Fuel Capacity?

[RSG]

New truck, two times so far I've run it to under 50 miles to empty according to computer. Takes less than 27 gallons. Spec sheet calls for a 34 gallon tank.

Is there a "hutch mod" for this newer tank? Sorry for my ignorance, been driving an '02 for a very long time and just upgraded. 3,000 miles in the last 3 weeks. Runs pretty nice! I'm spoiled already but I miss that diesel smell...

 

[BIG JOE]

I just Dribble the last few gallons in Rich. I haven't heard of anyone doing a Hutch Mod.. but I'd betcha it's probably the same set-up in these tanks. (?)

 

[01yellerCobra]

Could also be just the DTE set up. My truck shows 0 miles to empty when I still 4 or 5 gallons left.

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[RSG]

Joe, I dribbled...and dribbled...etc...to get to 26.6 gallons with 43 miles to empty...plenty of foam for sure...but not 7 gallons worth.
01yellerCobra - yeah, I guess I can just run it dry with a jug in the back, add 5 gallons, then see how the restart with a push button starter after fuel starvation works.

I am leaning toward the 55 gallon Titan replacement tank; around $1100 shipped and looks to be easier than the last time I did this. I got spoiled by a 120-gallon supply on the last truck I guess. Can't even run 600 miles without stopping for fuel.

 

[01yellerCobra]

Which model do you have? The short bed diesels only come with the 26 gallon tank.

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[Tracy Mangus]

I have a 36 gallon tank on my 2017, and it has the same thing going on. I will also say that my old truck 2006 F350 did the same thing also, nothing new... with 50 miles to empty, still had 8-10 gallons of fuel, I believe this is by design for those out there that like to push the limits and keep going on a low fuel light. If the Diesel system runs dry, it could be a very costly mistake. So ford builds in some additional buffer to try to prevent this from happening

 

[eZAK61]

I do a manual fuel consumption calculation every now and then, just to keep the computer chip honest.

That being said, the 'rule of thumb' (so to speak) has always been that there is 2 - 3 less useable gallons in any tank.
Then factor in the chip will have a buffer of 4 gallons built in when it reaches 'empty '

With a 34 gal. tank you'll be 'empty' after using approx. 28gal. or less.

 

[RSG]

Which model do you have? The short bed diesels only come with the 26-gallon tank.
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They base it on wheelbase rather than bed length. The Ford spec sheets show a 159.7" and 175.9" option for a crew cab F250. Then in another spot, they list wheelbase for an SWB at 159.7" and an LWB at 176.0". And finally, they list 34 gallons as "Standard" on the Platinum diesel, and for 160" & 164" wheelbases. So I believe it is supposed to be 34 gallons but I'm just not getting past 26.6 gal useable.

I have a 36-gallon tank on my 2017, and it has the same thing going on. I will also say that my old truck 2006 F350 did the same thing also, nothing new... with 50 miles to empty, still had 8-10 gallons of fuel, I believe this is by design for those out there that like to push the limits and keep going on a low fuel light. If the Diesel system runs dry, it could be a very costly mistake. So ford builds in some additional buffer to try to prevent this from happening

Yup, with my '02 and 100-gallon aux tank, I didn't care about that; although the Hutch mod really helped to make sure the factory tank got full when it was time.

I do a manual fuel consumption calculation every now and then, just to keep the computer chip honest.

That being said, the 'rule of thumb' (so to speak) has always been that there is 2 - 3 less useable gallons in any tank.
Then factor in the chip will have a buffer of 4 gallons built in when it reaches 'empty '

With a 34 gal. tank you'll be 'empty' after using approx. 28gal. or less.

I guess you nailed it. With 43 miles to empty, assuming 17 mpg, that's another 2.5 gallons plus the 26.6 that I put in the tank = 29.1 gals and 4 or 5 not useable. I understand the useable gallons, and especially with this weirdly shaped tank, it's almost a given to have a fair amount of unusable fuel.

I'm just not keen to have to stop any more frequently than necessary. I'm tempted to take along a 5gal jug of diesel and just run it "x" miles past "E", maybe 50 or 75, and see what it does. If it runs outa fuel, well, the manual says nothing other than that it may take a spell for the autostart feature to work ... something like "more cranking may be necessary".
Anyway, I've talked myself into a 55 gallon Titan replacement. I just need to do it.
10 fuel stops in 3 weeks is simply not in my list of "stuff to do".
Life is too short to refuel more than once a day!

 

[RSG]

Update fyi. Turns out early build 2017 trucks have a TSB out for this issue. They swap out the tank and sending unit on earliest builds, and sending units on the rest. Found the info on another ford truck enthusiasts website.

oh, and my truck has burned through about 17,500 miles since February and I have not got around to doing anything but drive it!

 

[RSG]

...I'm back with another update FWIW. As noted above, truck had a TSB on the fuel tank and pickup assy for this problem. I convinced the dealer to get the new tank and pickup, but put in a Titan 55gal tank instead. They were only concerned about the programming (how odd is that) to reset miles-to-empty. Now I fill it and see 900-990 miles to empty. The Titan tank actually held 59 gallons. I be a happy driver again.

Anybody wants a NIB stock tank "34 gallon" it's yours... come 'n get it.