2006 SV6 running out of gas at 1/4 tank?

[dorlow]

My wife has a habit of testing her limits on how low she can get her gas tank. But, she used to be able to take her gas down to E before running out of gas. Now, for some weird reason, the van runs out of gas a little below 1/4 tank. Is there an easy fix to get it back so it can run down to E before running out? What would cause this? I'm thinking maybe a hose in the gas tank that maybe rusted off and broke so it can't reach the bottom? Does that make sense? Is it part of the fuel pump that rusted off and broke?

If it's the fuel pump, is there an easy way to access it? I had a car once that I could replace the fuel pump via an access port so I didn't have to drop the gas tank.

[sisson_d]

Perhaps the fuel sender has an issue. Once it stalls out, how many gallons can you put in before the tank's full?

Another thing I've noticed with my '06 Montana is that when the fuel's low (1/8th tank), the van will stall when facing steeply downhill for a while, like at a long light. Or if it's facing downhill in our driveway, it won't start at all. the problem is worse in the Winter.

It sounds unlikely, but I really think the cause is the huge, but shallow gas tank. It's fairly wide and really long, but it looks to be 5 or 6 inches deep. I think when facing steeply downhill, all the gas gathers at the front and the pump is starved.

My wife likes to push the limits as well and, unfortunately, forgets about the downhill thing several times a year.

[aleekat]

Maybe get an estimate for a fuel pump and labor. The fuel keeps the pump cool. Maybe the cost might shock your wives into not running it so low.

[Tech II]

Agree with "Kat".......

It probably is the sender.......get an estimate like Kat says......you have to drop the tank, to install......the fuel module is expensive......

Should NEVER run below 1/4 of a tank......you want that fuel pump covered with fuel....if it is not covered by the "cool" fuel, doing this repeatedly will lessen the life of that pump.....surprised she has not ruined it already, if she does it all the time.....I guess she needs to be stranded somewhere, maybe, to get the message....