Parking on a Hill with 1/4 tank

[DogMan914]

Hey Everyone! First time post here! So, TWICE NOW, when my 2020 Explorer ST(2500miles) has been parked in my driveway with 1/4 tank of Gas or just above that, the car has not been able to start. To the point where I had to have roadside come and put gas in the car to get it going! I looked and have not seen anyone else post about this. When I called the dealer he said he has heard of this and that he thinks a "Bulletin" will come out soon, but nothing yet. Anyone else out there? Any advice?

 

[Gary Crist]

When "Flat-Landers" moved to Northern part of AZ, we told
them to take a piece of black tape and cover the bottom 1/2
of the fuel gauge! Gas stations can be few and far between.
Cell phone service ha ha ha!

 

[CDW6212R]

Yes, the fuel tank is long and if you park on a steep enough incline, front down, it may uncover the fuel pump pickup, and it won't get gas to start it.

If you may park on an incline with a low fuel level, just be sure to park uphill, front facing up, and never downhill. That will solve the problem if you are thinking about it when parking.



Ford made the gas tanks longer starting in 1995, using steel instead of plastic(which had the tanks shorter and wider).

I wish Ford would buy or invest in the existing aftermarket fuel pickup technology. You can buy fuel screen units that can be adapted to many pump types, which use capillary action to pull fuel. Those don't have to be submerged fully, they will still pull fuel even when uncovered in majority. Summit Racing sells them on their site, typically those run in the $100-$200 range, but not most don't easily fit OEM pumps. Those are aimed mainly at racing, so a lot of them have outlet fittings not like the OEM. But a few do have outlets that can be adapted to some OEM pumps.

New fuel pump pickup screens run in the $15 range, so $150 is a big difference, most people will not pay that kind of extra cost. but if you park on hills a lot, it might be worth a look.

Below is the length difference between a 1st gen Explorer 22 gallon tank, and the 2nd gen which hold the same 22 gallons;

 

[Rick]

Yes, the fuel tank is long and if you park on a steep enough incline, front down, it may uncover the fuel pump pickup, and it won't get gas to start it.

If you may park on an incline with a low fuel level, just be sure to park uphill, front facing up, and never downhill. That will solve the problem if you are thinking about it when parking.



Ford made the gas tanks longer starting in 1995, using steel instead of plastic(which had the tanks shorter and wider).

I wish Ford would buy or invest in the existing aftermarket fuel pickup technology. You can buy fuel screen units that can be adapted to many pump types, which use capillary action to pull fuel. Those don't have to be submerged fully, they will still pull fuel even when uncovered in majority. Summit Racing sells them on their site, typically those run in the $100-$200 range, but not most don't easily fit OEM pumps. Those are aimed mainly at racing, so a lot of them have outlet fittings not like the OEM. But a few do have outlets that can be adapted to some OEM pumps.

New fuel pump pickup screens run in the $15 range, so $150 is a big difference, most people will not pay that kind of extra cost. but if you park on hills a lot, it might be worth a look.

Below is the length difference between a 1st gen Explorer 22 gallon tank, and the 2nd gen which hold the same 22 gallons;

View attachment 327466

1st Gens had a 19 gallon tank.

 

[CDW6212R]

1st Gens had a 19 gallon tank.

Sorry but no Rick, the tanks were the same capacity among the 1st and 2nd gen's. I have never owned a Sport, so the stated 17 gallons they should hold is from other sources.

I owned a 91 and 93 4dr, they both held 22 gallons. That one pictured above is from my 93, I still have it, possibly to swap into my 98 project. That's why I took the pictures of it like that.

I'm the type of person to run the tank to nearly empty, most of the time. I have pumped 22 gallons at least, into almost every Ford I've owned. I'm very used to what 22 gallons will fit into among my cars(Explorers, Mark VII's, Crown Vic's).

 

[peterk9]

This is the 2020 Explorer fuel tank. Located on the driver's side of the vehicle. The fuel pump appears to be located at the rear of the tank so parking the vehicle facing uphill should provide the most fuel to the pump.

2020-2023 Ford Fuel Tank L1MZ-9002-A | Auto Nation Ford White Bear Lake

2020-2023 Ford part # L1MZ-9002-A - Fuel Tank

parts.autonationfordwhitebearlake.com

Peter

 

[peterk9]

Hey Everyone! First time post here! So, TWICE NOW, when my 2020 Explorer ST(2500miles) has been parked in my driveway with 1/4 tank of Gas or just above that, the car has not been able to start. To the point where I had to have roadside come and put gas in the car to get it going! I looked and have not seen anyone else post about this. When I called the dealer he said he has heard of this and that he thinks a "Bulletin" will come out soon, but nothing yet. Anyone else out there? Any advice?

Welcome to the Forum.
Are you able to let the vehicle safely coast to a more level area to see if it will then start?

Peter

 

[donalds]

Mine has a 21 stamped on it but I can get 22gal in it every time


Dam that tank is expensive

 

[CDW6212R]

Mine has a 21 stamped on it but I can get 22gal in it every time


Dam that tank is expensive

I'll take two of them, keep a spare. It's good they went back to plastic tanks. The alcohol in most fuel now is very bad for steel fuel tanks. You can see the corrosion inside my 98 tank above, I only had it out long enough to clean it and replace the pump and screen. That was the cause of a miss and lean code, alcohol gas left in the tank for too long.

