Fuel tanks not equalizing , fuel guage stuck on full

Discussion in 'International Forum' started by jameson1985, Oct 4, 2014.

  1. jameson1985

    jameson1985 Bobtail Member

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    Oct 4, 2014
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    Hi All ,

    2008 prostar, Fuel Guage got stuck on full. A few hours later ran out of fuel and realized one side was full and the other side was empty.


    Someone advised that there is a pump which transfers fuel from one tank to the other. If the fuel guage is stuck on full then the pump is never activated.

    Anyone had this issue ?

    Thanks in advance
     
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  3. drozzer69

    drozzer69 Road Train Member

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    Its a common thing for these trucks. Driver side reads the level, passenger side determine the equalizing. At least that is what I have been told.
     
  4. pupeperson

    pupeperson Light Load Member

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    The tanks have to vent in order for the fuel to get to the engine. The vent on the tank that remains full is likely plugged. The vents can be on the top of the tanks or on the caps. You need to locate and clean them out so they will work properly. Another option is whenever you stop, burp the tanks by removing the caps for a while and the remaining fuel will tend to equalize...
     
    Zay1528 Thanks this.
  5. Jokingypsy

    Jokingypsy Medium Load Member

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    You never noticed after a couple hundred miles you had not burned any fuel yet?

    Adam
     
    Zay1528 Thanks this.
  6. jameson1985

    jameson1985 Bobtail Member

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    Oct 4, 2014
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    Hi Adam,

    Im not the driver , but its a valid point :)

    For now im wondering what the issue is ...and how much its gonna cost me to fix it.

    Thanks !
     
  7. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    i can't say about the internation as i've never driven one.

    but there's USUALLY a line between the two tanks. that's where the equalization does it's job.

    sometimes there's a valve to shut that line off. sometimes not. a lot of times however, that line gets plugged up for whatever reason.

    we had a truck where i was working at at that time. where someone stuck a gatorade bottle wrapper in the tank. it plugged the hole. only one tank was getting used.

    right now i've got a friend in a kw. mechanics can't figure out what that problem is.

    counting my lucky stars, it's never happend to me. YET.
     
  8. pupeperson

    pupeperson Light Load Member

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    It can be lots of things Like Snowwy said, debris in the tank (happened to me once, just like he said, only for me it was the seal off a jug of Lucas fuel additive), or I've seen the manufacturers substitute air line for fuel lines when they were short on the day the trucks were built. Over time the fuel or additives used in it caused the lines to swell shut. Sometimes the splitter valve in the return line gets some little piece of grit in it and no longer functions properly. Still, the most common cause and easiest, cheapest to fix, is the vent.
     
  9. baha

    baha Road Train Member

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    CK. equalzer valve on top of rear of trans. all lines lead there, then to tanks.
     
  10. Flightline

    Flightline Road Train Member

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    The tanks normally equalize by the returning of fuel from the engine. 80% of the fuel the engine pumps gets returned to the tanks. Usually behind the trans., mounted on a crossmember is what looks like a tee in the return line. Inside this tee is a rubber flap that sends fuel to the tank with less pressure. That's where the tank vents make such a difference. Normally the engine sucks fuel from the higher tanks because of more gravity.

    Vent problems are the most common issue.
    Restriction in line second common.
    Sometimes the equalizing tee will cause this issue also.
    Far as I've ever seen, the tee on the supply is just a tee.
     
  11. jameson1985

    jameson1985 Bobtail Member

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    Oct 4, 2014
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    Thanks for the Info all ...The truck is In California ....For Now I have instructed drivers to run on 1 tank until the get back home.

    Will let you guys know how it turns out
     
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