out of gas with half a tank?

External Since: Oct 19, 2004 Posts: 1

I drive a 94 dodge 150 cargo van with a six cylinder, it has 160,000 and
the gas gauge does not work and it is carburetor. The tank capacity is 30
gal. Usually the van goes a little over 400 miles on a full tank, but
recently ran out at 210 miles. I didn't think much of it at the time (maybe
I reset the odometer late or it's simply getting real bad mileage and I have
not noticed.

However, when I filled the tank, it only took 18 gallons. I put 5 gallons
in a can in the back and tested this a number of times and it seems to run
out of gas between 210 and 265 miles and each time it only takes 15-20
gallons to fill.

I'm thinking fuel filter or pump, but the filter has been changed in the
last 4 months, and last time the filter clogged in this van it was notice
under extreme fuel consumption conditions like up hills, or acceleration and
this is not the cas here. When the tank is full it runs perfectly.

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks, Rob

External Since: Oct 19, 2004 Posts: 3

"rg" <llllatex.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:vv6dnRgMupCZe-ncRVn-vA@comcast.com...
>I drive a 94 dodge 150 cargo van with a six cylinder, it has 160,000 and
> the gas gauge does not work and it is carburetor. The tank capacity is 30
> gal. Usually the van goes a little over 400 miles on a full tank, but
> recently ran out at 210 miles. I didn't think much of it at the time
> (maybe
> I reset the odometer late or it's simply getting real bad mileage and I
> have
> not noticed.
>
> However, when I filled the tank, it only took 18 gallons. I put 5 gallons
> in a can in the back and tested this a number of times and it seems to run
> out of gas between 210 and 265 miles and each time it only takes 15-20
> gallons to fill.
>
> I'm thinking fuel filter or pump, but the filter has been changed in the
> last 4 months, and last time the filter clogged in this van it was notice
> under extreme fuel consumption conditions like up hills, or acceleration
> and
> this is not the cas here. When the tank is full it runs perfectly.
>
> Any help would be appreciated
>
> Thanks, Rob

Maybe the fuel pickup line in the tank has a hole
in it and it is sucking air when the fuel level gets
to that point.
Tom