50 miles till Empty

[4rd Xplora]

A while back (4 years) I changed the fuel pump on my 96' Explorer E.B. 4 door. I never paid much attention to how the new pump's sending unit worked due to the fact that I filled it up when it was at about 1/2 a tank or a little less. Recently it was run low enough that the low fuel warning came on and after burning only 17 gallons it said 50mi. till empty. I drove it down on purpose on the next tank and she did the same thing. I know the tank should be 23 gallons. Do you think I was sold the 2 door Explorer fuel pump? I believe they are 17 gallon units. Would the 17 gallon unit even fit? Should the reserve be 6 gallons?

 

[SoNic67]

Is the shown "economy" 17mpg? You can also press "status" to get the estimate gallons left in the tank and compare with what you know you have.

 

[66427]

Mine still has the original pump and sending unit...and guess what?

When I drive as far a I dare past "E", Check Gage light blaring, the most I have ever put in is just over 18 gallons.
The F-150 I have driven since 2004 has a 26 gallon tank. I have driven it two full neddle widths past E. 23 gal was all I could squeeze in.
Fords are like that.

 

[lounge lizard]

my 97 I have put 22 gallons in once.

I ran it past the check gauge light came on. and clocked to ten miles past empty.

it took 22 gallons to fill it.

 

[SoNic67]

On my vehicle with displayed "16.5 mpg average", at "empty" reset shows 50 miles and 4 gallons.

 

[98 5oh XLT]

All i can get into Loki is 17 gallons.......its a explorer thing....jeep owners need not apply

 

[snoranger]

Same thing with my '95 4 door. The "check gage" (yes,it bothers me that it says gage, not gauge.) comes on at about 17.5 gallons. Most I've ever put in it is 18 gallons.


Throw a full 5 gallon gas can in the back and drive it till it dies. Then you'll know how far you can go. I dont like to run it low anyway. It usually takes about 16 to fill it when I stop.

 

[yavapaires]

Running below 1/4 tank is dangerous as far as burning up the fuel pump. Fuel pump is cooled by the gas in the tank. No gas, no cooling.

 

[fifthranger]

A while back (4 years) I changed the fuel pump on my 96' Explorer E.B. 4 door. I never paid much attention to how the new pump's sending unit worked due to the fact that I filled it up when it was at about 1/2 a tank or a little less. Recently it was run low enough that the low fuel warning came on and after burning only 17 gallons it said 50mi. till empty. I drove it down on purpose on the next tank and she did the same thing. I know the tank should be 23 gallons. Do you think I was sold the 2 door Explorer fuel pump? I believe they are 17 gallon units. Would the 17 gallon unit even fit? Should the reserve be 6 gallons?

What you could do is "pretend' that you are buying a fuel pump for your Explorer. Visit autozone.com, O'reilly'sauto.com, rockauto.com whatever, and see if you can purchase different size tanks. That would help you out. I have an 07' Ford Edge and an 08' Ford Ranger, and neither have a computer with 'miles left'. I can tell you that both my tanks are 19.5 gallons, and I don't like to ride with the 'gas light' on. Either way, there is a reserve, and I have driven on nearly fumes before, and the most gas I ever pumped was 17.7 gallons.

 

[lounge lizard]

my check gage light came on, on the way home from work, so I reset my miles counter.

I'll fill it up tomorrow night on the way home from work and I'll see how many gallons it takes.

 

[bobflood]

A while back (4 years) I changed the fuel pump on my 96' Explorer E.B. 4 door. I never paid much attention to how the new pump's sending unit worked due to the fact that I filled it up when it was at about 1/2 a tank or a little less. Recently it was run low enough that the low fuel warning came on and after burning only 17 gallons it said 50mi. till empty. I drove it down on purpose on the next tank and she did the same thing. I know the tank should be 23 gallons. Do you think I was sold the 2 door Explorer fuel pump? I believe they are 17 gallon units. Would the 17 gallon unit even fit? Should the reserve be 6 gallons?

Most I have ever put in my 97 EB is 19.6, and that was after running for a nervously long time with the "check gage" light on. Just the way the beast is!!

 

[lounge lizard]

I just filled my 1997 xlt 4door v-8 auto up after logging 14 miles past the check gage light coming on.

the fuel needle was about a 1/16" below the red line at "E"

it took 21 gallons to fill it. and that was not filling the neck of the fill tube.