Fuel Gauge Accuracy

[boostedrx7]

Just wondering based on peoples experiences, how accurate the fuel gauge is compared to the "you can drive ___ km till empty" on the DIC?

I dont usually let my fuel get down this low but it dropped right to the empty mark. It still showed that i could go another 70km so i left it until my way home. By the time i was going home, the needle was below the empty mark and it showed i could go about 45km . From there it went from 45 to just "Low fuel warning" and didnt tell me how far i could go.

 

thanks

[5829BMG]

how much fuel did it take to fill it back up? with that number you can figure out how much futher till you were walking

[boostedrx7]

It took around 92 liters... Anyone know what the tank is? Maybe 100?

thanks

[pwall]

The "miles to empty" is fairly subjective.....it's based on current driving. So, if it says you have 100kms left to empty, and then you floor it, that number will drop quickly.

On mine, once it hits 50kms to empty, it will change to "good luck, you're on your own" lol

I would pay attention to how much fuel the DIC says you've used and compare it to how much you put in to fill the tank. I find it's fairly accurate, usually within 1 litre, which isn't bad considering my truck had a 128litre tank (up until Monday, now it's 234lites).

[Wires]

Just wondering based on peoples experiences, how accurate the fuel gauge is compared to the "you can drive ___ km till empty" on the DIC?

I dont usually let my fuel get down this low but it dropped right to the empty mark. It still showed that i could go another 70km so i left it until my way home. By the time i was going home, the needle was below the empty mark and it showed i could go about 45km . From there it went from 45 to just "Low fuel warning" and didnt tell me how far i could go.

 

thanks

 

My buddy and I went hunting in his GMT800 6.0L, and the light came on with the warning. We had the quads on the trailer and 4-6 5gallon gas cans, so lots of fuel. He kept it steady, and the DIC was pretty much bang on. When it said 40km left, we drove close to 40km before it started to buck and the truck died.

 

But, running with low fuel in the tank is stupid hard on the fuel pump (it heats up and causes it to fail quicker).

[2005LT]

This GMT-900 of mine seems to be more accurate than the 2005 Silverado I had. One time, I had the low fuel light come on when I was about 5 miles from the service station I was trying to get to. I remember checking the range a couple minutes before that and it said around 60km (35 miles remaining). When I filled up, it only took about 78 litres (20.6 gal) in my 98L (26 gal) tank. Lots to go yet.

 

Just a 1/2 hour ago, I filled up my 09' with the fuel needle showing just under 1/8 tank to go which is a decent amount. It took 84L without the low fuel light coming on. Same 98L tank. I guess they lessened the "safety factor" on these newer ones.

[Bowler807]

I have a different situation with my fuel guage. My driveway is sloped pretty good. I usually park with the front up the hill. This will show more fuel than it actually has. Any other vehicle as soon as it levels out the guage reads right. Not in my truck. I can drive 20 miles or more with the guage still showing the elevated amount. If I shut it off while level and re-start it the guage will read the actual amount. This can be as much as 1/4 of a tank.

 

The way I actually caught it: my fuel guage read 1/4 of a tank. I had some running to do and drove for about 22 miles before I shut the truck down. When I restarted it to leave, the low fuel light was on and the miles remaining said 12. I put over 23 gallons in this 24 gallon tank when I made it to a gas station.

 

The dealership says they can't duplicate the situation. Any ideas?

[jrrod2004]

I have a different situation with my fuel guage. My driveway is sloped pretty good. I usually park with the front up the hill. This will show more fuel than it actually has. Any other vehicle as soon as it levels out the guage reads right. Not in my truck. I can drive 20 miles or more with the guage still showing the elevated amount. If I shut it off while level and re-start it the guage will read the actual amount. This can be as much as 1/4 of a tank.

 

The way I actually caught it: my fuel guage read 1/4 of a tank. I had some running to do and drove for about 22 miles before I shut the truck down. When I restarted it to leave, the low fuel light was on and the miles remaining said 12. I put over 23 gallons in this 24 gallon tank when I made it to a gas station.

 

The dealership says they can't duplicate the situation. Any ideas?

 

Do what I did: Park your truck on your driveway with the front up...shut down and wait 1 minute. Then back it out, turn it around and park with the bed up and the engine side down. leave the motor running and see how fast it takes to move the needle. I do this and my needle moves within 30 secs.

[rc51matt]

or get onthe brakes one good time and move some of that gas to the front, then it will be right. i park the same way you do and have the same problem. but i never have to shut it off to get it to read right

[STINSAN3]

I have a different situation with my fuel guage. My driveway is sloped pretty good. I usually park with the front up the hill. This will show more fuel than it actually has. Any other vehicle as soon as it levels out the guage reads right. Not in my truck. I can drive 20 miles or more with the guage still showing the elevated amount. If I shut it off while level and re-start it the guage will read the actual amount. This can be as much as 1/4 of a tank.

 

The way I actually caught it: my fuel guage read 1/4 of a tank. I had some running to do and drove for about 22 miles before I shut the truck down. When I restarted it to leave, the low fuel light was on and the miles remaining said 12. I put over 23 gallons in this 24 gallon tank when I made it to a gas station.

 

The dealership says they can't duplicate the situation. Any ideas?

 

Do what I did: Park your truck on your driveway with the front up...shut down and wait 1 minute. Then back it out, turn it around and park with the bed up and the engine side down. leave the motor running and see how fast it takes to move the needle. I do this and my needle moves within 30 secs.

 

 

Thats the same thing I do, I hate seeing that alert come up, it bothers me.

[sprtplt]

Can't help you with the "km" thingies but I just checked this on my 5.3 (26 gal) '09. Low fuel warning came on around 51 miles to empty with needle resting on E, within two miles the needle was well below E. Filled up and had 3.4 gallons left in tank- a pretty good cushion for the needle to be below E it seems (and, the last number from the computer for miles to empty must have been pretty accurate).

[Crazy Canuck]

I find the DIC very accurate. As pwall mentioend, keep an eye on the fuel used. Mine is typically accurate to within 0.1 litres. I fill the tank up the the very top (See gas in the filler neck) every time so I know I am comparing apples to apples. The tank is 98 litres but I have burned (as per teh DIC) and replaced almost 104.