2001 SMB E350 V10 Running out of gas early

[BroncoHauler]

Originally Posted by mgmetalworks

The fuel pump/sending unit is not difficult to replace. $300-ish part, drop the tank, replace unit, put tank back in. There are fuel line release tools at Harbor Freight that work fine. Nothing complicated for a DIY'er.

Please be sure to start with a near empty tank though.


Herb

[mgmetalworks]

Originally Posted by BroncoHauler

Please be sure to start with a near empty tank though.


Herb

yeah...that should be common sense but totally worth mentioning. A tank with even 10 gallons in it is an entertaining exercise in balance and muscle control.

[BroncoHauler]

Originally Posted by mgmetalworks

yeah...that should be common sense but totally worth mentioning. A tank with even 10 gallons in it is an entertaining exercise in balance and muscle control.

I've done the "it should be empty enough" rationalization, only to regret to later.

[billwilson]

LOL,
oh, JUST drop the tank

Glad it aint me ;-)

[86Scotty]

If you have access to a lift it is amazingly simple. Lift the van, put a table under the tank, unbolt and lift some more. It's only a couple grand for a lift, and it may be nearly worth this cost just to remove a tank safely and easily.

[arctictraveller]

Reading this thread has given me the shivers again. On our recient trip to Moab, the van momentarily stalled when taking off from a stop, and this was the same symptom I had when I lost my first fuel pump. It only happened once, and then ran fine for thousands of miles, but I'm concerned the latest pump is on it's way out. I'm now on my third pump (including the original one) and carry a spare along with a fuel pressure gauge, but the thought of changing it out on the trail is not a happy one at all. If it does happen, I'll have to lower one side a little with the stock jack, block it up, move the jack, lower some more, block more, move the jack, remove some blocks etc until it's on the ground. Doing this when it's less than empty won't be fun but what choice is there? I've considered an exterior mounted pump, but haven't followed through yet. I wish I knew what was going on to kill the pumps, all of which are lifetime waranty. I try not to run the tank too low, but sometimes it can't be helped. Anyone ever use an external pump?