Most Expensive Tank of Gas Ever

[Deleted User 61245811]

I was towing my TT in some bad wind. Getting about 3mpg and getting slung all over the road during cross winds and semis passing. The tiny tank was constantly empty so I pull into the next (every) town to gas up. Maybe 10 miles out of town the Ranger starts throwing dog bones (open end wrench indicator light) and shortly thereafter the engine warning light followed by very rough running and major power loss. I limp to the next exit and find a place to drop the trailer. Head back to the closest town sans trailer and 25% of my cylinders to the small Ford dealer. Dog bone code says bad gas causing knock sensors. Engine lights says misfiring needs new plugs and coil packs. Dealer nor anyone else in town has coil packs. Going to have to order them. I’ll be stranded there in the meantime with my trailer out of town and family waiting on me to arrive with no guarantee draining the tank, and replacing the plugs and coils resolves the problem.

Short story long, I did the only logical thing and traded the xlt Ranger off on a F350 Platinum with the diesel engine.

I miss the Ranger but getting a massage while forgetting I’ve got a trailer attached while rolling down the interstate is helping to ease the pain.

Speaking of pain, that was the most expensive tank of gas I’ve ever gotten.

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[Cmar]

Not sure how bad gas could have destroyed the plugs and coils. Sounds like you got a load of fuel with water in it. A drain and clean may have fixed it, and might have saved you a ton of money. (They didn't offer to try it??)

You can still get bad fuel in a diesel too. Contaminated fuel in a common rail diesel is a way more expensive exercise than in a petrol vehicle. Usually results in the entire fuel system needing to be replaced due to the high pressure pump failing and distributing steel filings throughout everything.

I do agree that diesel is a much better and more economical solution that a petrol for towing however. Not sure how heavy your trailer is but my 3.2 diesel Ranger tows ours, 2400 Kg ~ 5300lb at around 14.5 US MPG equivalent. When not towing I get about 25-27. Our previous tow rig a 3.5 V6 petrol, was lucky to get more that half of that when towing.

 

[Colo_Ranger]

If I could afford the F350, I would make that trade in a heartbeat. Sorry about the luck on the gas and congrats on the new rig.

 

[Cmar]

Horses for courses I guess, an F350 would be too big for me 90% of the time. If I was retired and constantly towing on the road then maybe.

 

[Deleted User 61245811]

If I could afford the F350, I would make that trade in a heartbeat. Sorry about the luck on the gas and congrats on the new rig.

Not the most fiscally responsible thing I’ve ever done, but when you’re marooned at a car lot, all there is to do is to look at all the pretty things.

 

[Deleted User 61245811]

Horses for courses I guess, an F350 would be too big for me 90% of the time. If I was retired and constantly towing on the road then maybe.

The really ironic thing is that I traded in my 1/2 ton for the Ranger because it wouldn’t fit in the garage.

 

[Friday yet?]

I was towing my TT in some bad wind. Getting about 3mpg and getting slung all over the road during cross winds and semis passing. The tiny tank was constantly empty so I pull into the next (every) town to gas up. Maybe 10 miles out of town the Ranger starts throwing dog bones (open end wrench indicator light) and shortly thereafter the engine warning light followed by very rough running and major power loss. I limp to the next exit and find a place to drop the trailer. Head back to the closest town sans trailer and 25% of my cylinders to the small Ford dealer. Dog bone code says bad gas causing knock sensors. Engine lights says misfiring needs new plugs and coil packs. Dealer nor anyone else in town has coil packs. Going to have to order them. I’ll be stranded there in the meantime with my trailer out of town and family waiting on me to arrive with no guarantee draining the tank, and replacing the plugs and coils resolves the problem.

Short story long, I did the only logical thing and traded the xlt Ranger off on a F350 Platinum with the diesel engine.

I miss the Ranger but getting a massage while forgetting I’ve got a trailer attached while rolling down the interstate is helping to ease the pain.

Speaking of pain, that was the most expensive tank of gas I’ve ever gotten.

I was kind of feeling you right up until the "diesel" part.

Hope the new ride, and it's diesel, treats you well.

