Fuel Range Numbers Off

[adeatherage]

I recently noticed that my fuel range numbers were off. For example I used to fill up the tank all the way full and have around 400-410 miles until empty with the fuel gauge completly full. I make sure that I dont top it off anymore than when my truck says that it's full. I now fill it up and the gauge stops right below the full mark and now my fuel range is about 330-350 until empty. I havent changed any of my driving habits or anything else that I know of. Could my fuel sensor be messed up? Any ideas?

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[Colo_Ranger]

This is normal. The range is just an estimate based on previous tanks. The 300-350 is probably more accurate of a range than the 400 was. I wouldn't be worried by this at all.

 

[ctechbob]

Plus, if you are in an area that switches to winter gas, your mileage will go down as well.

The algorithm they use to give you those numbers is pretty dim as well. If I hitch up to the camper and pull it through half a tank of gas and then unhitch for the rest of the tank it will keep telling me I have something like 50 miles left on a half tank even though I'm back to getting 20+ mpg.

 

[airline tech]

Yes, the DTE feature is just a feature on the truck that is not at all reliable
and winter blend fuel changes the readings (Lowers)


The DTE is calculated in the IPC using the Running Average Fuel Economy (RAFE), which is the fuel economy over a much longer distance than the Instantaneous Fuel Economy (IFE), and the fuel level input from the fuel senders(s) to determine how many miles the vehicle can be driven based on the remaining fuel in the tank.

The IPC defaults to a base programmed fuel economy when the battery is initially connected and adjusts upward or downward based on driving habits and conditions.

Since the DTE is calculated and averaged over a longer period of time, varying driving conditions can have a significant impact on the current or short term DTE as opposed to the displayed DTE . This difference often leads to customer complaints of incorrect or invalid DTE.


The following list provides some (not all) of the driving conditions that may lead to an incorrect or fluctuating DTE concern:

• Changing between towing/not towing
• Changing driving between city and highway
• Allowing the vehicle to idle for long periods of time.
• Using the remote start feature (if equipped) frequently or allowing the vehicle to warm up, particularly when parked on a grade.
• Parking or driving on grades.
• Not using a type of fuel consistently
• Over-fueling or not filling the tank completely (partial refueling)

 

[adeatherage]

Yes, the DTE feature is just a feature on the truck that is not at all reliable
and winter blend fuel changes the readings (Lowers)


The DTE is calculated in the IPC using the Running Average Fuel Economy (RAFE), which is the fuel economy over a much longer distance than the Instantaneous Fuel Economy (IFE), and the fuel level input from the fuel senders(s) to determine how many miles the vehicle can be driven based on the remaining fuel in the tank.

The IPC defaults to a base programmed fuel economy when the battery is initially connected and adjusts upward or downward based on driving habits and conditions.

Since the DTE is calculated and averaged over a longer period of time, varying driving conditions can have a significant impact on the current or short term DTE as opposed to the displayed DTE . This difference often leads to customer complaints of incorrect or invalid DTE.


The following list provides some (not all) of the driving conditions that may lead to an incorrect or fluctuating DTE concern:

• Changing between towing/not towing
• Changing driving between city and highway
• Allowing the vehicle to idle for long periods of time.
• Using the remote start feature (if equipped) frequently or allowing the vehicle to warm up, particularly when parked on a grade.
• Parking or driving on grades.
• Not using a type of fuel consistently
• Over-fueling or not filling the tank completely (partial refueling)

Thank you for this information

 

[MountainGoat]

Funny I just pushed my truck till it had 9 miles left to drive according to the readout. When I filled up it took 18.168 gallons and the fuel capacity according to the specs is...18 gallons.

 

[Colo_Ranger]

Funny I just pushed my truck till it had 9 miles left to drive according to the readout. When I filled up it took 18.168 gallons and the fuel capacity according to the specs is...18 gallons.

There is some amount of fluctuation in the tanks so they say 18, but what they mean is 18.0 up to 18.9 (though, rarely is it that high).

 

[MountainGoat]

There is some amount of fluctuation in the tanks so they say 18, but what they mean is 18.0 up to 18.9 (though, rarely is it that high).

Hopefully it's high enough I didn't fry my fuel pump.

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