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gas tank capacity/gas gauge question

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Lawrence0485

1/2 ton status
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Arkansas
Hey guys ive got an 86 k10. When the gas gauge shows empty and i go fill it up it only takes 13 gallons. Now when i flip open the Lmc book it only shows a 16 gal and a 20 gal. So this leads my to believe that my gauge is off...but at the same time im afraid to find out lol. I know when i fill it up it takes several days before the gauge starts to drop at all.

Do these have a 3gal reserve? or is my gauge just off?
 
Your gas gauge may be off, but more likely you still have several gallons left when the needle hits empty. And it's not uncommon for needles to sit at F for a while, because if you fill the tank all the way some of that is going to be outside the gauge's measurement range. Most cars have a built in cushion of at least a couple gallons. I know when mine first hits the E there is generally about 4 gallons in there. On my Vette there it generally takes 2-3 gallons less than capacity when on E.

Do K10s have dual tanks? 16-20 gallons alone doesn't seem like much for a truck.
 
I am having the same problem. Got a 31 gal in my blazer and everytime it shows empty it only takes 23 gals. I have just come to terms with the accuracy being crap on the gauge.
 
My 02's light comes on at 23 gallons when it holds 26. Most vehicles leave you some room after empty. On a side note when my 84 is on empty it is EMPTY and will run out as it touches the E but is on full forever.
 
Well im fine if my gauge is off. Just wanted to be sure I didn't have some one yr special small tank lol. If ive got a 3 gal cushion then thats great. No more having to try to drive it like a prius thinking im outta gas and don't get paid for another day or two lol
 
and for anyone who wants to know

16 gal = short bed trucks

20 gal = long bed trucks .

sounds like the float/sender is going out . or someone bent the arm a tad to much when thay changed a sender unit out or tank .

could pull the sender and bend the arm up a bit and retry . 0-90 ohms reading on a meter if you wana bench test it before reinstalling the tank or sender .
 
sweetk30 said:
and for anyone who wants to know

16 gal = short bed trucks

20 gal = long bed trucks .

sounds like the float/sender is going out . or someone bent the arm a tad to much when thay changed a sender unit out or tank .

could pull the sender and bend the arm up a bit and retry . 0-90 ohms reading on a meter if you wana bench test it before reinstalling the tank or sender .
Click to expand...

Good to know. next question..could I put a 20gal on my short bed when it comes time to replace the tank? Assuming that I don't build one that goes were the spare tire goes and keeps the tank out of harms way..
 
no . the frame is to short and tank will hit the front hanger for the rear springs .

much better to do a blazer tank in the back . real easy to do .
 
seen a few guys and was going to my self add the filler inside the bed . drop the t-gate and back corner support were t-gate sits against when up add in a new section and put the filler there . make it look close to factory as possible.
 
When my K5 hits E you better be sitting at the pump... Found that out last week lmao :p
 
I had a 76' Silverado that would run out as soon as the gauge got to the E. I ran out of gas several times in that truck.
 
My 89 k5 will run fine for a little bit on E, as long as your're going straight. As soon as you turn, it's empty. Then it will start when the gas settles around the pick up.
 
Just be glad your guage is off in that direction. When my K5 is empty the guage still shows a quarter tank. found that out the hard way
 
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