1996 Chevy 5.7 4x4

sullivanjay · January 15, 2007

Hi, I have a 26 gallon gas tank. Ran out of gas twice and was only able to get 22 gallons in a 26 gallon tank. Yesterday ran out of gas and coasted to a gas pump. (good to be Irish) Put 22.2 gallons in. Looks like I can't get to about 4 gallons of gas in the tank. The gauge is accurate because I frequently take long trips that will bring it down to the second red mark on the gauge. I will run out now at the first red mark. Any known problems with the pickup etc? Last year I replaced the brake line behind the gas tank. I removed the fill hose, loosened the straps to the tank and moved the tank over a few inches just enough to get to the brake line. Never took it out or disconnected anything other then fill hose. That’s all the work that has been done in that area. Can't say that the problem surfaced after that. Just giving information. Truck runs great! And yes I always fill it up.

Thanks / J

Truck is a 1995 - Not 1996-

95Sierra2500 · January 15, 2007

I think '96 was when they started in with the fuel pump that sits in a plastic canister and has a pick-up hose that comes out and goes down to the bottom of the tank. What usually happens is for some reason or another that plastic pick-up hose will rupture and wherever it ruptures, you can't get much lower in the tank than that point because you get too much air, causing your truck to stall out. I am sure you can get some more of that hose to replace it, or perhaps even some shrink-wrap could fix it. Unfortunately it means quite a bit of labor to either drop the tank or lift the bed and pull the fuel pump.

Just my opinion but I'll bet it's a good place to start.