Lost half a tank of fuel in less than 2 miles. the tank is empty. can’t see a leak
Coming home from a job i got off the freeway and checked my gas gauge about half way from the off ramp to my house, it showed half a tank, i had just the day before filled it up and only traveled 112 miles on a nearly full 28 gallon tank. about half a mile from my house the low fuel light came on and the gauge showed empty, way below the 'E'. i didn't smell any fumes or have any loss of power so i thought something was wrong with the Gauge or electronics. As i backed into my driveway the truck died. i got out and looked under the truck and under the hood and didn't see any leak
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
I would first get a 5 gallon gas can and put it in the tank to see if gas gauge registers the fuel. Then turn on the key and listen for fuel pump operation to see if pump runs. Recheck for any leaks in the engine compartment and under truck. Pull out oil dipstick to see if you are overfull of oil and it smells like fuel. You may have a bad fuel pressure regulator that leaked all the excess fuel into the engine real fast. You would of noticed the engine running rough or blowing black smoke. I suggest you get some help from a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, if you can’t pinpoint the leak.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
This is a simple mechanical failure. Located on the fuel pump is a float (quite like the one in your toilet) that sends a digital reading to the instrument cluster on your dashboard. This float can become clogged with debris and is prone to other mechanical failures that prevent it from moving freely.
The fuel sending unit is not accurate and is empty at 1/4 of a tank, or you have a fuel pump that has a faulty bottom screen which has come off and sucks air below a 1/4 tank. A big problem that these vehicles have is the plastic fuel tank.
If a leak is small enough, the gasoline may simply congeal on the tank and evaporate before a puddle can form. A leaking fuel line might drip onto other components under the hood or along the chassis. That`s why the smell of gasoline is often a better, more obvious indicator of a fuel leak than a visible puddle of gas.
If you continue driving with low fuel levels, your car isn`t getting the lubrication it needs and runs the risk of overheating. Moreover, this means it could result in premature failure of the pump. Not only can this cause serious damage to your car, but serious damage to your wallet too.
A fuel gauge that reads full or empty all the time, or has a needle that moves erratically, could be the result of a faulty sender unit or fuel gauge itself.
Clogged or Damaged Fuel Injectors
One of the most common culprits for a drop in fuel efficiency is dirty fuel injectors. Fuel injectors are the nozzles that spray fuel into each engine cylinder. A fuel injector`s spray pattern must be very precise to properly mix with air and combust inside the engine.
Aside from mechanical issues, other factors can affect gas mileage. Miskelley says bad alignment, improperly inflated tires, poor tread and driving habits can make a difference in how far a gallon of gas goes. “Poorly maintained tires can cause your car to pull harder and do extra work to get going,” says Miskelley.
1 Answer. The light flashes when you are going low on fuel (1 gallon left IIRC), and a solid light means get fuel now (1/2 gallon left). Now, if you have a full tank (i.e. > 1 gallon), and it is still flashing, the problem is most likely a stuck tank level float.
Press and hold the “Trip/Odo” button and turn the car back on. While you`re holding the button, turn the key back to the “ON” position. Hold the button down for another 2 seconds after the car`s back on, then release.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Lost half a tank of fuel in less than 2 miles. the tank is empty. can’t see a leak
ANSWER : I would first get a 5 gallon gas can and put it in the tank to see if gas gauge registers the fuel. Then turn on the key and listen for fuel pump operation to see if pump runs. Recheck for any leaks in the engine compartment and under truck. Pull out oil dipstick to see if you are overfull of oil and it smells like fuel. You may have a bad fuel pressure regulator that leaked all the excess fuel into the engine real fast. You would of noticed the engine running rough or blowing black smoke. I suggest you get some help from a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, if you can’t pinpoint the leak.
