limit on most the pumps around here. Plus I'm am super paranoid about running it out of diesel due to the high cost($300) to reprime the engine from what I was told.
 

JRJ04

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
1,737
Reaction score
4
Location
Houston, TX
to my knowledge, you have a 39 gallon tank. im not sure on how much you have left when the light comes on, but as a general rule of thumb, it is best to keep it above the half mark to keep air from entering the system.
 

Fine69

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2006
Messages
864
Reaction score
0
Location
Cranberry Twp,PA
Most longbeds have a 38 gallon tank, your owners manual should say how many miles you have when the light comes on. Your manual will also say for sure how big the tank is. I've owned more diesel pickups than I care to admit and I've never heard anything about air in the system from going under a half tank.:dunno
 
Last edited:

JRJ04

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
1,737
Reaction score
4
Location
Houston, TX
Most longbeds have a 38 gallon tank, your owners manual should say how many miles you have when the light comes on. Your manual will also say for sure how big the tank is. I've owned more diesel pickups than I care to admit and I've never heard anything about air in the system from going under a half tank.:dunno

Well on the 7.3's the design of the pickup inside the tank will draw air into the lines when under suction (ie when the fuel pump is drawing fuel from the tank) which is why you'll hear a lot of folks do the in-tank mods to help eliminate air in the fuel system. This is done by removing the mixing valve inside the tank that introduces air into the system. Until this mod is done, you can help eliminate it by keeping the tank at or above the half mark.

Have a look at the wiki section for how to do it. Our sponsors also sell kits as well.
 

NevrKnow

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 23, 2009
Messages
401
Reaction score
0
Location
Aiken,SC
Wow Clint you brought up a good point ( at least to me). Not trying to hijack your thread but what about this re-priming? I figured it would be like changing the fuel filter and just keying the ignition a few times to refill the bowl. I just got my first diesel in march and had never thought of that. I do let my family drive my truck and this would be VERY valuable info to me and others I assume, just in case. I should add, I always fill it up before they get it and it should never TOTALLY run out. But what if? That's why I love this forum so much, what i haven't gone thru others have and I read intently to EVERY problem and solution.

To add to it, I have a short bed with the 27 gal tank I think it is, but I have let it drop below a quarter ( almost an 1/8th actually ) and I have had no air issues. Still runs like a top! Just my 2 cents.
 
Last edited:

Fine69

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2006
Messages
864
Reaction score
0
Location
Cranberry Twp,PA
I've had 7.3's with dual tanks that when the first tank went dry, I flipped the switch over to the second tank. Never had a problem, although that could have been dumb luck!:eek: I usually fill up when I get down around 1/8 tank, or the idiot light comes on.
 

clintusaf

Clint
Joined
Apr 15, 2009
Messages
562
Reaction score
0
Location
Bossier City
Wow Clint you brought up a good point ( at least to me). Not trying to hijack your thread but what about this re-priming? I figured it would be like changing the fuel filter and just keying the ignition a few times to refill the bowl. I just got my first diesel in march and had never thought of that. I do let my family drive my truck and this would be VERY valuable info to me and others I assume, just in case. I should add, I always fill it up before they get it and it should never TOTALLY run out. But what if? That's why I love this forum so much, what i haven't gone thru others have and I read intently to EVERY problem and solution.

To add to it, I have a short bed with the 27 gal tank I think it is, but I have let it drop below a quarter ( almost an 1/8th actually ) and I have had no air issues. Still runs like a top! Just my 2 cents.

That's kinda the reason I was wondering about it. Nobody ever means to run out of fuel, but you just nevrknow!:) and it's nice to know what to do in a sticky situation.
 

JRJ04

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
1,737
Reaction score
4
Location
Houston, TX
well let me clarify what i mean...i dont know if its something that you will necessairly notice persay, but its more of a "you know its not the best letting it get that low" kinda thing:dunno? Others will chime in to clarify...but hey maybe it has been dumb luck! Can i get some??:lmao
 

aklim

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2006
Messages
243
Reaction score
0
Location
Hartford, WI USA
Distance to empty is based off the lie-o-meter. Do you trust that thing? I don't. It says with my 44 gal tank I can go 900 miles. Do you feel lucky?
 

Members online

No members online now.

Forum statistics

Threads
30,545
Messages
266,136
Members
14,673
Latest member
Doms350
Top