Bit of a problem (fuel, best, truck, mileage)

[Hankidan]

I've got a 1998 Ford Ranger, 4 clyinder, 2wd, regular cab, short box, XLT. I've got 280 lbs of sand in the back right now for the winter.

It burns gas like crazy. I just put $10 in yesterday, it got me to 1/4 of a tank, and comming to school today I went to like 1/8, its about 10-15 miles away from my house. What could cause this? Thanks.

[Steve-o]

The extra weight hurts. Have you checked for a fuel leak? And also when the needle dips below 1/4 tank, it always seems to move faster than expected. Dont know what causes that, but all cars seem the same in that regards.

[burdell]

What's your history with the truck? Had it long aenough to have a solid baseline number for mileage? Mileage decrease suddenly? Over time? After a specific maintenance/repair operation?

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I agree with Steve-o. I've had numerous Fords and when the gas guage gets to 1/4, that means I have about a mouthful of gas left.

[Roaddog]

Fill it up and drive it for a week, then fill it up agian and check your mieage, not all gas gauges are all that accurate. Does it run good? Start good? Let us know how the mieage is and we can give better info.

[Drover]

Gas gauges are basically useless except when they're right over the F or right over the E. Anything in between is a rough estimate at best. You say you put $10 in... well, with today's gasoline prices, that's what, a little over 3 gallons? That's probably not even a fifth of a tank. No wonder your gas needle shot right back down.

To figure out your actual mileage, fill it the tank, reset the trip odometer, drive it around for a few days or until the needle hits E, fill it again, and divide the number on the trip odometer by the number of gallons you just put in. That'll tell you what your actual consumption is.

[Hankidan]

What's your history with the truck? Had it long aenough to have a solid baseline number for mileage? Mileage decrease suddenly? Over time? After a specific maintenance/repair operation?

I've had the thing since the middle of november. It's just always got bad millage. It's been tuned up a couple of times and that dosen't seem to help. I can usually make it 3-4 days on $20 worth, which around here (southern WI) is about 7-8 gallons. Thats usually gets me to just over 1/2 of a tank. I think I have a 12-14 gallon tank, so that seems about right. and thoese are days of driving about 40 milies or more, to school and back. My friend has another 4 clinder, he has to drive just as far as i do every day, and he says that he puts 40-45 in every 2 weeks.

[tande1n5]

Gas gauges are designed to make a tank look "fuller" for longer, and most are calibrated to hang above or around "F" for as long as can be so you think the car's going great on gas, and make up for it by zooming to "E" once they're below 1/4 tank.

[desert sun]

every car or truck Ive ever had does the same thing-once it hits a 1/4 of a tank the gauge takes no time to hit E.

[Victor 13]

We do our best to keep our vehicles above the half mark. As it has been said, it zooms to the E mark once it drops under the half mark. It will cost you more if you nickle and dime it around the quarter to half range.