I have a 1981 e-350 with dual fuel tanks the p.o. added a third tank and 3 electric fuel pumps along with sepparate gauges and swi
ANSWER : The switch you are referring to is vended with the required electrical and fuel schematic (I just looked in the box) that answers your installation question. If you want an advance view, here is a link as well. Yes, you need a return line and just refer to the aforementioned link. If you are retrofitting back to OEM, I strongly encourage you to buy the original Factory Service Manual (FSM). There are lots of details attending this system and obviously it is difficult to recount it all here. The FSM will make your life much easier and you can then make sure your installation is perfect. Alternatively, YourMechanic can dispatch a certified mechanic and perform the whole retrofit and check out if you desire. Just request and schedule a generic service such as fuel pump service and the mechanic will come to your location and estimate the parts and labor required. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
1996 F150 4.9 5 speed. Frt. Fuel pump quit working. Put fuel in rear tank and it sucked the fuel to the frt tank.
ANSWER : The two tanks are designed to work together and so BOTH pumps must be functioning and, as well, the related fuel system supply code, the Code P0232 that has set has to be resolved. P0232 means that the fuel pump relay is stuck on, keeping power supplied to the fuel pump even after the ignition has been turned off although another possibility is the fuel pump secondary power circuit has a short to battery voltage. The factory service manual (FSM) specifies a very lengthy diagnostic (because you have separate tanks). If you do not have the FSM, your best bet is to request a fuel pump diagnostic – dual tanks and let a certified mechanic get to the bottom of this. With regard to the other code, P0704, that code will set if the clutch switch is defective, there is worn clutch pedal lever or clutch lever bushing, shorted or open wiring and/or connectors in the clutch switch circuit, a blown fuse or burnt fusible link and/or, rarely, a faulty PCM or programming error. If you request the pump diagnostic the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Fuel range indicator says I can drive 180 miles until empty. I drive half a mile and the indicator already says 165 miles left. What’s wrong?
ANSWER : This calculation your car performs is a constantly varying calculation due to a couple of things. One part of this calculation is based upon the driving habits of the driver and how the throttle is used in combination with how much fuel is left in the tank. The computer calculates a running average of the fuel used relative to how much fuel is in the tank. As you use more throttle consistently, this average mileage to empty calculation goes down. However, if you feel something is definitely out of the ordinary, have a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, diagnose your car’s fuel mileage issue.
1983 toyota corolla 69,000 miles. Not sure if it’s a problem with fuel lines, fuel tank, or fuel filter.
ANSWER : If the exhaust smells like gasoline, the fuel mixture is either way too rich or you have a weak ignition system that is not burning the fuel efficiently. You can pull spark plugs out to check them and if they are wet or black they may be fouled and this can cause very rough running, misfires and stalling. Consider hiring an experienced technician like one from YourMechanic who can come out for a closer inspection of the vehicle in order to run a few tests and offer a more personal diagnosis of your stalling and drivability concerns.
Fuel tank is so rusty, can a sheet metal shop fabricate a fuel tank made of stainless steel and will it not rust?
ANSWER : Hello. I do not think you will find a shop to make a fuel tank for the vehicle since the tank is very custom to fit only your vehicle. You should purchase a new one and try not to always run your fuel tank near empty. The fuel in a tank will keep the rust from forming. When you run low on fuel all the time, the top part of the tank will start getting rusted and will spread all over the tank. Also stay away from fuel stations that just got their tanks filled by the tanker. You will get excess water if you do.
Can 1 man replace a fuel pump and sending unit, clean out sludge and particles from fuel tank in about 1 hour? Think I was scammed
ANSWER : To drop the fuel tank on your model, and immediately re-install the tank (without any cleaning or service) would require about 2 to 3 hours in total for an experienced professional if a lift is available. The fuel pump itself can be installed without removing the tank but to do that you must have access to the inside of the car because the pump is removed through an access panel under the rear seat. Also, you can’t drop the tank without access to the inside of the car because to drop the tank the wiring harness has to be disconnected and that connection is only accessible from inside the car. So, if the car was locked, obviously no work was performed on the vehicle. YourMechanic does offer these services and you can start by requesting fuel pump replacement. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Fuel pressure
ANSWER : Hello,
You may want to try checking the fuel pump relay. The relay wires should have ground on two wires, power on one wire and switched power on another wire. To activate the fuel pump your ECU actually connects one of the ground wires to complete the circuit and send power to the fuel pump. If the wires all have power running through them, then it is likely you have a faulty relay. The wire coming from the fuel pump is the other ground wire. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your wiring as this can be very difficult and time consuming without the proper wiring diagram.
You may want to try checking the fuel pump relay. The relay wires should have ground on two wires, power on one wire and switched power on another wire. To activate the fuel pump your ECU actually connects one of the ground wires to complete the circuit and send power to the fuel pump. If the wires all have power running through them, then it is likely you have a faulty relay. The wire coming from the fuel pump is the other ground wire. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your wiring as this can be very difficult and time consuming without the proper wiring diagram.
