So I found out yesterday where E is on my fuel gauge of my 2001 Durango the hard way yesterday. It completly ran out just before the needle touched the red mark and I was only 1/2 a mile from the station. I'm so used to my truck and the old ladys car where once it touches E you have about 10 miles to find a station. The durango said i still had about 1/16 of a tank. I don't like running my vehicles that low because I've heard its hard of fuel pumps but hey it happens sometimes when you live way out in the country. Is there anyway to calibrate that needle or is that just the nature of the beast?

 

I usually don't try and let it get too low, but once when I was pretty close to the E, and it only took ~22 gallons, and the tank is 25.

 

afaik there is no way to calibrate the needle, however on most of these trucks the gauge kicks the light on and is resting on the E peg and still only takes like 21 or 22 gallons (24-25 gallon tank depending on the year)

 

Ya that's the thing the Dakota holds 21 gallons from a bone dry tank. But when its completely burried on E it takes 20 to fill it. The Durango was still reading 1/16 of a tank when it sputtered and coasted to a stop. The needle wasn't actually touching the Red dash. Also my fuel light on the Durango kicks on at a quarter of a tank the Dakota kicks on at 1/8 of a tank

 

yea my light kicked on at 1/8th of a tank, sounds to me like you have a gauge/sender communication problem, that is as long as the guage is resting on the peg w/ the key off

 

Yep it rests on the peg like its supposed to when its off. I haven't filled it completely yet so I can't say where it rests on full but I know 40 bucks gives me half a tank. I'm in the Midwest and gas is like 3.30 a gallon or so.

 

I suppose you could put half a tank or so in, then take the needle off with it at a half, and then put the needle back on slightly below half. It's not exactly an ideal solution, but it should work.

 

I'm bout ready to make it say E when I have a quarter tank of fuel and pretend I have a 20 gallon tank lol I hate walking

 

Don't remove the needle.

Half is not half as when you fill it up it will be past "F".

Best rule of thumb.... When the "low fuel" light comes on put fuel in or carry a gallon of gas with you.

 

Yeah I'll probably just treat the quarter tank mark as empty. Its just a little irritating that it runs out before it says empty.