an “Out of fuel light”….

Left work knowing that I need fuel and its only a mile or less from my work. Light was NOT on prior to parking the truck but when I started it to leave, light was ON.

As I was leaving work the truck stumbled as I began to accelerate, I thought “Oh Sheet” so I babied it and talked to her all the way to the fuel station.
Well, she made it and I praised her for being a good truck.

After dropping a quick $20. bucks worth in, I began to back out away from the pump and she died, would not restart. Of course by then everyone was looking!

I popped the hood and said “She ran out just as I pulled up” to those staring. 20 or so pumps to the primer and she kicked right over first lick.

I have noticed that the longer I have the truck, the further away the gauge is getting from being accurate. When new, I took it all the way down to 5 miles left on the DIC with no problems.

Now with 35 miles left on the DIC, she ran out of fuel, in fact it wont go below 33 miles on the DIC, ever.

Still love this truck but she surprised me with this one!

My wife has noticed a few times when the light wasn't on when she parked it, then came on as soon as it was restarted. There have been at least 3 or 4 times that has happened. At first I blamed her for not noticing the light, but it seems as though it is a "normal" phenomenom. None of those times the tank was lower than 3 gallons, though, based on how much it took to fill it.

Just pretend 1/4 tank is the empty mark. You won't have any more problems. The gauge in the Duramax can vary by as much as 1/16th tank.

I almost never let it get much below the 1/2 mark when traveling, but my wife drives it most as a daily driver. Somehow I only end up driving it when it is time to fill it with fuel. Not sure how that works out...

That is one of my rants in the survey! Lets really hit them hard enough to make them fix it right.

Bill

My fuel low light comes on when I get just below a half tank. The needle bounces back and forth at that point. That is ok though. The sending unit is what the problem is.

i have a 2003 3500 dually and the fuel gauge stopped working at 17,000 miles,said empty,when it was full,and the light stayed on. took it to the dealer and they replaced the float assembly. works now. Michael

letting it get that low will allow for any contaminates in the bottom of the tank tog et pumped through to the filter. not a good idea. but i do it every now and then. it is good practice to have the fuel system purged once a year. that is dropping the tank and cleaning it and purging the injectors and the rest of the fuel system. that way, in the course of the year, any contaminants that might be in there can be ckeaned out keeping you fuel system operating more efficiently.

HD Nate,

I noticed that your sig says you run a hot juice, although your fuel light should still be acurate, your DIC that gives you an estimate of miles left till empty will be incorrect because the DIC "thinks" that your getting better mileage than you really are because of the juice plugged inline. The juice skews the MPG figure and that in turn gives you the wrong estimate for miles till empty. Can't go by the DIC for fuel mileage after the juice is installed.

DD

I drove about 20 miles with my low fuel light on and I put in 24 gallons on my fill up. If the specs are correct with a 26 gal tank on my truck, that left me 2 gallons, which is getting down there especially spread out at the bottom of the tank. This is on a 2002, it seems the newer trucks have the Low fuel light coming on later.

My low fuel light comes on with 75 miles left on the DIC and just over a quarter tank. It caught me off guard one day when it ran out of gas with a 1/4 tank and 75 miles on the DIC going to work. Let just say I was a little late. Like someone else said, it seems like it is getting worse as I put on more miles. :( It really kind of makes me mad; I wish I would have remembered to add that to my survey.

ive gone 20 miles with the light on and then put 30 gallons in. i get skeered the minute it comes on though, just from reading around here.

I have a story ta tell about running out of fuel. I was at work one day and I got a call that a elderly family member had fallen down and couldn't get back up, so off I go jump into my truck and head to Scottsdale to help and I run out of fuel. Needless to say I didn't get there in time to help, and I get madd at my self all over again just typing this story, so now I NEVER let it go below quarter tank!!!

These crappy fuel gauges aren't just a Dmax problem either. This is my first diesel but my fifth or sixth GM. Every one of them after fillup, seems you could drive forever just to get down to 1/2 tank then LOOKOUT -:t It is a race between the speedo meter and the fuelo meter. I've just gotten use to watching the tripo meter knowing how far I can get on a tank. When it says 385 miles, head for the pumps. And I have had to filled up when it was just below half on the needle. :eek: Then again, ya gotta love it when at half tank you already drove over 350 miles. WOW that cetane boost stuff really works, huh?

