Fuel Gauge

[Gros Ventre]

Is there a way to get the fuel gauge to simply read the level in the fuel tank? I have noticed that it appears to read out what the computer wants you know rather than a simple level. The other day, with a 3/4s full gas tank the fuel level dropped to empty and the miles to empty warning of 0 miles to empty came up on the dash...
As a precaution I pulled into a gas station and filled the tank... only a little over 7 gallons went in. On restarting the engine, everything read properly. So, the computer controls decided I needed to know something that I really, really didn't need to know... Just show me the level, don't try to second guess me there computer control system.
Anyone out there that can help?

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[Missmy3/4ton]

Sounds like you had something glitch out...it doesn't 'guess' the level. You can leave your truck on and watch the gauge go up as you fill up.

 

[Oxford_Powerboost]

That sounds like a sending unit issue or software glitch for sure. Fuel gauges haven’t been directly controlled by the float in many years, it’s a calculated % value displayed in gauge form by the computer based on float sensor readings. I’ve seen fords do this before, but nobody ever explained to me what was going on, they just said “oh it does that sometimes” lol. I’ve watched family members cars just suddenly start moving to E and chiming for low fuel when they knew the tank was full

 

[Bluesman]

I was taught by a very strict automotive instructor that "it's not a gauge, it's an indicator".

If you had a true level reading it would be in inches or millimeters, distance to liquid surface or height of liquid? Also sometimes converted to a percentage based upon the reference range, or roughly what the fuel "indicator" shows you now.

 

[Gros Ventre]

For those of you above... Got the concept... Still... it's like the oil pressure gauge which really only shows a switch position, I'd just like gauges to read out what they have, not try to interpret things for me... Interesting that OxfordPowerBoost above has seen exactly that... Next time it happens I'll pull over and restart the engine...

 

[Oxford_Powerboost]

For those of you above... Got the concept... Still... it's like the oil pressure gauge which really only shows a switch position, I'd just like gauges to read out what they have, not try to interpret things for me... Interesting that OxfordPowerBoost above has seen exactly that... Next time it happens I'll pull over and restart the engine...

If it were me, I’d let the dealer know and have them fix it under warranty if it keeps happening. It’s definitely not normal, and not something you expect to see in a correctly functioning system. For what it’s worth, my f150 has never done it, nor did my mustang in 100,000 miles. I’ve just seen it on family members cars before.

 

[imnuts]

I'd just like gauges to read out what they have, not try to interpret things for me...

If it was a problem with one of the sending units, or the signal from it, then the display likely thought the tank was empty. I highly doubt there's any real logic used outside of X signal equates to Y level. It's not like vehicles are out there saying "I'm going to screw with them today and say the tank is empty just for fun".

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