E450 Forester / Sunseeker fuel gauge

[13larry]

Just drove 50 miles with low fuel light on. Fuel gauge was a needle width above E. Filled up took 49 gallons. Capacity 55 gallons. Does fuel gauge register below E? Did I really have 6 gallons left, anyone ever added 53 gallons up?

[SkipnTerri]

We've never let it get that low.

[SeaDog]

Most fuel gauges are not very accurate and guessing how much fuel you have left by the gauge can leave you on the side of the road. One other thing the fuel pump gets it cooling from the fuel around it so running low on fuel can cause heat to build up in the pump and lead to early fuel pump failure. The most accurate way to figure fuel is fill up drive a couple hundred miles and fill up again they use that MPG figure and apply it to your trip meter. 10 mph x 53 gal 530 miles to empty.

[HopHed]

I have an Ultragauge(comparable to a Scangauge) which will show pretty close as to gallons left in tank and %. On last trip light went on showing 90 miles to go on gas I had at current MPG and showed I had 10 gallons left. Went about 70 miles and when filled up took just shy of 54 gallons which was pretty accurate.

Hope this helps.

[Wandering]

Was sweating bullets but did get down to E on my gas gauge. Took 51 gallons to fill it. Don't plan to run much below a quarter tank.


Forester 2451s

[DaGrinch]

Yeah, don't think I would ever let my tank get much below 1/3 left. I don't like gambling THAT much!

Besides, even with gas prices what they are, it would still cost a good deal to fill it. I like to make my 200 mile round trip, come home and then fill up. $45 or so just about does it.

[Creativepart]

Driving 62mph towing our 4,000lb toad we've learned that 320 to 330 miles is max for us. That leaves about 8-gals left in our tank or a 50-mi cushion. That's close enough for me. As a general rule we fill up at 1/4 left in the tank.

When we had a travel trailer and tow vehicle we stopped for gas at 1/2 tank. So, we're stopping less with the motorhome. It was a smaller gas tank, too.

[MikeRP]

I need a break from driving every 250-275 miles so I tend to plan out where to stop at that range especially pulling my JeepGC.

I figure 7.5 mpg. So 400 miles is my absolute max range. At 300 - 325 I'd be looking.

[n-e-d]

Fillup generally at 1/2 way between 1/2 tank and 1/4. Never go below a quarter and rely on scangauge more than dash gauge

[brandon 2]

Ford fuel gages are always a bit off on their calibration. For example one fills their car or truck to full and the gage stays over full for some time., however when you get close to empty you are near out of fuel.
I experienced this with my mustang some years ago. Now I have and F-150 and same issue. The E-450 in the Sun Seeker is just the same. Filled it up and drove for over 100 miles before the needle moved off of full.
Lots of fuel definitely keeps the fuel pump cool so its important not to let the tank get to low.

brandon2
F-150 platinum 5.4
2014 Sun Seeker E-450

[RamblerGuy]

The fuel gauge on our E450 is quite consistent but not linear, especially above 3/4 full. At 1/4 full, it consistently takes 42 gallons to fill. Exactly 3/4 of 55 gallons is 41.25 gallons. That's close enough for me.

My practice is to refill the tank before it goes below 1/4. No matter if the gauge is dead accurate or not, I worry about problems like an unexpected detour or being unable to get into the only gas station for miles.

I once checked a small gas station in the mountains on Google Earth to be sure I could get in it. When I arrived scaffolding blocked the side of the pumps that I needed. Fortunately, I was able to wind around the dirt back streets to get to the other side, and then do the same getting back to my direction of travel.