I still remember the good old days when you didn't need some stupid light flashing to tell you that your fuel is getting low. Wouldn't it be great to walk into a dealership and buy a truck like you want it. Not a bunch of "package options" with junk and girley stuff that you don't need or want. one could save a bunch of loot that way.

I don't need doors that lock themselves, or to be told when I need to change the oil, etc,... :help:

On mine, the light comes on when the gauge shows almost empty, but it still must have at least 4 gals left. Mine actually seems to read fairly linear, usually with highway driving it is down to full at 100 miles, 3/4 at 250, 1/2 at 500, 1/4 at 750, light comes on at 875. I have the longbed. (truck has supplemental lp) I did go 950 on one tank, took 32 gal to fill.

On mine, the light comes on when the gauge shows almost empty, but it still must have at least 4 gals left. Mine actually seems to read fairly linear, usually with highway driving it is down to full at 100 miles, 3/4 at 250, 1/2 at 500, 1/4 at 750, light comes on at 875. I have the longbed. (truck has supplemental lp) I did go 950 on one tank, took 32 gal to fill.

wow that is about 300 more than I have gottin on a tank.

letting it get that low will allow for any contaminates in the bottom of the tank tog et pumped through to the filter. not a good idea. but i do it every now and then......
Since the pickup sits at the bottom of the tank it should not matter.

HD Nate,
I noticed that your sig says you run a hot juice, although your fuel light should still be acurate, ..........

Yes, the Edge goofs it up, but it USE to be fairly accurate, I could go at least 10-20 miles after the light came on with no problems.

But, lesson learned. Guess the 1/4 tank level will be the "filler up" demarcation from now on.

Just my two cents, but I used to travel another 30-40 miles when the light came on, I put a set of 265's on and have run out of gas twice since....when the light came on..it was empty...so now 1/4 tank and I am in the station...priced a supertank the other day from a local store....a little over a grand for tank and installl....I think I will keep stopping :)

On mine, the light comes on when the gauge shows almost empty, but it still must have at least 4 gals left. Mine actually seems to read fairly linear, usually with highway driving it is down to full at 100 miles, 3/4 at 250, 1/2 at 500, 1/4 at 750, light comes on at 875. I have the longbed. (truck has supplemental lp) I did go 950 on one tank, took 32 gal to fill.
what is a supplemental lp? i have the longbed too but by 550 miles im running on fumes. ive actually only taken her up to about 530 and then i pulled in to fill up, i was afraid of running out. i dont care if i have to prime the system and crap but i dont like to run out because of what contaminants could be sucked in on her last breath. i guess thats not a reasdon to worry though considering the draw is from the bottom.

heck guys ...apparently i have more faith in the fuel i am running than you people....and for two i thought that was what the fuel filter is for? i had the tank out of my car lately to install the new fuel pump and that tank was spotless. i think all of you people worry way to much... when it gets down there ... just take the hit and fill it up ..... i would also like to know what lp system this guy is using because my dad is looking for one.....PM me if you can give me details of who and where you got it from and who installed it ... i think we can get rick from dave's diesel to install it for a good price because we have had a lot of injector work done there.

My system consists of an Impco Model E regulator straight off of a gas motor. Easiest thing to hook up. I just plumb the output of the regulator into the air pipe between the air filter and the turbo. It has to be heated by the cooling system, so it hooks in in series w/the heater core. It has a filterlock that comes on with the key, and a toggle switch if I want to turn it off. Let me know if you want some pics, there really isn't anything to it compared to lp on a gasser.

i have the longbed too but by 550 miles im running on fumes. ive actually only taken her up to about 530 and then i pulled in to fill up, i was afraid of running out.

I too have a longbed but when I get to 350 I better look for the filler upper place!
Only been on a long trip once when I wasn't pulling anything and I could have gotten 400 miles out of 1 tank but it would have been pretty empty.

what is a supplemental lp?
LP can be introduced into the induction system on a diesel. It replaces some of the diesel fuel, it can replace up to 85% of it. Makes it burn cleaner, quieter, gives more power as well. It raises the diesel mileage, but when you add the consumption of the two fuels together, it doesn't really save you much, if anything. If you can get lp cheap it helps the cost/mile some.

found out last year that ten miles is all I get with the low fuel light on. Found out yesterday that apparently now I can run out before the light even comes on. Luckily was close to an off ramp ran a stop sign made a quick turn and coasted safely up to a diesel pump. Could I ever get that lucky again? I doubt it. Anyways these fuel gauges suck!

Cant believe no one knew about the TSB on this. So here it is.

