Fuel Gauge Reading Off

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CO-LR4

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So the other day let the fuel get real low to where it was showing 5miles remaining. Filled it up with about 2-3 gallons. Gauge never moved after driving and multiple restarts. Filled it up later that day and I was showing approx 25-30 miles short (range to empty) of normal. That was about a week ago and same deal. Anyone ever experience this?

Short of dropping the tank and investigating and thoughts?
 

scapistron

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Easy to lose 20-30 miles of estimated range by having a heavy foot and getting even worse mileage than normal.
 

Rover Range

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The fuel tank is roughly four feet long.
Two gallons is not going to raise the fuel level that much.
 

Land Rover Joe

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@Rover Range is right - 2 gallons isn't much in a tank that holds something like 22+ gallons.

That said, I did have a failure of my fuel sending unit in late 2013 (which was very early on). For whatever reason, the gauge read more than a 1/4 tank higher than it was...causing a roadside "break down" (in a small blizzard!) on the highway.

In those days, the truck was still under warranty and it wasn't far from the dealer so they came and towed it, diagnosed the problem (couldn't believe it though) and replaced the unit.

I never did find out why but I suspect it had something to do with bad fuel gunking things up (but am not sure).

That said, I don't trust those units much so am replacing my 2013 install (and everything in there) with new components - all from Continental (OEM - I don't want to do this again anytime soon) and sourced by Atlantic British. While working on the truck last month, we lowered the fuel tank and probably screwed up the sender / sensor (again) and now the truck reads empty all the time.

In this case, totally our fault, but it does go to show how touchy those things are.

And, unlike off road diesel trucks, we don't have removable fuel filters / strainers (much to my dismay). The fuel filter is a little plastic sock on the bottom of the sender unit / low pressure fuel pump which sits inside the tank and is integral to the unit (i.e. you can't just clean the thing or even replace it without pulling everything apart).

So that became the reason to just go ahead and replace everything in my fuel tank as part of my major rebuild project.

As @Rover Range notes, keep tinkering with the fuel and see what happens, let us know!
 

Land Rover Joe

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All new parts for the fuel tank (internal) rebuild........!
 

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powershift

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I stopped paying attention to the dist to empty. It will change and it doesn't make sense to look at it anymore. 86.3L or 22.798 gallons has been enough. If you run the vehicle dry of gas in some vehicles you will burn out the fuel pump.

The gas cools the pump so then it overheats and dies. At that point you are out of gas and then need a mechanic to drop the tank and replace the pump because it won't restart and drive off once gas is put back in. Not sure if the LR4 pump has that issue, but I'm not even going to tempt it lol.
 

Land Rover Joe

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So in 2013 when the fuel level sensor was wacked I drove the truck until there was nothing left in the tank.

I don't think the pump died but I wouldn't recommend it and we ultimately needed to replace the unit because of the level sensor.

And yes, the fuel cools and lubricates the pump sending unit.

Point being - running out of gas is bad.
 

Land Rover Joe

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So I wanted to follow-up regarding my situation.

Photo of my dash with the fuel error I have been having for several months below (i.e. no fuel measured at all and the "Fuel Level Low" warnings).

After pulling out and replacing the seal, filter unit, and sender unit (pump assembly with the fuel level sensor and bracket / float), it appears that little fuel level sensor is the problem. I am therefore ordering a new one of those and will pull the whole thing out again and replace.

My guess is that this piece (photos attached) is what failed and the dealership replaced back in 2013.
 

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Land Rover Joe

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Regarding the error / fault: I have an error light (see image 002 attached in previous post) which indicates that the vehicle fuel level is zero (regardless of what is actually in the tank). This error light does not throw DTC codes (via the GAP IID tool) but is persistent and show no fuel reading.

I have ordered the “Fuel Sender and Hanger Assembly” - Part Number: LR042974 (Supersession(s): LR015937) from Land Rover Palm Beach -

https://parts.landroverpalmbeach.com/p/54441014/LR042974.html

Their website (a great resource) notes my particular error: “Fuel Level Sending Unit - Repair or Replace: A failed or malfunctioning fuel level sender can cause the gas gauge in your Land Rover LR4 to be inaccurate or read empty or E despite the fuel level.”

I don't recall this information in the workshop manual.

What is in the workshop manual is a diagram of the (old) "Fuel Delivery Module" which includes that component (there described as the "Rear Fuel Level Sensor"). What is the front fuel level sensor you may ask (like me): diagram from the workshop manual on that component which I know nothing about.

I will replace the "Rear Fuel Level Sensor" (or the part nomenclature "Fuel Sender and Hanger Assembly") and put onto the new fuel sending unit / pump and see if that works. If not...we may need to try the front fuel level sensor.

Of note: I (mistakenly in retrospect) purchased the older fuel tank units instead of the newer, upgraded, ones (thinking that having the original would be easier to deal with). There is now a Service Bulletin on these parts - for more information, see @gsxr 's very helpful posts on this subject -



Knowledge, thoughts, and insights most welcome!
 

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