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Fuel tank won't fill - Advice?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by NobodyCares3345, May 8, 2023.

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  1. May 8, 2023 #1
    NobodyCares3345

    NobodyCares3345 Bobtail Member

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    Jan 9, 2023
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    Hey guys,
    I have a 2019 Freightliner Cascadia 126 that I purchased used in February from a dealer. I finally was able to take it for a route this past week (took me forever to get my authority fully authorized) and about halfway through my route (900 miles from my starting point) my fuel alert went off. I had been keeping an eye on the gauge and was already worried that my 7/8 full tank was emptying a lot sooner than I had anticipated, and when the low fuel alert went off I #### near started panicking. I have two 120 gallon tanks, and my info screen said I was getting 7.2 MPG, so there should have been no way I ran through 210ish gallons already. Either that, or I was getting closer to 4 MPG
    I stopped to fill up and for some reason, the pumps stopped at 150 gallons, with my gauge now back up to 7/8 a tank. I sort of shrugged this off, and kept on going. Once I got home, I verified that the original invoice had two 120 gallon tanks, and then went a step further by measuring the tanks myself with a tape measure and some quick math. I am sure at this point that I have 120's, but I'm still confused why my tanks won't fill past 7/8, and why I'm empty when I should have at least 60 gallons left.
    This isn't a huge deal or anything, I could just stop more often, but I'm worried that it could be indicative of a more serious problem in the near future. It could also just be that my gauge is off, or I'm filling the tank wrong.
    Any advice or thoughts would be helpful.
     
    NobodyCares3345, May 8, 2023
    NobodyCares3345, May 8, 2023
    #1
    aussiejosh Thanks this.
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  3. May 8, 2023 #2
    Hawkeye72

    Hawkeye72 Light Load Member

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    Feb 20, 2015
    Iowa
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    Someone posted something similar not to long ago. And it was said that freightliner fuel gauges suck and always showed lower than the tank really was.

    If Pump stopped at exactly 150 gallons sounds like the pump automatically stops at 150.
     
    Hawkeye72, May 8, 2023
    Hawkeye72, May 8, 2023
    #2
  4. May 8, 2023 #3
    NobodyCares3345

    NobodyCares3345 Bobtail Member

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    Jan 9, 2023
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    Stopped at 150.851 gallons, I just rounded down, but I see your point.
    I think I remember reading that thread at some point, but I thought that was on an older model (2011?) and hoped they would have gotten better in that time. Naturally, it looks like they didn't.
     
    NobodyCares3345, May 8, 2023
    NobodyCares3345, May 8, 2023
    #3
  5. May 8, 2023 #4
    mitrucker

    mitrucker Road Train Member

    5,140
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    Dec 15, 2010
    Lapeer, MI
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    Fuel gauges seem to always show less than what’s in them. The Mack I’m in now puts the low fuel light on when I still have 70ish gallons left. I believe that this is done so the truly stupid among us don’t run out of fuel.
     
    mitrucker, May 8, 2023
    mitrucker, May 8, 2023
    #4
    xsetra, Crude Truckin' and The Green Mountain Thank this.
  7. May 8, 2023 #5
    MacLean

    MacLean Road Train Member

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    Sep 12, 2017
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    Yes. Depending on the truck you might have 75-120 miles when the light comes on.
     
    MacLean, May 8, 2023
    MacLean, May 8, 2023
    #5
  8. May 8, 2023 #6
    mitrucker

    mitrucker Road Train Member

    5,140
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    Dec 15, 2010
    Lapeer, MI
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    Mine is literally 70ish gallons.
     
    mitrucker, May 8, 2023
    mitrucker, May 8, 2023
    #6
  9. May 8, 2023 #7
    Numb

    Numb Crusty Curmudgeon

    3,938
    8,756
    Jan 30, 2012
    Charlotte, N.Carolina
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    running the tanks down to the bottom???

    I hated sucking trash from the bottom of the tank.
     
    Numb, May 8, 2023
    Numb, May 8, 2023
    #7
  10. May 8, 2023 #8
    lester

    lester Midwest's #1 Feed Hauler

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    You are never going to get your tanks all the way empty, nor would you want to. You also aren't going to be able to fill them to 100% of capacity. So you loose a percentage of capacity at full and empty. Plan accordingly
     
    lester, May 8, 2023
    lester, May 8, 2023
    #8
    Numb Thanks this.
  11. May 8, 2023 #9
    Val_Caldera

    Val_Caldera Road Train Member

    2,569
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    Apr 2, 2021
    TARHEEL
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    I fueled according to mileage and freight weight.
    I ran twin 120's or twin 150's on most freightliners.
    Single Tank for Local ONLY.
    Dual tanks, right side filled first unless at a backward fuel pump.

    NEVER had any electronic "alerts" about fuel.

    The fuel gauge is correct twice: FULL :), EMPTY:(.
     
    Val_Caldera, May 8, 2023
    Val_Caldera, May 8, 2023
    #9
  12. May 8, 2023 #10
    flood

    flood Road Train Member

    4,157
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    Dec 25, 2010
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    1st off 120gl tanks hold approximately 100-105gl each...
    Most I ever put in was 198gl and that was a NEW truck with 14 miles on it that I got at a company terminal and it ran out driving to the fuel pumps.
    Now as to your problem the body controller needs to be reprogrammed OR the sending unit needs replaced

    My prostar has TWO sending units, 1 in each tank (STUPID) but only 1 gauge. The sending unit in the passenger tank went bad about 20 months ago so the gauge read empty with low fuel light on all the time... I just fill it every 900-1,000 miles... 120-130 gl.
     
    Last edited: May 8, 2023
    flood, May 8, 2023
    flood, May 8, 2023
    #10
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