Cranks But No Start, Stall, Inaccurate/Incorrect Fuel Gauge Reading, No Fuel, Vehicle Is Out of Fuel and Fuel Gauge Reads Above Empty (Replace Fuel Module/Sender/Sensor) #04-08-49-019A - (Jul 28, 2004)

</TABLE>Cranks But No Start, Stall, Inaccurate/Incorrect Fuel Gauge Reading, No Fuel, Vehicle Is Out of Fuel and Fuel Gauge Reads Above Empty (Replace Fuel Module/Sender/Sensor)

2001-2004 Chevrolet Silverado

2001-2004 GMC Sierra

with 6.6L Duramax™ Diesel Engine (VIN 1 -- RPO LB7)

This bulletin is being revised to correct a part number. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 04-08-49-019 (Section 08 -- Body and Accessories).

<A href="http://service.gm.com/servlets/BlobShtml?ShtmlFile=1540069&pubid=297&evc=sm#ss1-1540069">Condition

Some customers may comment that the vehicle stalls and will not restart, vehicle runs out of fuel or vehicle appears to be out of fuel but the fuel gauge reads above empty. The fuel gauge may read approximately 1/4 tank.

<A href="http://service.gm.com/servlets/BlobShtml?ShtmlFile=1540069&pubid=297&evc=sm#ss2-1540069">Cause

Contamination on the fuel sending card may cause inaccurate/incorrect fuel gauge readings.

<A href="http://service.gm.com/servlets/BlobShtml?ShtmlFile=1540069&pubid=297&evc=sm#ss3-1540069">Correction

Follow the service procedure below for diagnosis and repair of this concern.

<LI type=1>Confirm that the vehicle is actually out of fuel by attempting to prime the fuel system. Refer to Fuel System Priming (SI Document ID #1207621). <TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top> - </TD><TD vAlign=top>If the vehicle is not out of fuel but Engine Cranks but Does Not Run, refer to SI Document ID #784405. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top> - </TD><TD vAlign=top>If the vehicle is out of fuel and the gauge does not read empty, test the fuel gauge. Refer to the following procedures: </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top> • </TD><TD vAlign=top>Fuel Gage Inaccurate or Inoperative Single Tank (SI Document ID #1302183) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top> • </TD><TD vAlign=top>Fuel Gage Inaccurate or Inoperative Dual Tanks (SI Document ID #1302186) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<LI type=1>If testing reveals that the fuel gauge is operating correctly, replace the fuel sender assembly and auxiliary tank fuel level sensor, if equipped. <LI type=1>Remove the fuel tank. Refer to the following applicable procedure: <TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top> - </TD><TD vAlign=top>Fuel Tank Replacement Pickup (SI Document ID #1251016) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top> - </TD><TD vAlign=top>Fuel Tank Replacement Cab/Chassis - Front (SI Document ID #1251019) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top> - </TD><TD vAlign=top>Fuel Tank Replacement Cab/Chassis - Rear (SI Document ID #1251020) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Replace the fuel sender and sensor if equipped with an auxiliary tank. Refer to Fuel Sender Assembly Replacement (SI Document ID #1251027) and Fuel Level Sensor Replacement (SI Document ID #1251022) if equipped with an auxiliary fuel tank.
<A href="http://service.gm.com/servlets/BlobShtml?ShtmlFile=1540069&pubid=297&evc=sm#ss4-1540069">Parts Information

Parts are in limited quantities. Please DO NOT order parts for stock.

<TABLE width="100%" border=1><TBODY><TR><TH vAlign=bottom align=middle>Part Number

</TH><TH vAlign=bottom align=middle>Description

</TH></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center align=middle>89060634

</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle>Sensor, Sensor Card (Only For Vehicles Equipped with Auxiliary Diesel Fuel Tank)

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center align=middle>89060639

</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle>Sender Assembly (Pick Up, Main Tank, Diesel)

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center align=middle>89060641

</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle>Sender Assembly, (Cab/Chassis, Main Tank, Diesel)

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Parts are currently available from GMSPO.

I drove about 20 miles with my low fuel light on and I put in 24 gallons on my fill up. If the specs are correct with a 26 gal tank on my truck, that left me 2 gallons, which is getting down there especially spread out at the bottom of the tank. This is on a 2002, it seems the newer trucks have the Low fuel light coming on later.

I have the 34 gallon capacity. My low fuel light comes on when I am
down 28 gallons. When I'm towing 6 gallons left=60miles.