Fuel Gauge?

[rockin86ranger]

The fuel gauge on my 86 isn't working right when i fill it up it moves to full then in like 10 miles it drops to empty.but thie ris still alot of gas in the tank. it has the 4-in-1 gauge set. is this the gauge or the sending unit. what is the best way to diagnois this

thanks.

 

[RangerFella]

Your fuel gauge is fine, the rest of your truck is smoked; including the tires AND the spare tire that you've never used before.

Of course, I'm kidding.

It's probably the sensor. Get a shop manual or something comparable and figure out how to get it loose.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Most likely it's either the sending unit in the tank itself, or (and this is most common) the float for your sending unit has developed a leak and makes for wacky readings.

Most people just calculate out what sort of fuel economy they're getting and then just reset the trip odometer with each fill up.

 

[rockin86ranger]

i wish i could but i can't afford to put that much gas in the tank at once. i currently have $7 in my wallet and $30 in savings. i have no job and i am a student. so any mileage is vague until school starts and i can get some money for gas. because then dad buys

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

i wish i could but i can't afford to put that much gas in the tank at once. i currently have $7 in my wallet and $30 in savings. i have no job and i am a student. so any mileage is vague until school starts and i can get some money for gas. because then dad buys

Lol!

I know how that is, though I never had dad buy a tank of gas for me, but I have been to the point a number of times where I couldn't afford to fill the tank.

On the other hand, if you can't afford to fill a tank full twice to calculate the fuel economy, you probably woln't be able to afford to fix the problem, which for obvious reasons sucks.

 

[rockin86ranger]

well he doesn't pay for a full tank but like 20 bux a week (maybe) to job hunt. but i may be able to get a full tank with that and my money i get from helping around the shop sometimes.

but i was thinking i might have been a wiring issue because someone told me that 1st or 2nd gen. rangers have bad connections somewhere that make the gauge do that