Oil & Fuel Fuel light on all the time. Runs out of fuel with quarter tank showing.

Mad Mac · Sep 7, 2016

When you look into the tank there still seems to be fuel. It's a minor inconvenience but is there an easy fix?

SedonaDave · Sep 7, 2016

Sounds like a problem with the pickup tube?...Bent?

dickfoster · Sep 7, 2016

SedonaDave said:
Sounds like a problem with the pickup tube?...Bent?

I'd say it's more likely that the level sensor isn't calibrated correctly. It's usually just a pot on a swinging arm with a float.

jb1390 · Sep 7, 2016

dickfoster said:
I'd say it's more likely that the level sensor isn't calibrated correctly. It's usually just a pot on a swinging arm with a float.

If there is actually fuel in the tank, then it's not an issue with calibration. If the OP is mistaken, and the fuel is actually pretty much gone, I'd agree with this assessment.

OP, how much fuel does it take to fill the machine back up completely when it runs out - and how does that amount compare to the stated capacity of the fuel tank?

Mad Mac · Sep 8, 2016

jb1390 said:
OP, how much fuel does it take to fill the machine back up completely when it runs out - and how does that amount compare to the stated capacity of the fuel tank?

My operator uses a 5-gallon diesel jug to refill. It holds 12. I'll check with him tomorrow.

Thank you one and all, but a fix does not sound simple.

CCWKen · Sep 8, 2016

I don't have a working fuel gauge on any of my tractors. But... I do have a wood stick.

It's about 3/4"x1/2" and 18" long. It's more accurate than any fuel gauge when determining 1/4 tank increments.

BobG_in_VA · Sep 9, 2016

If you ever have to restart a big diesel (I'm talking 671 Detroits), you will NEVER let that thing get below a 1/2 tank EVER again. This happened to me when I had to take over for an operator on a huge Euclid dump truck that went home sick (I was 19 and I'm 66 now...). Took me 3 hours to get it to "catch"....Keep them filled....BobG in VA

Mad Mac · Sep 9, 2016

Sensible suggestions. Thank you.

Mad Mac · Sep 13, 2016

jb1390 said:
If there is actually fuel in the tank, then it's not an issue with calibration. If the OP is mistaken, and the fuel is actually pretty much gone, I'd agree with this assessment.

OP, how much fuel does it take to fill the machine back up completely when it runs out - and how does that amount compare to the stated capacity of the fuel tank?

Okay. It takes a little more than 10 gallons to top off the 12 gallon tank. So the calibration is off. We just need to refill it before it gets down to a quarter of a tank.