[LEVANS]

I have a 2008 Silverado Duramax. It has the short bed so the fuel tank is the 26 gallon version. When I first got the truck, the gauge would read empty and the low fuel warning would display after using appx. 19 - 20 gallons of fuel. That has gradually lowered to the point where it now reads empty and the warning message appears after using appx. 16 gallons of fuel. It's more of an irritant than anything. In other words, it's not something I want to spend a pile of money getting corrected. Is there any kind of a quick fix or re-calibration that can be done without having to drop the tank in order to replace the sending unit?

LEVANS

 

[smokinlmm]

subscribe..... My fuel gauge has a fricken mind of it's own. If I start truck with remote, the gauge always goes to empty and fuel warnings come on. It also does the same thing if it idles for more than 10 mins, but after going to empty it comes back to level real slow. I just use the dic fuel burn to determine level.

 

[08DMAX]

I get a low fuel light at about 20 gal in the tank. It has always been like that.

I also use the odometer and refuel every 800 to 900 miles.

I am running a stock 26 gal tank w/a 50 Gal Transfer Flow in the bed.

I believe that the fuel light is just a reminder, just like the gauge is. Figure out the fuel burn and just let all the gimmicks offer advise. I also only run on the top half of the fuel when running around town.

 

[TDFDiesel]

Running out of diesel in these trucks is a bigger deal then running out of gas in your Civic. For that reason they give you a light with 6 gallons in the tank from the factory. That is normal.

As for the other issue, someone with more knowledge will chime in shortly.

 

[2009RavenR1]

its an 08... Bring it to the dealershit to be checked out.

 

[Planenut]

so after burning 19.5 gallons, it showed a range of approximately 30 miles remaining and the guage was getting pretty close to empty...

I still have 6 gallons left??

I thought it was a 26 gallon tank but decided to be safe and top off...

 

[Retired Fire Captain]

my 08 does the same thing. At about 20 to 21 gallons she shows empty, and the warning comes on

 

[Planenut]

so after burning 19.5 gallons, it showed a range of approximately 30 miles remaining and the guage was getting pretty close to empty...

I still have 6 gallons left??

I thought it was a 26 gallon tank but decided to be safe and top off...

Oh and the low level warning did not come on yet.. I guess it works...

 

[mxpop]

My LML will use 32 of 36 galls and then "low" light comes on. Seems to be pretty accurate so far but I have yet to run out and "test" it's accuracy...

The priming method (if ran out of fuel) in manual seems pretty simple. Is that true or is there a headache procedure needed? I ran out in my ford diesel van once and it was no big deal. Just took a few miles of rough running until it was fine again.

 

[TDFDiesel]

My LML will use 32 of 36 galls and then "low" light comes on. Seems to be pretty accurate so far but I have yet to run out and "test" it's accuracy...

The priming method (if ran out of fuel) in manual seems pretty simple. Is that true or is there a headache procedure needed? I ran out in my ford diesel van once and it was no big deal. Just took a few miles of rough running until it was fine again.

If you run out in a civic you can pour fuel in the tank and try to start it. Eventually it'll crank and start.

A diesel requires more cranking amps to turn it over and you have to prime the fuel where you don't need to in a Civic.

 

[smokinlmm]

If you run out, it is no big deal, follow the same proceedure for a filter change, bust bleeder screw, pump primer untill fuel flows, tighten bleeder, crank truck.

 

[Steve M]

I had the same issue with mine reading about an 1/8th tank and only taking 14 to 15 gallons to fill up. After taking it to the dealer several times I talked them into changing the level sensor in the tank and now it works like it should. Maybe it's a prefrence thing but I don't want to be filling every 225 miles or so because it shows empty, or almost. As long as you still have warranty it won't hurt to take it in and see what your dealer says. Good luck!

Steve

 

[TDFDiesel]

My LML will use 32 of 36 galls and then "low" light comes on. Seems to be pretty accurate so far but I have yet to run out and "test" it's accuracy...