 

[bedwards]

Hey Everyone! First time post here! So, TWICE NOW, when my 2020 Explorer ST(2500miles) has been parked in my driveway with 1/4 tank of Gas or just above that, the car has not been able to start. To the point where I had to have roadside come and put gas in the car to get it going! I looked and have not seen anyone else post about this. When I called the dealer he said he has heard of this and that he thinks a "Bulletin" will come out soon, but nothing yet. Anyone else out there? Any advice?

After seeing what condensation does in a gas tank, I never let any of mine get below 1/2 tank. I know that's not what you want to hear but that's the simple solution.

 

[DogMan914]

Welcome to the Forum.
Are you able to let the vehicle safely coast to a more level area to see if it will then start?

Peter

Hey thanks Peter! Unfortunately no, but I appreciate all your advice and tips!!

 

[Rick]

Sorry but no Rick, the tanks were the same capacity among the 1st and 2nd gen's. I have never owned a Sport, so the stated 17 gallons they should hold is from other sources.

I owned a 91 and 93 4dr, they both held 22 gallons. That one pictured above is from my 93, I still have it, possibly to swap into my 98 project. That's why I took the pictures of it like that.

I'm the type of person to run the tank to nearly empty, most of the time. I have pumped 22 gallons at least, into almost every Ford I've owned. I'm very used to what 22 gallons will fit into among my cars(Explorers, Mark VII's, Crown Vic's).

Says so in the owners manual and I have never been able to put more than 18.x gallons in the tank no matter how low it's been.

 

[CDW6212R]

The manual is wrong, simply. I go by experience, and again, I run my tanks to near empty, not on purpose to run out of gas, but to reduce the number of times I visit gas stations. Over 40 years I have run out of gas maybe twice, possibly three times, each from forgetting to look when it was low.

I see countless mistakes in service manuals and recommendations, guides, books etc, word of a service writer etc. It gets old telling people the truth, and to stop relying solely on books. People should trust people first, and books last; I don't mean rumors by unproven people, strangers etc. I mean people who are known to have experience, they should be trusted much more than the manuals people keep citing.

FYI, I've hit over 24 gallons in my 91 Mark VII, twice in one year. I don't take that to mean it has a 24 gallon tank, I think both times the gas station pumps were calibrated badly. I reported one of them, and the other I got tired of waiting on the phone. Stuff happens of course, but we need people to check each other, gently but firmly. Right now this is all meaningless, the world is under assault by socialism, and it's here now, in the USSA.

 

[Spacey]

This would suggest that if you were driving down a significant grade with 1/4 tank of fuel that you should expect the engine to stop. I can't believe they meant for this to happen so there must be something going on.

 

[peterk9]

It doesn't seem to be that unusual. Vehicle dies when parked on incline??? - Chevrolet Forum - Chevy Enthusiasts Forums

Peter

 

[CDW6212R]

During movement there is always some sloshing of the fuel inside the tank. That's part of why it's advised that people don't let the fuel level get too low. The pump will suck up and fuel that gets to the pickup location, which is just a tiny(5/16) hole at the bottom of it. There is a small amount of fuel inside the lines all the way to the engine, and the pump is constantly forcing more into it. the pump has to be uncovered at the bottom for a short time, say 10-15 seconds, before a lack of fuel at the pump results in the engine stumbling or dying.

 

[bowdoin274]

hi folks i've leased ford explorers for about 15 yrs. my 2020 with 4 thousand miles will not start on my hill where i live if it has a half tank of gas or less. been towed back to dealership 4 times with nothing being done. engineer told me to always keep a full tank of gas !!!! better business bureau is now involved early stages as well as lemon law in ma. i had to put it in nuetral 2 different times and roll it down the hill where it started on level ground. york ford in saugus ma. not very forgiving.

 

[Rick]

Check this thread:

Parking on a Hill with 1/4 tank

Hey Everyone! First time post here! So, TWICE NOW, when my 2020 Explorer ST(2500miles) has been parked in my driveway with 1/4 tank of Gas or just above that, the car has not been able to start. To the point where I had to have roadside come and put gas in the car to get it going! I looked...

www.explorerforum.com

 

[Rick]

The manual is wrong, simply. I go by experience, and again, I run my tanks to near empty, not on purpose to run out of gas, but to reduce the number of times I visit gas stations. Over 40 years I have run out of gas maybe twice, possibly three times, each from forgetting to look when it was low.

I see countless mistakes in service manuals and recommendations, guides, books etc, word of a service writer etc. It gets old telling people the truth, and to stop relying solely on books. People should trust people first, and books last; I don't mean rumors by unproven people, strangers etc. I mean people who are known to have experience, they should be trusted much more than the manuals people keep citing.

FYI, I've hit over 24 gallons in my 91 Mark VII, twice in one year. I don't take that to mean it has a 24 gallon tank, I think both times the gas station pumps were calibrated badly. I reported one of them, and the other I got tired of waiting on the phone. Stuff happens of course, but we need people to check each other, gently but firmly. Right now this is all meaningless, the world is under assault by socialism, and it's here now, in the USSA.

LMAO

 

[peterk9]

Are you parked facing up or down hill?

Peter