fuel range indication freak out !

[squirrely_1]

hello, i usually don't post about my newer chevy but i am at a loss..My fuel range estimate just starts dropping as soon as i start my truck, then it climbs then it drops and sometimes the fuel needle with follow suit?..I have owned several chevy pickups, and back in the day when your fuel guage started not reading or freaking out then it meant a fuel pump change was in your future. Is this an indication on the newer Chevy trucks? I figure must be a sending unit thing, or is it something simpler? All replies are appreciated !

[usmcchevy]

What year truck?

[squirrely_1]

sorry forgot to post the vehicle info

2005 silverado 5.3 crew cab Z71

[bwood]

How much does the needle move and does it sometimes not work at all?

[squirrely_1]

it moves wth the digital display , by that i mean when the range estimate moves so does the needle

[bwood]

What I meant was, does the needle act sometimes like it is not working, only shows 1/4 when it's full or pegs out when it low. The digital is a calculation of your remaining fuel * your avg mpg. So if you park on a hill, the fuel level will fluctuate and your miles to E will change also. There is also an that exists where the stock instrument clusters had issues and the needles can go crazy. It comes up often.
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[squirrely_1]

The fuel needle always works ,never goes to E when it is not supposed to..But my estimated fuel range just goes up and down as i drive the truck , my average fuel economy stays the same as it always has been..The fuel pump is not whining like the 3 other chevy's that i have owned, that i replaced pumps on..But i am approaching the 115,000 mile chevy breakdown.. which is usually 1 of three, Fuel pump , water pump , or power steering pump..But thats just my experience..lol

[clinebarger]

My 04 does the same thing....There is nothing wrong....Its just the way it works.

[gmclowsierra]

Go to the dealer and get some fuel treatment. The sensor is corroded. The gm cleaner will clean the fuel card.
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[squirrely_1]

thank you ..i will give it a shot...so this remedies the problem of me having 25 gallons of gas and the indication dropping from full to almost empty then climbing , and so on and so forth?

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by squirrely_1

thank you ..i will give it a shot...so this remedies the problem of me having 25 gallons of gas and the indication dropping from full to almost empty then climbing , and so on and so forth?

Originally Posted by squirrely_1

The fuel needle always works ,never goes to E when it is not supposed to..But my estimated fuel range just goes up and down as i drive the truck , my average fuel economy stays the same as it always has been..The fuel pump is not whining like the 3 other chevy's that i have owned, that i replaced pumps on..But i am approaching the 115,000 mile chevy breakdown.. which is usually 1 of three, Fuel pump , water pump , or power steering pump..But thats just my experience..lol

You said it doesnt go to E??

[ncl5047]

sending unit?

[squirrely_1]

it will go to E if i have no gas , what i was trying to say is when i put 20 gallons of gas in at the pump, i know that gets me 325 miles, cuz i have gears in my rear, and i drive in town and i like to hear my flowmasters...lol ..But it will sit at 325 miles for a split second then drastically drop to like 90 miles then bounce back up to 300 , and so on and so forth, and the fuel needle reflects the digital display while it is fluxuating...Does that clearify at all?

[bwood]

Originally Posted by squirrely_1

...Does that clearify at all?

So when the range drops to 90, the needle also drops? If this is the case, I would check the sending unit as recently stated. The range is connected to the fuel level, so if the needle move the range will follow.