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Fuel Gauge
Well I ran out of diesel for the 3rd time today. You would think Dodge would spend a little money on the gauge after the 5K it is for the Cummins. Considering what a problem it is to get restarted.
Incidently you can reprime by jump starting if it is a manual.
Empty on mine varies from E to about 1/8 of a tank. You don't know if you have another 90 miles of fuel or are on fumes. What a piece of junk.
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Fuel Gauge
Eric, aside from the two obvious points, that the Dodge vehicle itself (not the Cummins) is on the low side of overall quality, and that, as your wife I'm sure already told you, you should keep more fuel in the tank than that, especially considering it's history....... 3 times ???
I would suggest you check; a) all the connections, whatever is the empty point shouldn't vary, b) tweak the meter a bit with a resistor in line to correct it a little, and c) carry a 5 gal. can of diesel in the back.
Is the truck covered by fire insurance?  .
Best of luck.
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Fuel Gauge
my father always says: keep the fuel at the 1/4 full level. Keeps the crap from the bottom of the fuel tank from cloggin up the fuel lines, too. Do I listen to him? Why, I usually start thinking about filling up when the needle dips just below the "E".
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Fuel Gauge
Here's another reason to keep 1/4 tank or more in your vehicle. And I'm assuming diesels have the pump in the tank like gas vehicles. I've been told that fuel in the tank helps to keep the fuel pump cooled as it's constantly maintaining pressure in the system. Running your vehicle near empty means the fuel pump is out of it's cooling bath and thus wears out faster. If you've ever changed a modern fuel pump they are really pricey, without even including the labor.
Dave
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Fuel Gauge
I normally keep the truck full. The trouble is not what the needle reads the problem is the variation on the empty point. It seems to vary summer to winter. I came in from Nashville in the middle of the night and it had 1/8 of a tank reading. Took it to church and then went to diesel station and ran out.
Maybe the plastic tank expands enough to move the pickup tube out of the diesel.
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Fuel Gauge
I'd try it a couple more times just to make sure.
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Fuel Gauge
(Cummins Rams don't have an in-tank pump like gas engines. The lift pump is located on the engine near the fuel filter.)
PETERS if you are right about tank expansion, then you might have a bad or dirty fuel cap which isn't allowing either a. pressure to escape during hot temps pressurizing the tank puffing it up or b. not allowing pressure equalization while cold and causing a vacuum which could be imploding the tank. NOTE: I had this situation and I ruined three lift pumps over time because they were starved for fuel. Another thought: My three Dodges have all had excellent-reading fuel gauges. However, on my gas engine Ram the dealer replaced the sending unit/fuel pump assy. When they did it they replaced the unit it was about 15 degrees out of index and thereby the float got hung up on the inside of the tank showing 1/4 full when it was empty.
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Fuel Gauge
When my Ford tank gets low it reads empty going downhill and 1/4 tank going uphill. As long as I keep climbing I'll never run out of gas.
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Fuel Gauge
earthwrks. I was thinking about the thermal expansion of the polymer which is much higher than steel. I did the calculation and it is only 30 thousands in depth. Certainly not enough to cause the problem. I have not seen any great pressure or vaccum in the tank.
I think I am going to buy a toolbox/tank and put in in the back. Then I can fill up when I find the right price.
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"When my Ford tank gets low it reads empty going downhill and 1/4 tank going uphill. As long as I keep climbing I'll never run out of gas."
Mine does too. It must be a Ford feature!!
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04-02-2006, 19:47 
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