Six gallons in the tank.

[1900 North]

I have a 2018 Ford 3/4 ton van with a Prochem 650 mounted inside. Installed by a highly respected truck mount installer, my irritation is that the 650 runs out of fuel with 6 or 7 gallons of gas still in the tank. A friend with a Chevy van and a 370 installed has the same issue. Is there any kind of fix for this problem?

 

[Justin Legend Brands]

The fuel tap is made to not draw gas at less than 1/4 tank. This is a safety measure so you don't run your van empty, and end up stuck.

 

[BIG WOOD]

That was a very big reason I put my setup in a box truck. I set up a secondary 30gallon saddle tank for the truckmount only. I knew 1tank wasn’t enough for both the van and machine

 

[Mikey P]

I have a 2018 Ford 3/4 ton van with a Prochem 650 mounted inside. Installed by a highly respected truck mount installer, my irritation is that the 650 runs out of fuel with 6 or 7 gallons of gas still in the tank. A friend with a Chevy van and a 370 installed has the same issue. Is there any kind of fix for this problem?

Fill up more often.

 

[The Boot]

Usually fill up at 1/4 tank.

 

[Johnny]

I extended the pickup line to the bottom of the tank more than ten years ago and have never run out of gas. My van has a fuel gage.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

Once, and only once, I ran the van out of gas at a job on the court square.

We then shortened the tap so that if the machine ran out of gas the van would still be able to go for more.

Now i always fill up if near half down.

 

[Johnny]

Extending the end of the fuel pickup line from one quarter up from the bottom of the tank to the bottom gives you a 33% bigger tank.

And much more flexibility in your schedule, if you have a fuel gage.

 

[Cleanworks]

fuel gauges aren't always that accurate. One of my trucks is a Chevy Astro van with a pto in it. I believe the tank is 22 gallons. The fuel gauge takes a long time to get down to 1/4 but from 1/4 to empty, it happens very quickly. theoretically at 1/4, I should have 5.5 gallons left but in reality, I think its much less than that. I usually don't start a job unless I'm at least 1/2 full.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

Even with a 405 it's near impossible to empty the fuel tank in one day.

It's negligence to run out of gas so I avoid that.

With the Chevy vans it is also hard on the fuel pump to run near empty, as the internal location is cooled by the fuel.

 

[sassyotto]

you have to realize that for some on the board, its more fun to get down and dirty (and smelly) and put a longer tap in than to just fill up more often.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

If you ever have a little water or trash in the bottom of the tank your deep tap will suck it up.

 

[Mark Saiger]

We fill up our vans at the end of everyday.

If we have something coming up in the day we would worry about taking a longer than normal cleaning, we would fill up. But we take less than 2 gallons per hour so it is a crazy big job to get low in our tank.

Only had it happen once were I was down to 1/4 tank after a long long day of cleaning

 

[KevinD]

I added 4 inches to my fuel tap when I put it in.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

I added 4 inches to my fuel tap when I put it in.

So, you call your wife when you run out?

 

[Johnny]

So, you call your wife when you run out?

Not likely to run out if you have a fuel gage.

How often do PTO operators run out? They don't have the 3/4 tank limit.

 

[Cleanworks]

Not likely to run out if you have a fuel gage.

How often do PTO operators run out? They don't have the 3/4 tank limit.

Which is why I fill up below 1/2 a tank.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

Not likely to run out if you have a fuel gage.

How often do PTO operators run out? They don't have the 3/4 tank limit.

There is no fuel gauge on any truckmount that I know of, unless you jump in the van and turn on the ignition switch.

Thus if you roll into a large job with 1/4 tank you might run out. I'd prefer to have enough left in the tank to DRIVE to a gas station if the machine ran out.

 

[Cleanworks]

There is no fuel gauge on any truckmount that I know of, unless you jump in the van and turn on the ignition switch.

Thus if you roll into a large job with 1/4 tank you might run out. I'd prefer to have enough left in the tank to DRIVE to a gas station if the machine ran out.

That's the one disadvantage of a pto. When you run out, you've really run out.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

That's the one disadvantage of a pto. When you run out, you've really run out.

Yep, thus I carry a sealed 2 gal can of gas in the WM, labeled "Sisal Cleaner".

 

[Johnny]

There is no fuel gauge on any truckmount that I know of, unless you jump in the van and turn on the ignition switch.

Thus if you roll into a large job with 1/4 tank you might run out. I'd prefer to have enough left in the tank to DRIVE to a gas station if the machine ran out.

It would be foolish to roll into a large job with 1/4 tank. But if you have a deeper tap, a fuel gage in the van, and can plan ahead, you can enjoy the advantage of longer runtime for the machine.

I like options.

 

[Cleanworks]

Yep, thus I carry a sealed 2 gal can of gas in the WM, labeled "Sisal Cleaner".

Where do you keep the matches?

 

[The Great Oz]

How often do PTO operators run out? They don't have the 3/4 tank limit.

Never, but our guys get their morning coffee at the fuel station near the shop, so they're stopping there every day anyway. Hard to go through 30 gallons without a break.

 

[KevinD]

So, you call your wife when you run out?

Only time I ever ran out of gas was the day I tested it on a large commercial job.
And there was still enough gas to drive to the gas station.