36 Gallon Fuel Tank

[Eighthtry]

I have a neighborhood question for a 36 gallon tank, 2023 F150 XLT 5.0. Despite driving it down to low "miles left" (as in 38 today), I can only fill to a max of 30 gallons. 100% of the time. Never 31 gallons. No matter how hard I try. This includes the slowest tank hand feeding after it clicks off at 30 gallons. It eventually runs over despite how slow the fuel is delivered, but never exceeds the 30 gallon range.

When I get in to drive off it shows a new range of, for example, 621 miles today, which works out to 17.25 mpg when divided by 36 gallons. I average 18.2 on the dash.

So, by throwing dog vomit on the wall my 30 gallon fill seems to be in the neighborhood of 17.5 mpg using 36 gallon capacity. My average is 18.2 on the dash. So I think the 17.5 mpg is a reasonable number, after examining the dog vomit.

I have never encountered this on a vehicle. I have probably owned 20 or more in my 71 years. If it said a 22 gallon tank, that is what it held, etc.

To sum, 621 range miles divided by 36 gallon capacity averages 17.5 mpg. I am averaging 18.2 according to to the dash. But still cannot get more than 30 gallons in refill.

621 miles divided by 30 gallons is 20.7 mpg, which is nowhere near the real world 18.2.

So, what am I missing? I haven't asked the dealer since I doubt I would get a knowledgeable answer. I am not even sure how to frame the question yet.

So far I have never filled at the same gas station so there appears to be some consistency in the numbers. No one is charging me for 30 gallons but delivering 35 gallons.

Is this making sense to anyone? It's giving me a headache, as is having to read dog vomit on the wall.

Otherwise it does not appear to affect me much. Just bumfuzzled.

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[fordtruckman2003]

Ford has had the same tank forever.
Older generation had issues parked on hill low fuel couldn't pick it up.
Ford fix was software change leave larger reserve never be in situation where your truck can't pick up the fuel.

You can drive well past 0 miles to empty. Just don't park on any hills.

I routinely hit 0 and put in 32 gallons, many of us do. It's a well known feature on this generation.

Still better than the smaller tank offered even with the wasted space.

 

[Vin]

Sound typical. Ford "miles to empty" is the most conservative on any vehicle that I have ever owned. Drive it down to ZERO miles of range and then drive some more. Try to find a gas pump where you can park with the front of your truck higher than the back (just the pitch in the concrete toward a drain will suffice). You should then be able to get 34+ gallons into it. I've driven mine for 15ish miles past "zero" and got almost 35 gallons into my tank.

 

[BigcountryF150]

I currently have a ram and I have placed a preorder on a 2024 f150 stx that comes with the 36 gallon tank.

 

[RyanRA]

Try to find a gas pump where you can park with the front of your truck higher than the back (just the pitch in the concrete toward a drain will suffice).

Time to go from my OEM rake, to a squat : )

 

[Iconic22F150]

I have a 36 gal tank also. I’ve never ran it below 1/4 tank. Most of the time I fill up at 1/2 - 3/4 so I can’t really speak to how many gallons will it take. My lie o meter reads exactly 1 mpg high when compared to all of my hand calculated mpg. Your 17.5 could be right.

 

[JExpedition07]

Ford has had the same tank forever.
Older generation had issues parked on hill low fuel couldn't pick it up.
Ford fix was software change leave larger reserve never be in situation where your truck can't pick up the fuel.

You can drive well past 0 miles to empty. Just don't park on any hills.

I routinely hit 0 and put in 32 gallons, many of us do. It's a well known feature on this generation.

Still better than the smaller tank offered even with the wasted space.

You must have some serious driving range with 2.7 and 36 galloner!

 

[HammaMan]

Crazy that they basically ignore 5 gallons of it. I had 12 miles remaining in my 30g tank and it took 28 gallons. Surprised they haven't installed a secondary pickup or a smart baffle that can retain fuel better to eliminate such things.

 

[wapitibob]

I've run mine down low enough to put 34 gallons in it.

 

[fordtruckman2003]

You must have some serious driving range with 2.7 and 36 galloner!

I fill up truck every 4-5 weeks. Love it. ?
Hovers around 600 miles with 99% city driving and zooming between lights.

 

[Kanuck]

I was taking new trucks, some not PDI'ed yet, and filling them for a local dealer, for something to do. I was putting in any where from 125 to 133 liters in the tanks. 122 liters = 33 US gallons - 133 liters = 35 US gallons

 

[Big Dog Daddy]

I was taking new trucks, some not PDI'ed yet, and filling them for a local dealer, for something to do. I was putting in any where from 125 to 133 liters in the tanks. 122 liters = 33 US gallons - 133 liters = 35 US gallons

That seems exactly right. The factory load is 4 litres a little more than a gallon. Supposedly for fire safety purposes during shipping. But think about this 650,000 F-150's a year x $3.00 a gallon =$1,950,000.00 almost 2 million in fuel! I think if they could load 2 liters they would, just for the bottom line, but they would have to many stall outs during shipping.

I've ran my 36 gallon tank down to 0 on DTE and was able to put 34 gallons in it. Really the extra 2 gallons only equates to 30 to 40 miles past DTE and the last thing you want to do is run it dry.

 

[powerboatr]

i have not run this one down to zero,
usually 1/8 th is lowest and it lets me put in 30 to 31 gallons, which is cool as my discount for points at brookshires is only for 30 gallons , so i try to maximize to 30


my 16 exp i drove it to easy 20 past zero once ...not on purpose and i was squeezing a cheek hoping it would make it to the station

 

[Big Dog Daddy]

i have not run this one down to zero,
usually 1/8 th is lowest and it lets me put in 30 to 31 gallons, which is cool as my discount for points at brookshires is only for 30 gallons , so i try to maximize to 30


my 16 exp i drove it to easy 20 past zero once ...not on purpose and i was squeezing a cheek hoping it would make it to the station

Lol I've driven mine past 0 by 25 to 35 miles a couple of times, never an issue. But when you're at 0 and still 20 miles from a gas station, your a$$ starts to pucker up a bit. ?

 

[WhiteLightningnshitshadow]

I learned something new with this thread. So 0 miles is like 2-3gal left, meaning that 800+ miles of range us closer to around 900 in a 2.7. I've never let it get below even half a tank, but I haven't had the chance to road trip yet.

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