5 Gallon Reserve on a 2017-2019 Ford Super Duty 34 gallon fuel tank

Do I have a 34 gallon tank or a 29 gallon tank? Fuel gauge says empty with 5 gallons left in the tank.

[@gunningamerz]

I know this video is old (and I enjoyed the video of your S&B 60G install) but for those still unaware google "Ford TSB 17-0046". Basically Ford put in only a 29G tank and the wrong card to boot on all SD built before April 17. I bought my 17 F350 used a few months ago and caught this right away. I am planning on going to an S&B 60 also but I got the new (correct) card and 34 gallon tank installed and covered from Ford yesterday. Now I can get my S&B installed with the right sending unit card.

[@EpicCowlick]

That's exactly right. S&B knows about the card issue and does a good job documenting it for the Ford tanks.

[@rasalas2x]

Those are the same numbers I am coming up with. I have not emailed Titan lately. End of December they said "in the spring". After a couple of days working under the truck I keep looking at the fuel filter and hard plumbing which would need to be moved and the tank install will certainly be more difficult if it comes to be. The older I get the harder it is to commit to under the truck projects!

[@EpicCowlick]

lol, it's not hard working under the truck, it's just hard getting back up! I'm waiting to hear from Titan also. It was an easy decision with the 26 gallon tanks but a slightly more value-oriented decision with these.

[@webgamersjames502]

Do other Manufacturers do this too. I think it was my 2010 Dodge yuppy truck (half ton 4 cylinder shut down BS) that I ordered with larger fuel tank and when I filled up at near bone dry empty it was a few gallons short of the tank I thought I upgraded to. I just figured I got screwed lol. Going back to a real work truck and towing a lot again. Ordered myself a F450 Platinum in Ruby Red. Waiting for it to come in. Getting my truck adrenaline fix watching your helpful videos. ThanksAgain.

[@EpicCowlick]

You're going to love that 450. It's an awesome beast. It comes with a 48 gallon tank to start with and owners are reporting that they can use 45. That's the way it should be in my opinion.

[@webgamersjames502]

Agreed. My wife gets Rainman nervous for refueling with 1/4 tank left. I can tell her to relax now. Thanks for your videos.

[@stevenruble3934]

Are you using any fuel additive? I use the ford Cetane booster and average 13.4 F450 4.30 rear end. Great videos by the way. I hope you decide to change your fuel filters prematurely....

[@EpicCowlick]

Steven Ruble No additives but planning to do a fuel filter change video at 15,000 miles. That's only 2,500 miles away.

[@BigTruckBigRV]

Interesting. I'd hope that it was 34 gallons plus 4-5gallon reserve. Shoot, that won't be too much better than what you had in your 2011. Plus, the fact that you would probably never tow until your gauge says 0 miles remaining.

[@EpicCowlick]

Compared to the 2011, I can use 5 - 6 gallons more fuel. That's something. Plus I don't have to stress too much knowing there's 5 gallons left. Still, I wish it would be more accurate and leave a 2-3 gallon reserve.

[@frankszabo6170]

The computer calculates 29 gals useful . Doesn't calculate the 5 gal reserve. In other words it assumes a 29 gl tank. You can add whatever per gal miles the computer shows x 5 for the actual miles to empty. They give a generous reserve because the last thing you want is run the diesel out of fuel.

[@thoot1264]

Epic don't know if you covered it or not but how did the 2011 F350 serve you...How many miles did you have on it? Any major breaks or repairs?

[@EpicCowlick]

I drove the 2011 for over 6 years. No breakdowns of any kind but I did fight with steering wobble for half the time. I tried stabilizers a couple of times but the final solution was trac bar and end joints replacement. There wasn't a ton of miles, 72,000 I think? It was a great truck and I hope the new one does as well. So far the steering is great.

[@screamindemon811]

Interesting to see. Did you find this result the same after a couple different fill up's? It would be nice to know that there is a reserve on hand despite what the fuel gauge says. I wonder if it is this way via the initial programming when Ford sets these trucks up as they are coming off the line. Be interesting to know.

[@EpicCowlick]

I don't think it's going to change over time. Ford has made it the way it is.

[@markjustiss8733]

I guess no Titan fuel tank upgrade for this one. Do you have and use the engine block heater regularly?

[@EpicCowlick]

Titan doesn't have a tank for the 2017 yet. We'll see what they come up with. I have never used the block heater. Not even once. My trucks have only seen temps of about zero Fahrenheit. They start with no problems in those temps.

[@KimFieldstad]

Did you get a better handle on this issue? Programming error? Tank error? My 2017 is doing the same.

[@EpicCowlick]

Ford warranted this on my truck and installed a whole new sending unit inside the fuel tank. Now the reserve is about 3 gallons. A small but more accurate amount.

[@clayfairley]

When I fuel up my 17 F-250 dash may say i have 30 miles to empty but only holds 22-24 gallons. Has me thinking it only has a 26 gallon tank like my 2012.

[@EpicCowlick]

Pretty sure Ford did away with the 26 gallon tanks but you can check your configuration. Run it down to zero and you should be able to put in about 29 gallons. There is also a stamping on the side of the tank that will include the 34 number. Look under there and see what it says.

[@akbychoice]

My 16 F450 will say I have 500 miles left on the DEF but won’t take much more than 2.5 gallons in a 5 gallon tank. Wish it had an actual gauge.

[@rcdixon76]

Sorry if you've answered this somewhere else, but what is your typical 5th wheel tow range (miles)? I have the same truck and am looking to get a 5th wheel weighing 12k. Thx!

[@EpicCowlick]

I've found that weight and length impact mileage only marginally. Wind makes a huge difference. My trailer loads up to about 19K and I can get 12 mpg with a tail wind or 8 mpg in a stiff headwind. My larger tires take a toll also (somewhere close to 2 mpg overall). Factory tires are much more efficient. It goes without saying that climbing mountains can decrease range also. With the tank being 34 gallons, I can sort of tell when the next fill up is going to be based on all those factors. Generally speaking, 300 miles per tank when towing is pretty common as I never want to run too close to empty.

[@rcdixon76]

@@EpicCowlick Thx amigo!

[@shadcurtis5273]

I have a 2017 f350 and at 30 miles to empty I can only put 24 gallons in it

[@EpicCowlick]

There's a lot more fuel than the truck says. It makes estimating range while towing difficult though.

[@jimmybike62]

What kind of fuel mileage are you getting?

[@EpicCowlick]

18 highway, 15 mixed, 12 in town.

[@jp9iron]

I don't see how that is a reserve. It's not a reserve if you drove to 0 miles to empty then you then put 29 gallons in the tank. That shows it's a 29 gallon tank. If you drive a number of miles after you get to 0 miles to empty then you would have a reserve.

[@Mike38901]

Are you gonna upgrade the fuel tank on this truck too?

[@EpicCowlick]

Depends on what they come up with. 50 gallons is so nice as you don't have to stop as often to fill up.