put in 5 gal. of gas and tank read 1/2 full ?

[97guns]

i put gas in my truck for the first time yesterday a '71 1/2 ton flletside. i read less than an 1/8 of a tank when i stopped and after putting in 5 gallons it read right at the 1/2 mark. either i have a 10 gallon gas tank or my sending unit isn't working right, does anyone know?

[cdowns]

gas gauges on these trucks are not scientific instruments // a rough guide only

[wakeboarddrumma]

It should have settled down by now. Mine does this as well. If i run it kinda low, and put in 10 bucks, it'll say i have 3/8ths of a tank. This got me super excited one day, and so i went to arbys and came back and it was back to normal.

[Longhorn Man]

I say let it get to almost empty... or even run it dry, and see how far it goes... then fill it up all the way, and see where it goes.
I've never seen 2 trucks guages work exactly the same. Mine reads a tick over empty, and it'll have 5 gallons left. I try to forget about that and treat it like a reserve.

[JAKES 68GMC]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

Mine reads a tick over empty, and it'll have 5 gallons left. I try to forget about that and treat it like a reserve.

My truck is the same way. I went to drain the tank once, I figured it had a gallon or so in it, and it had about 8 gallons! The gauge read empty though.

[97guns]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

I say let it get to almost empty... or even run it dry, and see how far it goes... then fill it up all the way, and see where it goes.
I've never seen 2 trucks guages work exactly the same. Mine reads a tick over empty, and it'll have 5 gallons left. I try to forget about that and treat it like a reserve.

actually that makes sense because 5 remaining gallons with the fuel gauge reading almost empty + the 5 new gallons i had put in would put it right around 1/2 tank.

[krue]

I never trust my gauge, I've run out with 1/4 tank showing.

[mbgmike]

Old Ford gauges always read true. Except they stayed on Full for a long time then fell real quick and then tapered off .When it hit "E" guess what. Old chevy trucks were inconsistent. Ain't it great we have newer high tech stuff now?

[da-burb]

mbgmike and I have owned the same Fords obviously. The first half of the tank is huge! the second half of the gague is 1/4 and then empty 20 miles later.

My 71 suburban has a half tank of gas when it hits the 1/4 tank mark. It has always been this way.

[truckdude239]

when mine hits emptry i still have 10 gallons in the tank lol

[TNChevyMan]

I once had a 1/4 tank, put in $20 worth and my guage was all the way over to the 4 o'clock position.

[64fleetside]

Even in 87, the owner's manual stated F meant "full, but some fuel may be added" ,,E meant "empty, but fuel left as reserve". I got a 79 Ford, when it points to empty is IS empty. I have also pulled the tank on my Chevies when they shoulda been near empty only to find about 5 gals there-kinda heavy when you expect it to be lighter,,once upon a time I could fill up for $10-15,, man those were the days,,brian