The priming method (if ran out of fuel) in manual seems pretty simple. Is that true or is there a headache procedure needed? I ran out in my ford diesel van once and it was no big deal. Just took a few miles of rough running until it was fine again.

The idea is that the average person can not prime the fuel system and doesn't want to. It's not that it's a complicated procedure, but GM knows the average consumer will file complaints and sue GM when they run out of diesel.

 

[theunderlord]

x2.. it's "idiot proof" .

 

[mxpop]

The idea is that the average person can not prime the fuel system and doesn't want to. It's not that it's a complicated procedure, but GM knows the average consumer will file complaints and sue GM when they run out of diesel.

IDK, the "average person" is not likely to own a HD diesel truck in the first place. There is also onstar and AAA etc to come help out.

Then again, there should be some kind of "stoopid fee" or penalty for running out..... spank

 

[TDFDiesel]

IDK, the "average person" is not likely to own a HD diesel truck in the first place. There is also onstar and AAA etc to come help out.

Then again, there should be some kind of "stoopid fee" or penalty for running out..... spank

I hope you don't honestly believe this.

Every Duramax owner is a mechanic?

There are a lot of people that use these trucks for work, their company buys it for them, they tow a toy box to the desert for toys, tow a camper, etc... and have ZERO idea how to prime a fuel filter, how a diesel works or interest in learning it.

I bet if GM had the low fuel light come on at 1 or 2 gallons, people would run out of fuel constantly. They would get diesel and try to start it until it will kill the batteries. Have it towed to GM saying it won't start, they'll forget to mention it ran out of fuel and GM will have an exponential increase in complaints of trucks losing prime. The techs don't know that they really ran out of fuel, added fuel, and didn't know the fuel system needed to be primed.

Everything in life has to be idiot proof, because nobody cares how it works anymore. I would guess that at least 30% of Duramax owners think they have spark plugs and 60% of Duramax owners don't know how to prime their fuel system or that it would have to be primed if they ran out of fuel.

 

[mxpop]

Every Duramax owner is a mechanic?

That's quite a stretch from what I actually said......

 

[rascal810]

My gauge shows empty way early and the light comes on early also. Have been meaning to reprogram gauge with EFI live but its 20 degrees outside so..........

 

[TDFDiesel]

That's quite a stretch from what I actually said......

You implied that every Duramax owner can prime their fuel system which is by no means accurate and most of them would see this as being a "mechanic".

The 6 gallons of fuel left in the tank is by design from GM to save people from running out of fuel and blaming GM for not having the light come on soon enough. GM service departments would eat A LOT of repair bills IMO if they didn't do this and obviously a GM engineer agreed with me.

 

[mxpop]

You implied that every Duramax owner can prime their fuel system which is by no means accurate and most of them would see this as being a "mechanic".

No such implication was made by me, what I said was:

"IDK, the "average person" is not likely to own a HD diesel truck in the first place. There is also onstar and AAA etc to come help out."



I also never said anything such as "Duramax owner can prime their fuel system" or that any percentage of diesel owners are in any way a mechanic. Those were all embelished extrapolations you created on your own.



To me, the average motorist I was refering to drives a gasoline powered vehicle such as sedans, minivans, light duty trucks, etc. I would bet that a higher percentage of diesel owners are a lot more aware of their vehicle's operational needs than the average gas owner. Sure, there are a lot of people who buy diesels who simply use them for grocery getters or posing (compensating?) but most people who shell out the extra $10k+ for a diesel/Allison are far from the average motorist.

Further, priming a current diesel is pretty much a no-brainer for anyone who can check their own oil, tires, trans fluid, tie their own shoes, etc. (my Ford van didn't require any technique after running out of diesel other than add more diesel and crank away. Worked fine for me the 2 times I ran out in that vehicle) The method described in my LML manual appears to be about the simplest thing a person can possible do with a basic tool. It would only be easier if the method involved hitting something with a roadside rock. Additionaly, my GMC came with 2 batteries which should allow for quite a lot of cranking.