Fuel tank size.

[Flashman]

My fuel light came on in my new Ram 3500. I was near a diesel station so I filled it up - could only get 25 gallons in! It is a 31 gallon tank. Does this mean I have a 6 gallon reserve after the fuel light comes on?

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

SweetLou wrote:

rjxj wrote:
Carry 5 gallons extra and run it empty to see how far it goes

I am sorry but that is some really poor advice. You should never run a tank of diesel out and for many reasons. A couple that come to mind is the sludge you have at the bottom of the tank just got sucked into your very expensive injectors, and second you may have to prime a restart.

I would hope that expensive filter he has on his engine would protect those expensive injectors. That's the way mine works anyway. 🙂 And a cup full of dirt in your tank is a cup full of dirt whether the tank is full or empty.

[SweetLou]

rjxj wrote:
Carry 5 gallons extra and run it empty to see how far it goes

I am sorry but that is some really poor advice. You should never run a tank of diesel out and for many reasons. A couple that come to mind is the sludge you have at the bottom of the tank just got sucked into your very expensive injectors, and second you may have to prime a restart.

[Community Alumni]

drsteve wrote:

True. Running low also allows the pump to suck up any sediment that may be in the tank.

Full or empty, the pump is always battling sediment in the tank. The pickup location is at the bottom of the tank where the sediment rests. However, the sock prevents the sediment from being pulled into the pump. With the plastic tanks on vehicles these days, sediment really isn't a problem unless you're frequenting seedy fuel stations.

[mich800]

Flashman wrote:
My fuel light came on in my new Ram 3500. I was near a diesel station so I filled it up - could only get 25 gallons in! It is a 31 gallon tank. Does this mean I have a 6 gallon reserve after the fuel light comes on?

I assume you mean the point where it stops counting the miles to empty to triggering the low fuel light which is typically 40-50 miles to empty. 5-6 gallons from that point sound correct. You can run it down to zero miles to empty and then you are officially on the reserve. Not that I recommend that.

[tomman58]

I normally have my bladder light come on way before the diesel light does. I also have the trailer behind me with my personal rest area. so kinda works by the third call I am already looking to land for a few minutes to rearrange my rear end. This leads me to another thing I always dump my wallet into the console because my rear goes out of alignment after driving for 10 hours!

[drsteve]

rottidawg wrote:
I seem to recall a warning about running your tank too low very often. With the fuel pump inside the tank it depends upon a certain amount of gas for cooling?

True. Running low also allows the pump to suck up any sediment that may be in the tank.

[rottidawg]

I seem to recall a warning about running your tank too low very often. With the fuel pump inside the tank it depends upon a certain amount of gas for cooling?

[fly-boy]

Changed my stock tank out for a 65 gallon under bed tank. My light comes on with 10 gallons in reserve. The stock tanks are just way too small... especially if you live in the country or when towing.

[drsteve]

My Chevy is the same--about a six gallon reserve. It might seem excessive until you are in an area with few gas stations, or on the turnpike where fuel stops may be far apart. Sometimes advance notice is a good thing.

I don't like to go more than a couple of hours without stretching my legs anyway.

[Wild_Card]

My light comes on at 50 miles and I average 9-10mpg pulling. So my light on is around 5 galloms left...it seems to be close in my calculation

[skidooman93]

My Ram is the same, when the light comes on I have about 6 gallons left. The range to empty is only an estimate. For those people that like to run them out, it keeps them guessing LOL.

[azrving]

Carry 5 gallons extra and run it empty to see how far it goes

[1320Fastback]

4x4ord wrote:
When I'm towing a heavy load I can ignore the fuel gauge. I have to fill up at every freaking service station I come to.

My old 82 Chevy 4+4 with a 454 and a Holly I used to say it'll pass anything except a gas station.

When I used to drag race it on the weekends you could literlly watch the gauge going down.

[4x4ord]

When I'm towing a heavy load I can ignore the fuel gauge. I have to fill up at every freaking service station I come to.