Gas Gauge and Tank capacity discrepancies

[BeNimble]

I have a 2024 XLT Super Crew cab and 5.5 ft bed with 5.0 v-8. The gas tank is 36 gallons. Mileage is just 10K. Yesterday my truck reported its standard 50 -miles till empty alert with gas guage reading less than 1/8 tank. I put 20 gallons in the tank expecting it to have just over 1/2 tabling. To my surprise the gas gauge reads 3/4 of a tank. On other occasions I have let the gas go to almost “E” before filling up… the most I have ever been able to put is 30 gallons. Is this normal or do I need to have it checked?

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[wptorres]

That's pretty much normal. I've got a SCrew 2024 XLT 5.0, and at dead empty it'll take 32 gallons (had to have it weighted so ran it down real low). It's a 36 gallon tank, 32 gallons useable with 4 gallon reserve, so the truck will tell you 0 miles remaining at about 4 gallons left.

 

[BeNimble]

Thanks…my previous truck was a 2008 SC Lariat with 2-wheel drive 5.5 bed and Triton 5.4L V-8 and 24 gal tank. Gas guage was spot on perfect at anything under 50 MTE is took 23 gals to fill her. And 12 gal to 1/2 fill etc.

 

[dochawk]

It's a Ford. It will claim to have less than it has.

Probably been doing that since Henry first deigned to put a fuel gauge in!

 

[fmdog44]

Old rule of thumb, never let you tank approach EMPTY. This is more for older tanks because you are bottom fishing for years of "stuff" settled on the bottom of your tank. I fill at 1/4.

 

[FI300]

This is not just a Ford thing. I have had a fleet vehicle of some type for the last 25 years and they pretty much all do this. They are many opinions on why and I think the most probable is to protect the in tank fuel pump since it is cooled by the fuel.

 

[Aonarch]

0 DTE as said is about 4-6 gallons remaining.

It is intentional to protect the pump and protect against fuel starvation if the vehicle is at an angle.

 

[rr11]

About 15 years ago, I drove my 03 F250 to San Antonio to pick up a car. On the way back late at night got caught low of fuel gas stations closed. I drove 25 miles past 0 to the next open station. Not happy but I didn't run out of gas. I was expecting to at any second. I normally try to never get below 1/4 tank.

 

[MikeNH]

This seems common on all brands. I never went below 1/4 tank before. I may need to re think as that’s still a ton of range on this but in the end I see a low tank as a poor personal security practice. Not so worried about bad gas, just about getting out of dodge in the event of an emergency.

 

[Parthery]

0 DTE (and the needle on E) is as designed with a 6 gallon reserve.

I recall seeing an option to change the number of gallons in reserve in Forscan but never messed with it.

 

[wptorres]

0 DTE (and the needle on E) is as designed with a 6 gallon reserve.

I recall seeing an option to change the number of gallons in reserve in Forscan but never messed with it.

I don't think it's necessarily a reserve issue, as with 0 DTE I have 4 gallons left (should be what is supposed to be set to), however the gauge stays "full" for 7-8 gallons or 150 miles roughly.

 

[dochawk]

My brother once got out of the vehicle and walked back on a test drive of a used ford when it stalled out and the salesdweeb tried to claim that it was just out of gas, because ford fuel gauges read high . . .

Of all ford's faults, that isn't one of them!

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