6.4L Power Stroke Engine and DrivetrainDiscussion of the 6.4L Power Stroke diesel engine and drivetrain in the 2008-Up Super Duty trucks. No gas engine discussion allowed except on transmissions and drivetrain that pertain to all models. Please confine discussion of topics in this forum to those items that are specific to the 6.4L Power Stroke engine.
So, do our fuel tanks really hold 38 gallons? My fuel gauge will be on empty and the "miles until empty" readout will say 15 miles. Then when I fill up it takes 32 gallons, which SHOULD mean there are about 6 gallons still in the tank. I know that this truck gets bad mileage, but that should be about 80 miles left on the readout and almost a quater gallon for the gauge. Anybody else's this inaccurate? I mean, I appreciate a margin of error but this is a lot!
Like Gwilson said, it's just an estimate. Don't go by the Distance Till Empty (DTE), it's wrong. Use the fuel gauge and you'll be fine. I had a customer that had his 6.4 towed in 4 times for a no start because the guy would run it out of fuel and the DTE would be 15 to 20 miles until empty. He said his 6.0 would go to 5 miles until empty until it would run out of fuel. One gulp of air through that fuel pick up in the tank will stall a 6.4 in a few seconds.
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I'm a mod friendly Ford Diesel Technician located in Sacramento California area.
My guage is completly off, and the dealer said I have to deal with it. The needle does not budge until I have used 8 gallons of fuel. When I am at the 1/2 tank mark, I have 20 gallons left. When I am at the 1/4 tank mark, I have 8 gallons left. When I am at the 1/8 tank mark, I have 2-3 gallons left. I have never seen the low fuel light, do not even know if it works! I have trained my wife to note that when it gets to the 1/4 tank mark, just go fill it up. With winter coming, that has been bumped up to the 1/2 tank mark.
On a side note, my first 1/2 tank of fuel in my Jetta took me over 360 miles with a MPG rating of 42.3!! It only has ~450 miles on it now. It was soo nice to put in 1/2 a tank of diesel and pay $29 bucks! The girl at the Holiday asked me if that was really my pump because normally I am over $100 bucks!
Like Gwilson said, it's just an estimate. Don't go by the Distance Till Empty (DTE), it's wrong. Use the fuel gauge and you'll be fine. I had a customer that had his 6.4 towed in 4 times for a no start because the guy would run it out of fuel and the DTE would be 15 to 20 miles until empty. He said his 6.0 would go to 5 miles until empty until it would run out of fuel. One gulp of air through that fuel pick up in the tank will stall a 6.4 in a few seconds.
The issue I have is that BOTH the DTE readout and the gauge say I am out of gas when I still have approximately 6-7 gallons left of fuel. The only reason I was semi-concerned is that because the computer and the gauge were telling me i was about to run out of fuel I stopped at a fuel station that was CONSIDERABLY more expensive than if I had just driven another 20 miles on the highway, which after i filled up I found I had more than enough fuel to do. My fuel gauge should have registered AT LEAST 1/8 tank but was at empty, DTE readout said 13 miles left.
I have seen the low fuel light on a couple of times, but I was already in the process of hunting down the nearest fuel!!! 50 miles to go until I am pushing isn't my idea of a good time! It really gives you a warm fuzzy if you are towing and aren't sure if you can actually make it that far... I agree that finding fuel with 1/4 tank left is prudent, especially when the terrain isn't always friendly, and the gages aren't entirely accurate.
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2008 F-350 4 X 4 Crew Cab, Long Bed, SWB, Lariat
6.4 Liter Power Stroke that I traded up to!!!
Edge Evolution, Rhino Lining, Snug Top, 3.5 " Tube steps
My message center read out is right on. As soon as it read 0 I ran out of fuel.
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2011 F350 Lariat DK.Blue/Silver,Black Leather Crew Cab,Short Box SRW. Supplemental Heater,3.55 ELD, Remote Starter. Used for hauling 16ft x 8.5ft. Work Trailer , 8ft. Fisher Plow, Lance 820 truck camper for those days I can get away.
just a question, i know how to re purge a 7.3 when i run it out but how do the new ones work when you run em outa fuel? is there a bleeder valve or something? im far from buying a new truck just curious.
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Iraq vet and back home for good! 95 F250 SC 7.3PSD 4x4
Now out of the Army and located in South Florida.
Going to School to get ASE certified.
