[kohersh]

Last saw a number on the DTE scale around 29 miles...and that was about 25 miles ago...its been FUEL LOW ever since. So day 2 riding on E.

Regardless of what it takes it is nice to have a fat reserve

 

[One2]

Last saw a number on the DTE scale around 29 miles...and that was about 25 miles ago...its been FUEL LOW ever since. So day 2 riding on E.

Regardless of what it takes it is nice to have a fat reserve

With the poor quality of today’s fuel, I would be nervous to drive a truck on E.

 

[ChrisBigHorn17]

With the poor quality of today’s fuel, I would be nervous to drive a truck on E.

Ive read its mostly a myth, but never believed it myself.

Had to replace the fuel tank in my old pickup (2001 Frontier)...removed original tank and looked inside. Granted I never ran it OUT of fuel, but there were more than a few times where it took VERY close to max fill.

The bottom of the tank had a bit of sediment in it but the cloth "bag" filter was pretty clean (a little discolored Im assuming from sitting in fuel all those years). Compared to new fuel pump and sending unit, you would barely be able to tell the difference.

I wouldnt run any vehicle that low on purpose, but it doesnt seem to be a big of a deal as some make it out to be.

 

[Thunderhorse]

With the poor quality of today’s fuel, I would be nervous to drive a truck on E.

You are saying you think fuel is worse in quality than it used to be?

With the exception of ethanol I disagree

 

[One2]

Ive read its mostly a myth, but never believed it myself.

Had to replace the fuel tank in my old pickup (2001 Frontier)...removed original tank and looked inside. Granted I never ran it OUT of fuel, but there were more than a few times where it took VERY close to max fill.

The bottom of the tank had a bit of sediment in it but the cloth "bag" filter was pretty clean (a little discolored Im assuming from sitting in fuel all those years). Compared to new fuel pump and sending unit, you would barely be able to tell the difference.

I wouldnt run any vehicle that low on purpose, but it doesnt seem to be a big of a deal as some make it out to be.

This is good info here. Thanks. I’m still a bit cautious with my rides though. I’ve had trash in my current motorcycle tank before when it was removed to be painted. And a lot of VP-110 has be burned from it.

Edit: I’ll add that this might be heavily dependent on the fuel tanks at the gas stations maybe…

You are saying you think fuel is worse in quality than it used to be?

With the exception of ethanol I disagree

Why don’t you go jump out of a C130 or something (with a T11 of course).

 

[Thunderhorse]

This is good info here. Thanks. I’m still a bit cautious with my rides though. I’ve had trash in my current motorcycle tank before when it was removed to be painted. And a lot of VP-110 has be burned from it.



Why don’t you go jump out of a C130 or something (with a T11 of course).

Because my battalion won't send me to jump school :shy2:

 

[One2]

Here a picture of gunk that came out of a bike that was less than 10 years old. The bikewould not rev pass 8,000 RPMs. It was fuel starved because of the fuel pump filter being very dirty.

This was recently posted last month.

Trying to get pictures of the filter but I’m having trouble loading it.

 

[One2]

Because my battalion won't send me to jump school :shy2:

That’s bogus man. Preventing you from career progression.

 

[Thunderhorse]

More of a nice to have, I am working on carving out time for it but ti won't be until I'm back stateside

 

[kohersh]

Last saw a number on the DTE scale around 29 miles...and that was about 25 miles ago...its been FUEL LOW ever since. So day 2 riding on E.

Regardless of what it takes it is nice to have a fat reserve

OK, THE RESULTS ARE IN.
It turns out that our 32 gallon tanks have...........32 gallons of Useable Capacity.

I made it 2.5 days riding around on "Low fuel" with the needle buried below E before the motor quit. To Make this clear- I intended to run out of fuel, and was carrying 1 gallon with me and sticking to non-highway driving to minimize the hazard I could create, thankfully it happened not only in a safe area, but an empty road, and within sight of a Sunoco. After refueling with the 1 gallon reserve and resetting the trip meter, I clocked 0.4 miles in 1:44 of 'engine running' time before pumping 31.2 gallons in. The reserve can took an additional 1.03 gallons. No fuel spilled over through any vents or the neck and I let it pop off twice with a 30 second pause in between.
I have been beating on my truck for the past several days trying to suck down the fuel, and my average economy slipped down from 18+avg to 16.6mpg avg. The Range after refilling showed 514 miles.

514miles/32gal=16.0625mpg vs the displayed 16.6mpg so that is well within a range of accuracy that I would consider acceptable, considering the Range calculation is dynamic and reliant upon your driving habits, and mine had just changed dramatically in the last 100 miles....which is a more than a coincidence as the 6 gallon difference between the 26 and 32 gallon options nets out 99.6 miles of additional range (6gal x 16.6mpg= 99.6 miles.)

If your reading this and saying 'What a useless test, who friggin cares" I can't necessarily argue with you, there are so many variables (drivetrain variations/city/hwy/towing/winds/heavy right foot, etc...)that could affect your situation, we're still going to drive the truck and its still SAFEST to refuel when the obc says its time. But, maybe you don't need to be late to your daughters piano recital because you thought you were going to have to push the truck there if you didn't stop and refuel when the low fuel warning illuminated.


So, in conclusion. we actually do have 32 gallons useable! and it would seem the computer in my truck is ABSOLUTELY calibrated for a 26 gal tank regardless of the trucks build, and STAR Case# S1608000283 acknowledges this.

