HELP! Broke down outside Joplin MO

[snivilous]

Things are going good. Seems to be the fuel guage, no clue why. Guage said we had 1/4, but were really sucking on fumes. We got 2 gallons from the rv park, and then 17 gallons at the gas station. Now we're driving through freezing rain in OK.

I was wondering if you had run out of gas from the symptoms. Check your tank, and you might have to pull the bash plate. I had the EXACT same thing happen driving home on I-80 through Wyoming, sputtered and luckily there was an exit right there. Got towed to the next city, had my dad start driving up from CO and I was like what the hell I'll put some gas in and she fired right up! Same thing, gauge went to a 1/4 tank and stopped. It was because I had dented in my gas tank (don't even know when it happened) and it pushed it in where the fuel float was so it couldn't descend down properly and read empty.

 

[thor999]

So you got this sorted? Buddy of mine from HS lives there AND has a tow truck, for future reference?

 

[OTB]

2 gallons at the RV park plus 17 more at the station. No doubt you were bone dry on gas since we have an 18.5 gallon tank.

For now I would set your trip each fill up and fill up about every 250 miles. That should give you a 50 mile cushion.

 

[liv2bike]

Same thing happened to me two years ago. Heading up to Asheville. My buddy was driving. I was passed out in the back seat. It was about midnight, middle of nowhere South Carolina and raining. Truck died. He said light never came on...but that it had been sittning at 1/4 for a while. Called AAA, got a few gallons of fuel and she started right up. Drove to the nearest gas station and pumped like 17 gal into her. Thing about it is my fuel gauge has never malfunctioned again. I still don't trust it and so I always use my trip. I was thinking the same thing had happened to you as I was reading this. Cheers and safe travels.

 

[MStudt]

All is good except for being stuck in El Reno OK due to ice. We thought we were going to sleep through it last night, but that didn't happen. Lots of cars off the road, so we're sitting tight for a bit.

 

[shootmymime]

All is good except for being stuck in El Reno OK due to ice. We thought we were going to sleep through it last night, but that didn't happen. Lots of cars off the road, so we're sitting tight for a bit.

sounds like its worse in OK, mid mo it just looks wet outside with another rain/mix storm coming up from springfield/ Rolla, MO. good luck with your travels and stay safe. if you need anything else while your on your trip mention people on this page by [MENTION=97516]The[/MENTION]ntheirusername and it will call their attention to your post.

Merry christmas.

 

[MStudt]

This is has got to be the worse trip ever. Both Oklahoma and Texas roads suck, no crews in sight, and sitting on a shut down highway. To add to thins, can't seem to get 4wd to do anything. The CDL light and all four tires are flashing with the 4wd button pushed in or out.

 

[BlackCat914]

2 gallons at the RV park plus 17 more at the station. No doubt you were bone dry on gas since we have an 18.5 gallon tank.

For now I would set your trip each fill up and fill up about every 250 miles. That should give you a 50 mile cushion.

A 50 mile cushion? I would of been out of gas near the 200 mile mark. I don't know what kind of Jedi magic you guys use to get such good fuel economy, especially in the winter.

 

[hrt4me]

where in Texas did you travel?

 

[OTB]

A 50 mile cushion? I would of been out of gas near the 200 mile mark. I don't know what kind of Jedi magic you guys use to get such good fuel economy, especially in the winter.

Although I am not extremely heavy footed, I not exactly light footed either and I am averaging 16.5 mpg in the winter. I drive very little interstate and mostly in town. Tires are A/T and the 4runner is stock. I bet if I really tried, I could get 18 mpg but I don't want to put that effort in it. I will however be taking my first road trip in it tomorrow so I will be curious to see what it does there.

If you are only getting 200 miles out of a 18.5 gallons then you just shy of 11 mpg. Unless you have big M/T tire, heavy mods, etc then you either need to adjust your driving habits or tune your truck.

 

[the great him]

i only get about 200 to 240 before the light comes on... but i will only put about 15-16 gallons in max.

 

[BlackCat914]

Although I am not extremely heavy footed, I not exactly light footed either and I am averaging 16.5 mpg in the winter. I drive very little interstate and mostly in town. Tires are A/T and the 4runner is stock. I bet if I really tried, I could get 18 mpg but I don't want to put that effort in it. I will however be taking my first road trip in it tomorrow so I will be curious to see what it does there.

If you are only getting 200 miles out of a 18.5 gallons then you just shy of 11 mpg. Unless you have big M/T tire, heavy mods, etc then you either need to adjust your driving habits or tune your truck.

Tune my truck? There's nothing to tune. I do short trip a lot, I work about 3.5 miles from home, which would more than likely explain my mileage.

 

[OTB]

i only get about 200 to 240 before the light comes on... but i will only put about 15-16 gallons in max.

Usually when the light comes on you could still get 40-50 miles of driving.
Not that I would ever recommend pushing that, there is still a good bit of cushion.

Tune my truck? There's nothing to tune. I do short trip a lot, I work about 3.5 miles from home, which would more than likely explain my mileage.

Well you picked one possibility but if you knew why you get lower fuel efficiency than everyone else, why did you say

"I don't know what kind of Jedi magic you guys use to get such good fuel economy, especially in the winter."

It leads one to believe you have no idea why your fuel efficiency is shitty.

Still though, if you are only getting 200 miles before the tank runs out, then I still think that is pretty low even with short trips. I too take a lot of short trips. Many under a mile and long trips are about 15 to 20 miles but still usually in town not interstate.

 

[WillK]

This is has got to be the worse trip ever. Both Oklahoma and Texas roads suck, no crews in sight, and sitting on a shut down highway. To add to thins, can't seem to get 4wd to do anything. The CDL light and all four tires are flashing with the 4wd button pushed in or out.

Ugh... I hate to give any advice as I missed on the first go around...

Are you hearing//feeling the truck trying to engage at all?

 

[OTB]

Tune my truck? There's nothing to tune. I do short trip a lot, I work about 3.5 miles from home, which would more than likely explain my mileage.

BTW, just got back from my road trip and 20.5 mpg was the what I got.
Stuck the cruise at 10mph over the whole way and there went through lots of small towns on way. If I would have done interstate, I might have squeezed a little better out.

 

[MStudt]

where in Texas did you travel?

Down highway 40, I think? We went through Amarillo.

 

[MStudt]

Besides the one incident, this ended up being a trouble free trip. Here is a shot from one of our nights camping. We were able to camp for free every night on BLM land while we were in Utah as well.