1500 miles from home with check engine

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breal201999

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We are in Wyoming camping, been pulling a travel trailer. Today we are unhitched, driving around Jackson Hole and sitting in a parking lot idling the fuel gauge went to empty and fuel light came on. Shut the truck off, turned back on, and now reading I think correctly and check engine light came on. I’ve been reading the fuel sender and fuel level sensor is all one unit. We are supposed to leave out tomorrow morning to head back home. Is it safe to assume the pump/sender is fine, and it’s just level sensor and okay to take off toward home? Or could the sender/pump itself be going bad? All shops are closed of course, and have to leave campground first thing tomorrow. Wouldn’t have enough time to drive to dealer first, so only option is to load up and leave, and stop at dealer on the way. Any advice?

Also, is it safe to just disconnect the negative cable from the battery for a while to try to reset the check engine light? Or could that expose possibly other fuel pump problems, like it stop working all together? Right now it runs and drives, so I don’t want to take a chance!
 
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breal201999

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Thanks for the opinion. I drove it 35 miles or so with the check engine light on, and didn’t notice any difference in feel. I wonder too if pulling the trailer 1500 miles put more strain on the pump. I may be over thinking it, but sucking fuel at rate of 8-10 mpg’s even with 91 octane, can’t help but think it worked the pump more than usual.
 

jws123

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Its most likely just the sending unit you should be fine to drive it just dont run outa gas lol they fail all the time im on my second fuel pump because of sending unit.
 

Jeepwalker

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It would be interesting to know what code was set.

Glad you made it home ok ...
 

Mister Luck

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If you run the tank below half more often you’re going to collect more sediments.

By keeping the tank full above half, you’re going to have fewer problems especially with condensation and fuel stations that maybe running low in their own tanks and or being delivered budget quality fuel.

I’m guessing a fuel sending unit and filter are going to cost less than cleaning or replacing a few injectors.
 

pacofortacos

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Utter false hood.
Sediments and water settle at the bottom of the tank - exactly where the fuel pump screen sits.

And no, running near empty does not ruin the pump because it isn't submerged to be cooled.

Condensation from sitting with a low tank is also a non-issue, the fuel tank is a pretty sealed unit and doesn't have fresh air circulating above the fuel level all of the time.

In fact, 90% of all pump failures I have ever encountered (and I have changed a bunch in the past) occurred within a day of filling the tank.
 

Jeepwalker

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It used to be the case that fuel pump location on most cars wasn't at the bottom of the tank ...but somewhere about half way up between the bottom and top. So for many years what Mr Luck was saying was exactly true. And there may still be many cars where that is still the case (keep 1/4 tank or more of fuel to cool the fuel pump).

But on the Ram, FCA put the pump at the bottom of the tank. The pump itself is not at the dead-bottom ...but pretty close. Therefore it'll be submerged most of the time. Even if there's only a little fuel in it, it'll still get splash-cooled unlike the older assemblies where the pump was located much higher up. So, he's generally correct, esp in the older days, but not in the case of the Ram and a lot of other vehicles out there today. His advice is worth following on other vehicles where yer not sure where the pump is located on the fuel pump assembly.

People talk about 'crud' at the bottom of fuel tanks. I've removed a lot of old fuel tanks 20-30 years old, and I'm always astonished how rusty and scuzzy a tank can be from the outside (I'm talking great-lakes salt & snow-induced rust here), yet look brand new on the inside with almost no deposits inside. Not saying it doesn't happen, but under most driving circumstances, it's pretty rare from what I've seen.

Ram fuel pump assembly:

5sCdmi-b_2T9wwnV6GZvD6hal3f1gjwfpV5fo2wug&usqp=CAU.jpg
 
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Mister Luck

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Utter false hood.
Sediments and water settle at the bottom of the tank - exactly where the fuel pump screen sits.

And no, running near empty does not ruin the pump because it isn't submerged to be cooled.

Condensation from sitting with a low tank is also a non-issue, the fuel tank is a pretty sealed unit and doesn't have fresh air circulating above the fuel level all of the time.