 

[hfrez]

OK, THE RESULTS ARE IN.
It turns out that our 32 gallon tanks have...........32 gallons of Useable Capacity.

I made it 2.5 days riding around on "Low fuel" with the needle buried below E before the motor quit. To Make this clear- I intended to run out of fuel, and was carrying 1 gallon with me and sticking to non-highway driving to minimize the hazard I could create, thankfully it happened not only in a safe area, but an empty road, and within sight of a Sunoco. After refueling with the 1 gallon reserve and resetting the trip meter, I clocked 0.4 miles in 1:44 of 'engine running' time before pumping 31.2 gallons in. The reserve can took an additional 1.03 gallons. No fuel spilled over through any vents or the neck and I let it pop off twice with a 30 second pause in between.
I have been beating on my truck for the past several days trying to suck down the fuel, and my average economy slipped down from 18+avg to 16.6mpg avg. The Range after refilling showed 514 miles.

514miles/32gal=16.0625mpg vs the displayed 16.6mpg so that is well within a range of accuracy that I would consider acceptable, considering the Range calculation is dynamic and reliant upon your driving habits, and mine had just changed dramatically in the last 100 miles....which is a more than a coincidence as the 6 gallon difference between the 26 and 32 gallon options nets out 99.6 miles of additional range (6gal x 16.6mpg= 99.6 miles.)

If your reading this and saying 'What a useless test, who friggin cares" I can't necessarily argue with you, there are so many variables (drivetrain variations/city/hwy/towing/winds/heavy right foot, etc...)that could affect your situation, we're still going to drive the truck and its still SAFEST to refuel when the obc says its time. But, maybe you don't need to be late to your daughters piano recital because you thought you were going to have to push the truck there if you didn't stop and refuel when the low fuel warning illuminated.


So, in conclusion. we actually do have 32 gallons useable! and it would seem the computer in my truck is ABSOLUTELY calibrated for a 26 gal tank regardless of the trucks build, and STAR Case# S1608000283 acknowledges this.

Nice. Thanks for the information on your test. Good feedback. Certainly not a waist of time if you enjoyed it.

 

[kohersh]

Nice. Thanks for the information on your test. Good feedback. Certainly not a waste of time if you enjoyed it.

I don't know about enjoying it, knowing your running out of fuel 'at some point' is nerve-racking. I do hope it sheds some light on our 32 gallon tank option

EDIT*** Hold on, I may have been distracted by the coincidence of the last 100 miles being approximately equal to the 6 gallon difference. The only thing I proved was the tanks useable capacity. In retrospect, I have yet to see my Range after a top-off anywhere above 460ish (peak when I was averaging the 18mpg) or usually less as was the case when I first got it and was driving it hard, then averaging 16.7 with a post top-off range showing about 425ish. Those numbers work out to withing a few %of 26 gallons, until today-today is the first time I have seen it above 500 and the math similairly agreed to within 3.5% of my last displayed avg mpg.

Is it a coincidence that running mine to dead empty today now allows the math to nearly perfectly work out showing me an accurate Range number to complete fuel exhaustion for the first time? Am I onto something...or missing something obvious here? Would the sensors/system really 're-calibrate"??
one last thought- thinking back to the build sheet on my truck it included " 5 additional gallons of gas" well, is it possible that throws off the calibration?...that is probably less likely, but what about the calibration effect noted above?

 

[Explorer Rob]

I don't believe there is any calibration we can do to make our 32 gallon tanks correct. I'm sure it will require a software update. I've had my distance to empty read as high as 605 miles when I filled up with my EVIC showing approximately 21 MPG.

 

[kohersh]

I don't believe there is any calibration we can do to make our 32 gallon tanks correct. I'm sure it will require a software update. I've had my distance to empty read as high as 605 miles when I filled up with my EVIC showing approximately 21 MPG.

Wow, nice mile well whatever it is its not lying to me either anymore

 

[Magna]

Dealer couldn't tell me what size tank I had nor did the sticker price say anything about gas tank. But a few minutes ago I removed the spare tire in preparation for this weekends undercoating and noticed a sticker at the end of my tank that had the VIN # followed by the fuel capacity. It said 32Gal. . Didn't really care but its nice to know I have the larger tank.

 

[Explorer Rob]

All Longhorns and Limited come standard with the 32 gallon tank. I'm surprised your dealer didn't know that. It's in the literature.

 

[scoutll]

to the folks in that area.

I think I will stop bitching about our ND winters, as it's a cake walk compared to other places.

I'm about 1.5 miles from the Missouri River and had a scare in the spring of 2011 but got lucky. Some folks didn't.............:smiledown:

Agreed, we get the seriously cold winters, the wind is always blowing, and you might have some flood danger if you live close to a river in the spring, but otherwise, we here in North Dakota have it good....

North Dakota - -40F helps keep out the Riff Raff......:gy::gy:

 

[TSR6]

Should we all call Ram Customer Care and refference the STAR case # ???

I'm in the same boat - I figured there was plenty of usable capacity, but generally my fill-ups are closer to the 26 or so gallon range. In any other vehicle I have owned, I have run the car/truck down to <10 miles to empty, and filled up with the advertised tank capacity or more.

 

[NevadaMike]

All Longhorns and Limited come standard with the 32 gallon tank. I'm surprised your dealer didn't know that. It's in the literature.

It's amazing how ignorant the dealers can be on the product they sell. :doh:

 

[NevadaMike]

My truck has the 32 gallon tank. It makes it nice on the long trips.