messed up fuel gauge?

[infantry032003]

i've noticed that when i park my truck on a slight slope my fuel gauge reads less. in other words, the needle goes down bout 1/8. however, when i park on level or incline surfaces my rig stays normal and/or the needle goes up a lil more, also bout 1/8. what could be the problem? i hope it is just a wiring problem.

[hotstik]

The the stock fuel tank on the superduty isn't baffled or anything like that - it's just a big open tank inside. So when you park on an incline (nose up), the fuel will go to the rear of the tank. When you combine this with the fact that the float for the fuel gauge is mounted on a wire arm that extends toward the front of the tank, you create a scenario where the float is sitting lower in the tank thus giving you a lower fuel level reading.

So, this is normal, and you don't have a wiring problem. Here's a photo of the sending/pickup unit from when I was doing mods to my fuel system:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...73017518ULjHAx

The black thing on the wire arm is the float.

[SuperDutyDave]

Could a stuck float be the reason my tank always reads full? I been to Capistrano Ford twice about this and they told me to fix it was NOT warranteed and it would be something around $900. The gauge goes to "E" when I shut the truck off. If the sending unit was broken, the gauge would always be at one location right?

Maybe a 57-gallon Transfer Flow tank may be the next mod instead of gauges.

[hotstik]

Could a stuck float be the reason my tank always reads full? I been to Capistrano Ford twice about this and they told me to fix it was NOT warranteed and it would be something around $900. The gauge goes to "E" when I shut the truck off. If the sending unit was broken, the gauge would always be at one location right?

Maybe a 57-gallon Transfer Flow tank may be the next mod instead of gauges.

As I understand it, the float getting stuck is surprisingly common. While it hasn't happened to me, I've read numerous posts on www.dieselstop.com where people have had this sort of issue. So, what you are describing with your truck sounds like a stuck float.

$900 to fix a stuck float is absolute extortion! :angry: If you're going to spend that much, just get the transferflow tank. Not only will you end up with a superior tank, but whoever installs it can unstick your float.

Remind me not to go to Capistrano Ford!

[watersurgeon]

I have had mine stick empty right after I filled it up. I have found if you drive off a curb pretty fast it will unstick it.

I have run out of fuel twice now. Both times the guage was well above the red, the gas light had just come on, and the trip/mileage showed at least 50 miles till empty.

Cap Ford for the record sucks. (I have a couple of great stories, for another thread) Take it too the Ford dealership in Lake Forest off the freeway. Better trained diesel guys there, pluse there are a bunch of corporate people, ie Fords office by the spectrum that live in the area and all their cars get serviced there.