Out of gas with 5 gal in the tank? 95 Dakota V8

[John & Sandy M]

I have a 95 Dakota 5.2 V8. Recently the truck runs out of gas (to the engine) about the time the yellow gas indicator on the dash turns on. The truck has the 22 gal tank and this happens at 17 gal below full. The truck runs fine as soon as I add fuel. The gas gage is accurate since it will only hold 17 gal. when I fill it up. I suspect the fuel pump is sucking air below the 5 gal remaining level but can't figure how/why.

Thoughts?

[troy1]

fuel tank sagging in the middle?

[MagicRat]

There may be a rubber pick-up tube at the bottom of the pump assembly in the tank that has fallen off. The only way to be sure is to drop the tank and remove the fuel pump assembly.

Or the tank has a 5 gal. dent in it, although this should be obvious.......

When it runs out, are you SURE there is still gas in the tank? Can you shake the truck and hear gas sloshing around?

Sometimes if there is a problem with the filler neck or vent, the tank simply will not fill up all the way full, so you think you have a full tank, but you don't.

[John & Sandy M]

Originally Posted by MagicRat

There may be a rubber pick-up tube at the bottom of the pump assembly in the tank that has fallen off. The only way to be sure is to drop the tank and remove the fuel pump assembly.

Or the tank has a 5 gal. dent in it, although this should be obvious.......

When it runs out, are you SURE there is still gas in the tank? Can you shake the truck and hear gas sloshing around?

Sometimes if there is a problem with the filler neck or vent, the tank simply will not fill up all the way full, so you think you have a full tank, but you don't.

When I fill up (from "out of gas" point) the tank will hold 17 gal... this is the point where the gas light on the dash would illuminate. This "out of gas" problem has only existed for three fill-ups and, based on drawings I've seen, seems to have something to do with the location of the electric fuel pump. No dents or sags in the fuel tank. It seems as if the pump is loosing it's prime. I tested the fuel pressure when the tank was near full and it's 38 psig... about 35-45 is the acceptable range for the '95.