Gas tanks

[hondarider188]

Ok so I have been on the sight for awhile now and I have noticed that many of you guys are saying that the long bed trucks came with either 20 or 16 gallon tanks and the short bed had 16 gallon tanks. But just out of my own curiosity I have a 1983 Chevy k10 silverado and I have two 14 gallon tanks. So whats different about mine?

[zieg85]

Why do you believe you have 14 gallon tanks?  Just wondering?

[hondarider188]

well when i fill up all the way from what the gauge reads as empty the left tank goes up to 13.8 and the right tank goes up to 14.2

[zieg85]

You have 2+ gallons.  Sounds like both tanks are working, run one dry and switch it mid stream.  I bet you can put 16+ gallons in it once it's empty

[hondarider188]

so when you say run one dry you mean untili im on vapors and the truck it trying to die on me then switch it over the the other tank. and i ran the last tank what would appear to be 1/8 of a tank past empty and it came up to 13.95 so basically 14. so do you think my sending units could be going bad?

[zieg85]

I would much rather have gas at the empty reading than like my 85 C20.  I am out just a tick before E.  Takes 20.2 gallons at that point.  My aux tank hasn't worked since I've had the truck.  I would just be happy yours both work as many here don't...

[Captkaos]

The gas gauge is always going to show near empty with roughly 2-3 gallons in the tank it is so people won't run out of gas.

[blazing816]

The gas gauge is always going to show near empty with roughly 2-3 gallons in the tank it is so people won't run out of gas.

Yup they but a 2-3 gallon "reserve" in so you do not die on the side of the road.

[hondarider188]

well i like that reserve. i had no idea that it even had that. Especially because me and my dad ran his 1993 for diesel out today while we where out in the middle of know where, but luckily we got it to start again on the second tank. so thanks for the info i was just confused as to why i was being shorted on gas even though i wasn't so thanks

[Irish_Alley]

good ideal to run it out just too see how much you can go past E, so just encase you forget and arnt close to a gas station

[hondarider188]

yeah it is a good idea to run it all the way out. I just worry about any dirt or junk in the tank then sucking it into the engine, but i guess thats suppose to be what fuel filters are for.

[Irish_Alley]

now your thinking lol. but i run mine dry all the time maybe not 100% cause i dont have dual tanks but on my 79 gas gauge dosnt work so i run her till she quits. if you do it all the time there wont be much water in the tank. but i have heard people running into problems when they fill up on 1/4 tank then one day run her out. but then you also have your fuel tank valve dirt can get caught up in that easy and cause more problems

[hondarider188]

yea ill have to try it out on my current tank and see how far i can go. but while i've got you guys here is their an inline filter on the frame somewhere also like on a new vehicle or is it just the one on the carb?

[zieg85]

yea ill have to try it out on my current tank and see how far i can go. but while i've got you guys here is their an inline filter on the frame somewhere also like on a new vehicle or is it just the one on the carb?

From the factory there is a sock filter in the tank and a gas filter in the carb, that's it.

[hondarider188]

ok thanks for the info everybody. I just need o run my truck out of gas and dread the day i fill it back up;)