 

[Grish]

As a f250 6.7 owner be very selective of your fuel at this point. That cp4 does not fair well with water in the fuel. It’s only 10k for the repair though. Nice truck by the way.

 

[Cmar]

As a f250 6.7 owner be very selective of your fuel at this point. That cp4 does not fair well with water in the fuel. It’s only 10k for the repair though. Nice truck by the way.

Sadly replace CP4 with pretty much any common rail diesel, they all have such fantastically high injection pressures and small clearances that any water is pretty much a death sentence.

To the extent that many people over here fit auxiliary filters / water traps in line before the main factory filter. Australian diesel is amongst some of the worst in the world for contamination, partially due to the climate which encourages condensation, and algal growth, and the fact that there are so many small service stations in the outback which means lots of tanker distribution with each transfer risking additional contamination.
I don't don't run an extra filter but I religiously put a water dispersal / injector lube additive in every fill, I also try whenever possible to fill up from well frequented servos where the fuel is more likely to be fresh. I also change my fuel filter religiously at the factory recommended interval. Not a foolproof plan, but at least a plan.

 

[OGMix376]

The really ironic thing is that I traded in my 1/2 ton for the Ranger because it wouldn’t fit in the garage.

Yeah it won’t fit in your garage, but it will be able to tow your garage? (F350 is a lotta truck.)

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

I was towing my TT in some bad wind. Getting about 3mpg and getting slung all over the road during cross winds and semis passing. The tiny tank was constantly empty so I pull into the next (every) town to gas up. Maybe 10 miles out of town the Ranger starts throwing dog bones (open end wrench indicator light) and shortly thereafter the engine warning light followed by very rough running and major power loss. I limp to the next exit and find a place to drop the trailer. Head back to the closest town sans trailer and 25% of my cylinders to the small Ford dealer. Dog bone code says bad gas causing knock sensors. Engine lights says misfiring needs new plugs and coil packs. Dealer nor anyone else in town has coil packs. Going to have to order them. I’ll be stranded there in the meantime with my trailer out of town and family waiting on me to arrive with no guarantee draining the tank, and replacing the plugs and coils resolves the problem.

Short story long, I did the only logical thing and traded the xlt Ranger off on a F350 Platinum with the diesel engine.

I miss the Ranger but getting a massage while forgetting I’ve got a trailer attached while rolling down the interstate is helping to ease the pain.

Speaking of pain, that was the most expensive tank of gas I’ve ever gotten.

Eric, I’m afraid this is only Part 1 of your spending spree.

You’re probably already thinking about how small that TT looks behind the new F350. In fact, I’ll bet you’ve already gone online to look at larger trailers and Phase 2 is about to begin. ?

 

[Friday yet?]

Eric, I’m afraid this is only Part 1 of your spending spree.

You’re probably already thinking about how small that TT looks behind the new F350. In fact, I’ll bet you’ve already gone online to look at larger trailers and Phase 2 is about to begin. ?

Then there's that upcoming garage addition.....

 

[AzScorpion]

Then there's that upcoming garage addition.....

Then there's the house addition because the garage will look to big for the house. ?

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Then it’s decided - cut your losses - you know what you need to do…

 

[Grish]

Sadly replace CP4 with pretty much any common rail diesel, they all have such fantastically high injection pressures and small clearances that any water is pretty much a death sentence.

To the extent that many people over here fit auxiliary filters / water traps in line before the main factory filter. Australian diesel is amongst some of the worst in the world for contamination, partially due to the climate which encourages condensation, and algal growth, and the fact that there are so many small service stations in the outback which means lots of tanker distribution with each transfer risking additional contamination.
I don't don't run an extra filter but I religiously put a water dispersal / injector lube additive in every fill, I also try whenever possible to fill up from well frequented servos where the fuel is more likely to be fresh. I also change my fuel filter religiously at the factory recommended interval. Not a foolproof plan, but at least a plan.

Religiously draining lower bowl, additional water separator as mentioned and I’ve went ahead and added the diesel disaster prevention kit to at lease save my injectors. About all we can do.

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