Gas Gauge issue

So I have a weird issue that just happened. I ran out of gas but was not on empty. Let me explain.

Last time I filled up, the gas light had just turned on a couple miles earlier. The hundreds of times I have filled up that means about 2 gallons in the tank left. When I filled up I put in just over 26 gallons (the tank is 26.4 gallons). I figured the gas pump was out of calibration but was in a rush so I didn't bother to pursue it. Last night I was at 8th of a tank (no gas light on) and knew that I would get gas today. I went to start the trunk this morning and it gave a small hiccup when starting. I thought that is weird, it has never hiccuped while starting before, (my thought was it needed a tune up or something. I then dropped my kids off and returned home to work. This afternoon I went to start it and it wouldn't start. I thought maybe a bad fuel pump or something. I finally decided to add 3/4 gallon of gas and it then started up right away. So now that I know I was out of gas now comes my question.

Is the gas gauge solely metered by the float in the tank or does it go through the ECU or something after it (estimates your gas mileage). I unplugged my battery in hopes that might be the issue. If not, does it sound like my float is getting stuck or something and not allowing it to go all the way down. As I said, it still read on the gauge that I had 1/8 of a tank left and no gas light. Also, this all happened to me on level ground in my garage (not on some angle or something).

 

Gas gauge is off... I have the same issue... usually carried a 5 gal tank and carried it around the bed, would use it at every fill up and refilled it to keep it fresh... I do believe the fuel pump goes through a fuel ECU before it goes to the engine...
Sender unit is an $80 part and it is serviceable, but you have to drop the tank to clean it or replace it... I've used seafoam in the tank and it usually works around 2 to 3 fill ups before it goes back to its usual self... so I dont let it drop below a 1/4 tank.. its sort of a hassle, but it has dropped me off in uncomfortable places like on the highway between exits 2 miles both ways and left turn lanes which people get usually upset over, lol...

 

Mine has the same issue. I found out the hard way when I test drove it. I ran out of gas on the highway, even though the gas gauge read 1/8-1/4th of a tank. At the time, I thought the truck broke down. I was bummed because I really liked the truck, and I knew that the Redrock interior is somewhat hard to come by.

Thankfully the dealer remembered that the lady who traded it in mentioned “when the range says 75 miles, that really means ZERO”. He brought a can of gas, and it was back on the road, and I bought the truck.

I always try to fill up when I hit half tank , or when my range is at 100-120 miles left or so when I’m on road trips.

 

LOL.. mine is 58 miles left, but when my battery dies, I rely on the gauge and when it almost kisses the 1/4 tank, I know I'm almost out of gas, so I pull in and grab a whole 25 gallons... From what I remember it takes 16 miles for the gauge to go from the F to the 1st hash mark... if it hangs longer than that, you know that dial is off...

 

So I replaced the sending unit and everything is working properly again!

 

Was it a pita to replace? My son’s had the same issue.