1988 2.9L EXT cab 4x4 only lets me use about 10 gallons in the tank?

[GingerKing13]

Ever since I had this truck it would only accept 10-11.5 gallons of fuel when ran until it's starved of fuel on level ground. I've pulled the tank put a new pump/hangar assembly and inspected it for dents etc. Still, I only can get about 10 gallons before it dies... What's the deal here, do I have the wrong pump or the wrong tank? I can't figure it out but it sucks having a lot of gas left in the tank to rot until I pull it and clean it again...

Rock auto has tanks and says 17gal and the manual also says 17gal, I'm just stumped here.

Thanks for the help fellas.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Do you have a low pressure in tank pump and a frame mounted high pressure in line pump? I'm not sure exactly when they changed that system to the single high pressure in tank pump but I believe it was 89.

I've heard that the early two pump system will only pull fuel to about half tank if the in tank low pressure pump has failed.

So... If you have two pumps... my guess would be your in tank pump is inop.

 

[GingerKing13]

Do you have a low pressure in tank pump and a frame mounted high pressure in line pump? I'm not sure exactly when they changed that system to the single high pressure in tank pump but I believe it was 89.

I've heard that the early two pump system will only pull fuel to about half tank if the in tank low pressure pump has failed.

So... If you have two pumps... my guess would be your in tank pump is inop.

It should be working, I just put a new pump and sending unit in it because I thought that might be the issue but still the problem persists.

 

[JerrySab]

I battled this for awhile too, and arrived at the following conclusions:
- New sending units suck. They feed bad information to the gauge. Some read way high then crater, some read never full. Either way, consumption is a guessing game.
- New hangar assemblies suck. they seem to be 2-3" shorter than the old motorcraft assembly. which means, obviously, they don't get all the way to the bottom of the tank. Why?

I bought a motorcraft fuel pump from eBay, that had been sitting on a shelf for a decade or so. It was amazing until the pump blew up and was spewing metal chunks into the fuel system. I decided to keep the MC hangar but stuffed a new pump into it. Now, finally, have accurate gas gauge and full use of tank.

 

[Blmpkn]

It should be working, I just put a new pump and sending unit in it because I thought that might be the issue but still the problem persists.

Did you TEST the pump before installation? Unfortunately.. these days.. NEW doesn't mean good.. or functioning.. just means new. Especially with budget aftermarket oem replacement parts.

Motorcraft branded parts are pretty much guaranteed to work, every time. They get tested before they get boxed up to ensure they function as they should.

 

[GingerKing13]

Did you TEST the pump before installation? Unfortunately.. these days.. NEW doesn't mean good.. or functioning.. just means new. Especially with budget aftermarket oem replacement parts.

Motorcraft branded parts are pretty much guaranteed to work, every time. They get tested before they get boxed up to ensure they function as they should.

where can I find the correct Motorcraft assembly? local stores don't have it and neither does rockauto

 

[Blmpkn]

where can I find the correct Motorcraft assembly? local stores don't have it and neither does rockauto

FORD OEM 85-88 Ranger-Fuel Pump E8TZ9H307C | eBay

The engine types may include 2.0L 1989CC 122Cu. l4 GAS SOHC Naturally Aspirated, 2.3L 1 40Cu. l4 GAS SOHC Naturally Aspirated, 2.9L 177Cu. V6 GAS OHV Naturally Aspir ated. This part fits vehicles made in the following years 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988.

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