So I pretty happy with my truck except for a couple small things. I've learned that the 5 star dealer I bought it from sucks for service. Not sure what to do.

The main problem is that I'm supposed to have a 22 gallon fuel tank. I fill up run it until the low fuel light comes on and then I fill up. 16.5 gallons. That means that there is still 1/4 tank left in there. But it's reading empty. I can drive for another day or so and it's go the needle pinned on it's stop and it'll still only take 18.25 gallons. It's also running rich as hell.





But of course the dealer hooks it to the computer and nothing is wrong. I call Dodge, they tell me that the light should not come on until there is 1/8 of a tank or left. They also tell me I'm getting 15mpg, which is what the computer in the overhead console says, but according to the math (tripmeter and how much to fill up) it's off and I'm really only getting 12-13. I'm wondering if anyone else is having or had these issues.

I'm thinking the fuel sender, running rich, crappy mileage are all somehow related.

I like the truck except for these things and the crappy paint job (loads of orange peel in it). The fit and finish is beyond all the other trucks I looked at. the Interior rocks. The six speed kicks ***. It looks great (unless you inspect the paintjob).

 

I guess I'm just venting, but I also wanted to see if anyone else had these issues. Or how they dealt with their dealer on this kind of thing. The V6 has good power and I feel it would be better if it wasn't so rich, so I'm satisfied with it in that sense.

 

I too have found myself running rich. I switched gas stations though and havent been as black as you have after a few fill ups of chevron (/w techron )
I dont have a overhead console so i dont get a mpg reading but from my math I get between 14-15 mpg dirving city and up to 22 highway (going 55mph of course :P) but i have noteced the same thing as you (although i dont drive till the light comes on). The tank says 22 and yet when i fill up I'm doing between 16-17 gallons.
So tht being said i have mentioned to dealer. The fuel tank one is for reasons I'm still not entirely convinced but here was his reasoning : it is a compressed system and to avoid any air getting into the system they need to have a minimal ammount of fuel in the tank at all times. Thus they adjusted the gague to show "empty" even though there might be 1-4 gallons still in the tank that you could drive off of. The problem is if you tried to drive off those and ran completely empty it could cause serious damage to the system.
As for the running rich thing (i posted a thread on this too but never updated :P) I got the dealer to admit that did not look good (black exaust). Like i said switched gas stations was helpful, but they are posting issues to chrysler and hopefully the next computer update will resolve a number of these issues - from the shuddering at idle to running rich

 

Thanks. I'm just worried that it's not going to get better. I rode in the service shuttle with a gentlman that is having a seriously bad time with a Durango. He spent all laast week in 100 plus tempatures with no A/C. They're telling me that my rich problem is due to a break in period with a new engine. And I am being told by Dodge that the fuel light should not come on until there is 1/8 (2.75 gallons) or less in the tank.

I may try a different gas this next fillup....

 

my fuel light comes on around 20 gallons. ussually takes 18.0 to fill up. you never want to run the tank dry. all the setiment from the gas sits at the bottom. so keeping it a good 4 gallons from empty is good. as far as running rich do you have any mods? if so you might want to try relocating your iat sensor. this will adjust your air/ fuel mixture for a better 14.7 ratio.

 

Well being as the truck is brand new with only 1500 miles on it. I'm looking to get them to fix it. I wasn't planning on running the tank dry at any point just trying to get an idea of where it was when the light came on. I guess it coming on when I have 1/4 of a tank irks me a bit. if it came on when I had 2 gallons left I'd be thrilled.

But the biggest thing is I think that the fuel sensor is tied into the whole engine management system. It's definately tied into the overhead computer. I think it being off that much is affecting a lot more than just my gas guage.

 

The overhead trip computer is not always accurate, it can float 2mpg either way from my experience on my Dak. My dads Daytona Charger has the same descrepancy. Are you resetting your overhead computer aftert each fill up?

 

Yeah I've been resetting it after each fillup, so it's not doing an average from more than the tank it's on. My fuel gauge is also way off, when the light comes on it's close to Empty on the gauge and it only takes 16 1/2 gallons to fill, that leaves 5.5 which is 1/4 of a tank. It's just not close....

 

My dak comes on with the low fuel light after about 17.5 gallons. Honestly I think this is a great feature, and also the needle just runs low compared to what's in the tank. I've always thought of it as being a safety feature so thqat you're warned in PLENTY of time to go fill it up. As for your dealer stinking in service, don't worry, I have a 5-star Chrysler center, does Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and they only do my oil changes cause they can't do crap to my truck if i have something wrong with it (I actually haven't had anything wrong with it since that one dodge dealer a bit out of the way from me fixed it a little under a year ago). It just depends on the dealer, I like smaller ones because you get more on a one on one basis with who's fixing your vehicle.

 

This may be a far out question but could they leave more gas in the bottom for thos of us that have the tranny cooler in the tank? I get nervious running low on gas while pulling stuff. I'm glad it always keeps some int he bottom, I was late for a meeting across town and left the house with the light on and couldn't fill up until after my meeting. Anyway I just suggest the guage as a rough idea, I say when it gets low....put gas in it. As far as the ruunning rich, I aree with the suggestion to switch gas. Exxon makes my pipes (gibson exhaust) BLACK now I use the new shell by my house the pipe are much cleaner (when I am not pulling the boats).