Stoopid newbie question

[Bigcatdaddy]

I just bought a 1992 D250 and love it!
My problem is the fuel gauge works until it gets to about half a tank and then it just drops to below empty.
I've looked online and I can't find out how large the tank is...if I knew that I could calculate roughly, based on fuel mileage, when I need to fill up again.

It was a one-owner truck so I'm pretty sure its the factory tank.

Also, and this may sound ridiculous, but is there a low-fuel light in these beasts?

Thanks

BCD

[powerbrake]

yes, these trucks have a fuel light and i saw mine once. i have put 22 gallons in my truck and it was not all the way on E but very close. i never go below a 1/4 tank but i got caught out late and the stations that sold diesel were closed. don't go past lexington ky. east bound on 64 at 3 am without a full tank. lol. until you get the gauge fixed just figure about 15 mpg. you are probably doing better but filling the tank beats the hell out of walking.

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92 4x4, fuel screw turned in all the way, starwheel dropped to the bottom, 40 hp injectors, machined pin, detroit locker lets me smoke 'em evenly. auto meter pyro.
God Bless Our Country and Damn The Goverment

[powerbrake]

oooops, i forgot to welcome you to the forum and to cummins diesels. search through the tech section. there are lots of stickys that will tell you how to make more power and how to fix this and that. please don't ask how to make smoke. there are some that are trying to save the planet earth and they will give you a hard time. learn to make power and the smoke will come.

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92 4x4, fuel screw turned in all the way, starwheel dropped to the bottom, 40 hp injectors, machined pin, detroit locker lets me smoke 'em evenly. auto meter pyro.
God Bless Our Country and Damn The Goverment

[Bigcatdaddy]

Thank you very much....I'd been filling up every 300 miles....glad the speedo and the odometer work!

[peobryant]

When my low fuel light comes on, and stays on, it takes 24 gallons to fill up, meaning I have 6 gallons left. All 1st Gen diesels had 30 gallon tanks, and the 2nd Gen's moved up to 35 gallon tanks.

So if you were getting 15mpg, (more than likely, it is higher than that) with a 30 gal. tank, you could go 450 miles.

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'91.5 D350, 2wd Dually, 4" Straight Pipe, 366 Spring, DennyT Stage II Fuel Pin, Isspro Boost, Pyro, Tranny and Fuel Pressure Gauges
Brothers: '97 2500, 12 Valve, 4wd, 5spd, 716rwhp, 1200+rwtq, Single turbo, Fuel only

[powerbrake]

thanks for the info. i was thinking we had 25 gallon tanks.

__________________
92 4x4, fuel screw turned in all the way, starwheel dropped to the bottom, 40 hp injectors, machined pin, detroit locker lets me smoke 'em evenly. auto meter pyro.
God Bless Our Country and Damn The Goverment

[Bigcatdaddy]

I'm just happy to know there is a low fuel light.....now I wonder if it works?
Sooooo....(about to speak and remove all doubt about my ignorance)....if you run out of fuel....is it hard to restart once you add more to the tank?

[powerbrake]

throw a bike in the bed and drive until the light comes on. if it runs out of fuel you'll know the light ain't working but at least you'll have the bike. LOL

__________________
92 4x4, fuel screw turned in all the way, starwheel dropped to the bottom, 40 hp injectors, machined pin, detroit locker lets me smoke 'em evenly. auto meter pyro.
God Bless Our Country and Damn The Goverment

[Bigcatdaddy]

.....so that means restarting once you've run out of fuel ain't as easy as peddling a bike home? (20 miles...uphill both ways?)

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Edgar, 2006 D2500; Buford, 1992 D250 (stock, except for the custom Rat Fink decal on the rear window)

[SheffDodgeD250]

You would have to get something or if you can reach pump the lift pump about 100+ times

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91' D250 w/ Lil Red Express Bed stacks, Soon to be tweaked FP and Custom fuel system.

[powerbrake]

refill fuel filter,crank the engine for 10 seconds, let starter cool. crank 10 more seconds. after starter cools loosen fuel line to one of the injectors and crank until you get a squirt. continue to bleed one injector at a time until you get them all. it's not fun and it takes awhile because you are always waiting for the starter to cool. don't want to fry a $400 starter. i've never done it with my cummins but i did run my old 6.2 out of fuel once.

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92 4x4, fuel screw turned in all the way, starwheel dropped to the bottom, 40 hp injectors, machined pin, detroit locker lets me smoke 'em evenly. auto meter pyro.
God Bless Our Country and Damn The Goverment

[powerbrake]

Originally Posted by SheffDodgeD250

You would have to get something or if you can reach pump the lift pump about 100+ times

to bleed out the system after running out of fuel you'd probably have to pump that little lever about 94,000 times. that is if it would work. that lever will only push to the injector pump. the injector pump, line and injectors need to be bled after you run one out of fuel. this is something you do not want to do, EVER

__________________
92 4x4, fuel screw turned in all the way, starwheel dropped to the bottom, 40 hp injectors, machined pin, detroit locker lets me smoke 'em evenly. auto meter pyro.
God Bless Our Country and Damn The Goverment

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Last edited by powerbrake : 11-06-2009 at 07:38 PM.