How much gas do I really have left?

[jojo]

When the power is off, the needle goes well below empty (about 3/4 inch)

When the tank is full, the needle goes well above full (about 3/4 inch)

So is the tank empty when its on "E" or empty when it goes to the 3/4 inch below "E"?

I wanna know how far I can run the truck with out risking running out of gas and getting stranded.

[brothers69c-10]

Well here is some advice. When it gets down to "E" put gas in it. Or if you really want to know go drive it till it runs out of gas.

Besides it's a chevy the gas guage is never right

[unclewatts]

I would bet that the amount of gas left varies somewhat from truck to truck.

[Sinister]

I fill up when it gets to a quarter tank. Have never run out of gas that way. I do remember being out in West Texas on the 10 and gas stations were few and far between, running down to E and not running out.

[67ChevyRedneck]

My gauge goes about another "1/4 tank width" past F when I fill it up, and when it hits E, I have about 2 miles to put gas in it... almost learned that the hard way. I was sitting at a red light diagonal across from a gas station on E when she started sputtering real bad, the light was taking too long, so I made a left on red Nobody was coming and it was an emergency. It ran out and I rolled to a stop in front of the pumps! I now don't let her get below an 1/8 tank, but usually fill it up when it hits 1/4 tank.

...and yes, the tanks in these trucks don't have any inner baffles, so the gas is free to slosh wildly, which can cause you to get quite a varied fuel level. It's always fun to watch the fuel needle move after a hard turn

[cdowns]

if you really must know take a 5gallon can of gas and put it in the bed then drive the truck till you run out of gas then there will be no doubt about how far you can go on the gauge needle

[MESS-HALL]

If you haven't relocated your fuel cell.........you can always use a tape measure and stick it down there to find out how many "inches" of gas is left. Guesstimation ftw.

[fdbdw]

My gauge does the same thing, when the needle starts to move during turns I have about a gallon left

[GREASEMONKEY72]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

...and yes, the tanks in these trucks don't have any inner baffles, so the gas is free to slosh wildly, which can cause you to get quite a varied fuel level. It's always fun to watch the fuel needle move after a hard turn

i try to never let mine go below a 1/4 tank either, ive run it down on the E line but i dont know how much i still had in it

[69nova]

I agree with CDOWNS, 5 gallons in a can in the bed and drive it until it stops. Make sure that you have a good fuel filter on your truck before you run it dry and repalce it afterwards. There is a lot of trash at the bottom of a tank and who knows what shape your strainer is in. I do this with all of my vehicles and then mark the gauge somehow for reference because Im on the road a lot and sometimes don't know where the nearest station is!

[special-K]

Fill it up and find out.It`s inaccurate,you know that.I`d know my mileage and watch the odo.

[Hottrucks]

you know how many gallons the tank is...look at the guage then fill it....subtract what you put in in from how big a tank you have??? thats how much you have left...beats the hell outta running it out of fuel

[jojo]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

...and yes, the tanks in these trucks don't have any inner baffles, so the gas is free to slosh wildly, which can cause you to get quite a varied fuel level. It's always fun to watch the fuel needle move after a hard turn

I always wondered why the needle bounces, thanks!

Originally Posted by cdowns

if you really must know take a 5gallon can of gas and put it in the bed then drive the truck till you run out of gas then there will be no doubt about how far you can go on the gauge needle

Why didn't I think of that?

Anyways I was just trying to find my maximum "range" on a single tank, and as it turns out, that ain't very far... Oh well

[Hubscrub]

Originally Posted by Hottrucks

you know how many gallons the tank is...look at the guage then fill it....subtract what you put in in from how big a tank you have??? thats how much you have left...beats the hell outta running it out of fuel

never thought of that good idea

[Legolas894]

Also, to find out your MPG-
Go to the gas station, fill the tank until the pump shuts off. Write down the odometer reading. Then drive the truck for a while (use half a tank or so).

Fill the tank back up until the pump shuts off and read the number of gallons it took until it shut off. Then look at the odometer and subtract the first reading from the new odometer reading . This will give you the number of miles you went per gallon of gas used.

Just learned the hard way that you really have to put that lock ring on tight when you change fuel senders on the in-cab gas tank. Good think I don't smoke but the cab has smelled like gas for days!!

[jojo]

Originally Posted by Legolas894

Also, to find out your MPG-
Go to the gas station, fill the tank until the pump shuts off. Write down the odometer reading. Then drive the truck for a while (use half a tank or so).

Fill the tank back up until the pump shuts off and read the number of gallons it took until it shut off. Then look at the odometer and subtract the first reading from the new odometer reading . This will give you the number of miles you went per gallon of gas used.

Just learned the hard way that you really have to put that lock ring on tight when you change fuel senders on the in-cab gas tank. Good think I don't smoke but the cab has smelled like gas for days!!

My cab has smelled like gas for days too! (Every day since I've had it)

[LaraWilde]

I figure there is always another 50 km in the big girl after the needle hits bottom and won't move any more.

At the end of the day though - you should know what your tank holds - do the math and watch your odometer.

Do you want to know the mileage or when you will be walking?

[vegaschevy]

Originally Posted by Sinister

I fill up when it gets to a quarter tank. Have never run out of gas that way. I do remember being out in West Texas on the 10 and gas stations were few and far between, running down to E and not running out.

you know thats funny, I drove across I 10 when I bought a super duty in Houston. Drove it back to Vegas and even with the diesel fuel stations were hit or miss.

Originally Posted by Hottrucks

you know how many gallons the tank is...look at the guage then fill it....subtract what you put in in from how big a tank you have??? thats how much you have left...beats the hell outta running it out of fuel

tthats what I did. My fuel gauge maxes out at 3/8 of a tank and i can run it down to just below 1/4 tank. at just below 1/4 it will take 16-17 gallons. about 165 miles is what I can get out of her.

[Hottrucks]

think of your gas guage like your other half....

what is says isn't what it means but once you figure it out it will change?? the best you can hope for is to give it a little attention when it needs it so you don't end up sleeping out doors!!

[72K20]

OMG, I almost wet myself reading your reply!!! Truer words have never been spoken! Thanks for the giggles!

[Hubscrub]

Originally Posted by jojo

My cab has smelled like gas for days too! (Every day since I've had it)

my truck did to until i put a new gas cap on it and no more stinky

[oldblue1968chevy]

Ive had mine below E and drove it at least a few miles for she puttered out.

its on 1/8 tank right now...HS budget

[special-K]

Fill up every 150 miles.