Fellow OIF veteran, you cycle the key on and off for 30 seconds for a minimum of 6 times. This purges the air from the system. And have no fear, you may be coming home sooner than you though
The issue I have is that BOTH the DTE readout and the gauge say I am out of gas when I still have approximately 6-7 gallons left of fuel. The only reason I was semi-concerned is that because the computer and the gauge were telling me i was about to run out of fuel I stopped at a fuel station that was CONSIDERABLY more expensive than if I had just driven another 20 miles on the highway, which after i filled up I found I had more than enough fuel to do. My fuel gauge should have registered AT LEAST 1/8 tank but was at empty, DTE readout said 13 miles left.
I think what you might be seeing is if you stop pumping when the pump shuts off it will be a little low. With the foam that diesel produces it will shut off the pump early. I can get at least another 4 to 5 gallons in there after it shuts off the first time if I let the foam settle, pump again and repeat until I get tired of doing this.
I find that I can get nearly 32 gallons into my 29 Gallon tank on my 2000 F-250SD extended cab. At first I thought it was just pump error but, I finally took and started measuring fuel using a freshly calibrated pump. The filler tube holds almost two gallons on my truck and depending upon what angle my truck is at I can get about two more gallons in the tank. Of course when I start to go level it runs out. DOH!
My electronic dash module in the console is very inaccurate and sometime downright depressing. I've been leaving mine on temp and compass they are accurate. Typically my MPG is reading 13.2 even though I am averaging 22. Other times it has read as good as 36.0 MPG even though there was no way I was getting that in Texas (no hills to coast down). Also, the in dash fuel gauge is rather inadequate. It holds at the full mark till I've burn a 1/4 tank then it drops rapidly till I run out of fuel. Not a logrithmic algorithm in use there. Now, I just use the trip odometer and keep track of mileage. When I hit around 300 miles I start shopping for fuel. That way I have between 80 and 122 miles to go.
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Eric KD7CAO
Basics:
2000 Ford F-250 SD Lariat, 4x4, 7.3L Diesel, Auto, 3.73 Rear End
Accessories:
Superchips 1705 Tuner, 5" Super Flow Exhaust, Dual Stage Garrett Turbo, Magnum Force Intake System, Headache Rack, Toolbox, Goose Neck Hitch, Yaesu FT-8900r Quad Band, Icom IC-2820h with D*STAR, Maxtrac and TT3+, Spectra 900, Whelen 90 Watt Strobe Pack for Rear - 4 Strobes (1 each) Brake Lights and Backup Lights, Whelen 75 Watt Strobe Pack for Front - 4 Strobes (1 each) Headlights and CL Lamps, Code3PSE Mastercom 3892L4, Sho-Me Arrow Controller and home built arrow stick.
Wants:
Front End Replacement bumper/grille, Locomotive Horn, Air Bags (suspension)
one night, i was taking a trip, a town down, and while on my way the fuel light came on, but i knew i was good, and would stop at the cheaper station on the way back, and i was still slightly above E on the gauge, and the truck took 39 gallons. one other time, the light came on when i pulled into work, and when i left i made it 1/4 of a mile and she sputtered to a stop and i looked like a jacka$$ calling my buddy to come tow me to the nearest fuel stop. i say around 1/4 tank i start looking and if the light comes on i hit the next station, no questions asked because i have seen the inaccuracy.
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EARLY 99 F350, CREW CAB, LONG BED. 4X4 7.3L AUTOMATIC. EDGE JUICE W/ ATTITUDE. 4" EXHAUST, NO MUFFLER, 6" TIP, COLD AIR INTAKE, BD: CCV KIT (WON ONLINE, THANK YOU BD). DVD PLAYER, PS2, IN DASH TV, POWER INVERTER, 2-10" INFINITY SUBS IN PORTED BOX. CLASS 5 REESE TOW PACKAGE, FLIP UP GOSENECK HITCH. CB/PA, WITH DUAL TRUCKER WHIPS. TOW MIRRORS, AND CAB LIGHTS, RECON LED TAILGATEBAR W/ REVERSE LIGHT, BUG GUARD AND WINDOW VISORS. 05 GRILL AND HEADLIGHT SWAP, 08 TAILGATE, 285/75 BFG ALL-TERRAINS, SHACKLE LEVELING KIT, AND BILSTIEN SHOCKS. 5% TINT ALL THE WAY AROUND, AND 50% ON THE WINDSHEILD.
SOON TO COME: 08 TAIL LIGHTS, CLEAR CABLIGHTS, RECON ESCALADE STYLE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT, STROBE LIGHTS, PROJECTOR BACKUP LIGHTS, 33X12.50 BFG ALL TERRAINS ON BLACK DICK CEPEK 17" RIMS, EDGE EVOLUTION PROGRAMMER (STACKED), RAPTOR HIGH PERFORMANCE FUEL PUMP, HIGH PERFORMANCE HPOP, POSSIBLY 10" STACKS!
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95 F250 SC 7.3PSD 4x4
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