I ran out of fuel !

**Fluids** · 21st December 2009, 04:14 PM

Well, after 7 months of ownership I managed to run out of diesel .... 774kms and the bloody fuel guage still says 1/8 tank left (1/2 way between empty & 1/4) ... and the fuel light did NOT come on either. I've been running it a little further each fill to try & get an idea of how accurate the fuel guage is .... hmmmmm .... _isn't_ would be a better term.

... so far, best distance I've seen before filling is 793km (for 90L.)

Spent sunday arvo playing on Stockton beach (left home with 1/4 tank, returned with an 1/8 approx'). Stockton Beach is like 500m away from home. Drove to work this morning, 5km trip, and as I pulled in the driveway she just stopped dead ... coasted into my carparking space ... hmmmm ... scratch head ... think .... turn ignition on and stick head under back rhs wheel .... yep, air in fuel system/filter .... prime/bleed fuel system 4 times and try to restart ... almost, but no cigar. Definitley fuel. Got none! ... and it just stoppd dead without any glitch, hiccup or warning

.... means we came off the beach yesterday arvo with maybe 1/2 litre of diesel available ... we could have been stuck on the beach!

So I jerry can 10L in and then drive 7km to the servo to fill ... and put 85.82L in ... take off about 0.82L to get there, and it's 85L + 10L from the jerry cans ... and that's 95L. Talk about having little or no margin for error

So, is it possible to (or is it worth it) pull the fuel pump and reset / re-adjust / re-calibrate the fuel level sender ? If not, then at least I know where my end point is ... Most I've ever put in before this was about 93L with the guage showing about 1/8 tank left and no fuel light ... making me believe I had at least another 10-15L available ... not so now it seems.

That's 95L squeezed to the top of the filler neck ... so my 95L capacity is just that ... from pump cut-off to squeezed full I get another 8L in, but that's NOT extra capacity, that's part of my 95L

So, there you have it. Fill up at 1/4 tank left in future!

Here endeth the story.
Kev..

**Barefoot Dave** · 21st December 2009, 04:36 PM

G'Day Kev, Thanks for the story.
That was a close call mate. Happy for taking it easy at some stage during the day, giving you the extra 300 mL?
My ear's tuned into the change in frequency of the pump when the tank is too low. I also find the last 1/8th a little variable.
Cheers, Dave.

**Blknight.aus** · 21st December 2009, 05:49 PM

if the fuel pump has ever been replaced in the past you may find that you have a deefer fuel pump in the tank.

**Fluids** · 21st December 2009, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

if the fuel pump has ever been replaced in the past you may find that you have a deefer fuel pump in the tank.

Really ? Please explain the difference / reason for problem if it has been Deeferd ...

Any way to tell without removing it from the tank (like, markings on the top maybe ?)

Thanks

**Blknight.aus** · 21st December 2009, 07:24 PM

the deefer pump is a little shorter and the sensor arm is different. as its only ment to be in a 75l useable tank.

you might also find that you have cracked the hosing on the pump or the pickup line so its sucking air when its low.

if youve got the fuel at the filler neck then you have overfilled the tank by several liters by using up all of the ullage space thats supposed to be in the tank.

**Fluids** · 21st December 2009, 08:11 PM

Thanks Dave. If I take the pump out I'll check for suction leaks. Looking closer in RAVE i see it does say "a useable 95L" can be had from a tank...

I used 95L ... who am I too complain!

Thanks for the assistance.
Kev..

**LandyAndy** · 21st December 2009, 09:06 PM

I was in the city last week.I ignored the light for a while,when I decided its time to give BlackBetty a slurp there wasnt a servo to be seen.
91 liters when I found one

Andrew

**Bundalene** · 21st December 2009, 09:16 PM

Also, all the Defender pumps I have removed have had a black top end of the pump assembly and the Disco pumps have been white.

Erich

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 22nd December 2009, 07:30 AM

Originally Posted by LandyAndy

I was in the city last week.I ignored the light for a while,when I decided its time to give BlackBetty a slurp there wasnt a servo to be seen.
91 liters when I found one

Andrew

on the purchase drive back from VB Land I did the same, thinking 14 litres, 14 litres, 14 litres,,
30 kays later put 93l in,,,

**JohnF** · 22nd December 2009, 12:01 PM

I always carry a 10 L jerr can of Diesel in the back of my car, so if we run out we can get to garage. Have had fuel gauge on EMpty but never run out. Use the Jerry can fuel occasionally so you always have fairly fresh fuel in the can is perhaps a good Idea.

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