In fact, 90% of all pump failures I have ever encountered (and I have changed a bunch in the past) occurred within a day of filling the tank.
You maybe confusing a stationary fuel cell with one that commits to motion as when a station is in the process of refueling you want to postpone your purchase.

A fuel cell that is bellow half is going to induce a greater motion of sediment.

I have zero problems with my fuel filtration, gauge or your (opinions).
 

pacofortacos

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It used to be the case that fuel pump location on most cars wasn't at the bottom of the tank ...but somewhere about half way up between the bottom and top. So for many years what Mr Luck was saying was exactly true. And there may still be many cars where that is still the case (keep 1/4 tank or more of fuel to cool the fuel pump).

But on the Ram, FCA put the pump at the bottom of the tank. The pump itself is not at the dead-bottom ...but pretty close. Therefore it'll be submerged most of the time. Even if there's only a little fuel in it, it'll still get splash-cooled unlike the older assemblies where the pump was located much higher up. So, he's generally correct, esp in the older days, but not in the case of the Ram and a lot of other vehicles out there today. His advice is worth following on other vehicles where yer not sure where the pump is located on the fuel pump assembly.

People talk about 'crud' at the bottom of fuel tanks. I've removed a lot of old fuel tanks 20-30 years old, and I'm always astonished how rusty and scuzzy a tank can be from the outside (I'm talking great-lakes salt & snow-induced rust here), yet look brand new on the inside with almost no deposits inside. Not saying it doesn't happen, but under most driving circumstances, it's pretty rare from what I've seen.

Ram fuel pump assembly:

View attachment 496780
Also, the cooling and lubricating occurs within the pump itself as the fuel flows through the pump.

At least with mopars, running low on fuel has never been an issue with the modern fuel injection pump. I worked on them from the very first 1983-84 models to 96 when I got out of the profession.
 

pacofortacos

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You maybe confusing a stationary fuel cell with one that commits to motion as when a station is in the process of refueling you want to postpone your purchase.

A fuel cell that is bellow half is going to induce a greater motion of sediment.

I have zero problems with my fuel filtration, gauge or your (opinions).
Modern fuel tanks are closed systems due to emission requirements. They are vented to a vapor canister and other than that only the fuel cap allows air in.

So while you will get a small amount of fresh air in while the engine is running it isn't enough to really cause a condensation issue.
The minimal amount of condensation will collect at the bottom of the tank and get sucked up fairly quickly when the pump runs, thus elimination the small amount of water and preventing a buildup of water.

When stationary and just sitting a negligible amount of fresh air may be permitted into the fuel tank due to expansion and contraction of the fuel.
 

pacofortacos

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You maybe confusing a stationary fuel cell with one that commits to motion as when a station is in the process of refueling you want to postpone your purchase.

A fuel cell that is bellow half is going to induce a greater motion of sediment.

I have zero problems with my fuel filtration, gauge or your (opinions).
I agree on the motion of the sediment, but honestly, fuel tanks that have that much sediment are usually going to have plugged strainers on the pump and will get pulled and cleaned before long. A plugged strainer is hard on a fuel pump.

As stated by Jeepwalker, it is amazing how clean the inside of most fuel tanks are.
 

Mister Luck

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In the past mechanical stations gear pumps were themselves the source of contaminants also old metal in ground tanks that were prone to corrosion have been replaced with composite systems

The introduction of ethanol has its own issues but was also thought of a cure for water/ moisture contamination.

Some states environmentally require oxygenation during dispensation.

I would hope the correct mircon size of filter would be used in order to protect injectors or fuel dispensation was more closely regulated and impurities filtered out beforehand.

Has anyone measured what the reserve is on a 4th gen 26 gallon tank?
 

turkeybird56

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My "reserve" on MY 19 DT with a 26 gallon truck is a lil over 3 gallons, U know, the 3 gallons that never gets properly registered on yer fuel gauge, LOL. All IMHO ..
 

Mister Luck

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I went there yesterday and it was only about 2

Does that mean we only really have 23/ 24 gallon tanks?
 
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