Just wondering if anybody has an explanation for this:
I parked my 2007 LTon a slight incline. The fuel guage was between 1/4 and empty. The low fuel warning light was not lit. When I went to start it a couple of hours later it would not start, and the low fuel light was on. I coasted to level ground and it started right up but the low fuel light remained on. I immediately filled it with gas and it only took 20.5 gallons. Is this normal to happen with 5 gallons still left in the tank?
Thanks for any input

 

Had a similar experience this weekend. Had about 1/4 tank when I stopped. When I left, I backed into a driveway (which left the front end lower than the rear) and left the engine running. Loaded up the grandkids and when I pulled out, the gauge was at "E" and stayed there. I first thought someone had siphoned the gas out but when I filled up, it only took about 20 gal.

 

Any obvious reasons for this that we may be missing?

 

The fuel gauge has a buffer feature which makes the needle slow to react, this prevents the needle from constantly moving around as the fuel sloshes in the tank as you drive, and since fuel levels change slowly it this feature normally works appropriately.

There are occasions (such as parking on a moderate incline) that will cause the needle to show empty and trigger the low fuel warning lamp, when this happens the fuel quantity gauge is designed to be extra slow in coming back up, the reason behind this is on the chance that you are actually low on fuel (not just on a hill) it is better to report low fuel then the opposite.

Philosophy: Better to be a driver with 4 gallons of left in the tank then it is to be a pedestrian with an empty tank.

Had you have waited for a spell with the key "on” after the vehicle was brought back to level the gauge would have eventually returned to showing the correct amount of fuel.
So just remember that the needle goes down easier and faster then it goes up especially during the last ¼ of a tank and after the low fuel warning message.

 

Thanks for the info. Wholeheartedly agree with the driver vs pedestrian part. Did that once in my son's CJ-7 going up a long hill with what I thought was about 1/8 tank. Guess the pickup was in front as it didn't make it.[]

 

Thanks ZX!