The 26-gallon fuel tank is a standard feature of the Ford F150; however, it has many disadvantages that make it hard for the drivers to choose it, and that is why people choose the 36-gallon tank.
You can replace the 26-gallon fuel tank with a 36-gallon fuel tank in a Ford F150 by locating the tank. park the truck and turn off its engine. Remove the hoses and wire harness from the tank, remove the bolts using a wrench machine and place a floor jack under the tank. Take the old tank out, move the fuel from one tank to the other, take the 36-gallon tank under the truck, and fix it using the two bolts of the frame.
The increasing popularity of 4×4 vehicles has led to a rise in the amount of off-roading, which, in turn, has led to a growing need for large fuel tanks on these vehicles.
Why Would You Swap 26-Gallon with a 36-Gallons fuel tank in F150?
Fuel tanks are containers that hold flammable liquid or gas and are made from all kinds of materials, but the most common is metal.
You can fill it with petrol, gas, or diesel, and they, in turn, run your trucks through the combustion process where the air and fuel mixture from the carburetor and injectors carries out the process in a truck engine.
It is the major source here; without it, you cannot start your truck because it is the only way to power your ford F150, and there is no other way.
The first benefit of a full 36-gallon is that it gives you a greater range and provides several other benefits as it allows you to drive longer without having to fill up.
If you want to visit somewhere but know it is not near a gas station, choose the larger fuel tank, which means more time for driving and less time spent at gas stations.
The second benefit is that they allow you to take advantage of low prices as the price per gallon goes down, and you can spend only a small amount of money on a lot of fuel. The first disadvantage of 26-gallon is that it has a low capacity, so you will have to fill up more often than the 36-gallon.
Many ford trucks are already occupied with 36-gallon, making them one of the largest tanks on the market today. A truck is a heavy vehicle that runs on the road and carries loads and passengers from one place to another.
If you have a 26-gallon fuel, then it will end within no time, and you will be stuck on the hill with no gas stations nearby, but on the other hand, a 36-gallon will make it possible for you to climb up without any problems and without having to fill the tank again and again.
Swapping 26-Gallon Fuel Tank to 36-Gallon in Ford F150
Before swapping, the first thing you need to do is park your ford F150 at the nearby safe place or in your garage, where you can easily access all its parts.
Turn off its engine using your keys, and do not start it until you stop swapping, and after that, you need to locate it. People always want to know where their truck’s fuel tank is when trying to swap, but this is not easy to find.
Its location varies; for example, in the case of the Ford F150, it is present under the bed on the driver’s side.
Now you need to lay down and move under your truck and find out if there is fuel present and how much is present in it.
You can check it using the digital meter installed on your truck’s dashboard, or you can smash your hand on it to have a rough idea about it.
You will see a long steel frame approximately a little larger than the size of your fuel tank, or there may be two bands that will be holding it using two bolts each on one side. Two tubes will be connected; one is a filler neck attached using a clamp, while the other is a vent tube.
A filler neck provides a safe method for refueling your truck as it connects directly to the pump nozzle and allows you to fill it up quickly and easily without spilling any of the gasoline inside.
On the other hand, a fuel vent tube is used to collect and dispose of fumes created by the combustion process as it is connected to the air intake system, which draws in fresh air for the engine.
Now loose the screw present on the clamp and remove the filler neck so that you can easily take it down and swap it. You will see two more tubes going in on one side, one of them is the fuel feed line, and you can remove it by squeezing the pipe.
Put a floor jack exactly under it and slowly start to lift it until it hits the tank and then remove the two bolts of the frame using a wrench, or you can also use a wrench machine.
You can slowly move the floor jack down and stop lowering it down at approximately half the length; then, on top of it, you will see two to three wiring harnesses that you can easily remove by simply pressing the button present on them.
Lower your floor jack until it hits the ground, take it out and place it somewhere safe, now remove the heat shield from your 26-gallon and use it on a 36-gallon tank.
They have aluminum material reflecting radiation and dissipating its energy throughout the shield, preventing it from building up in one area.
Put the gasket on the pump in such a way that the gasket does not move, and it fixes the pump at its position, or you can also use a hammer, chisel, and push it so that it gets fixed.
Now put the 36-gallon on the floor jack and slowly take it below the truck, moving it up so that it is at its right position.
Put the bands and tight the bolts and connect all the wiring harnesses and hoses so that the fuel will not leak. Since it is slightly larger than the 26-gallon, so it means the hoses will be a little tight at their connections.
Start the engine and take your truck for a short ride; check for any leaks; if there is not any problem, then it means your swap was successful.
How Many Miles Can a Ford F150 Go with a 36 Gallon Fuel Tank?
Designers overlook the size of fuel tanks in designs and their calculations; for example, it is common for designers to copy the sizes from a previous design or even use nominal values based on the vendor’s catalogs.
The manufacturer may not realize that these values are only valid under nominal conditions and that there is a lot of uncertainty in operationally obtaining the required fuel quantities.
The total miles you can travel depends on certain factors like the amount of load you are carrying and the type of road on which you are driving.
On average, with a 36-gallon fuel tank on your Ford F150, you can travel between 850 miles to 1150 miles depending on the condition of the road.
Your truck uses a lot of energy and fuel on a steep road, and the distance you can travel in miles decreases, but if you are driving on the road with no traffic and jumps, you can cover more distance.
For instance, an additional factor such as temperature affects the volumetric flow rate of the fuel, which can cause large uncertainties when selecting nominal tank capacities.
Installation Cost and Time Taken to Swap
The average time a beginner takes to swap the tank is about two to three hours, and you also need to take the help of your friend while swapping them.
On the other hand, an expert person who knows the process of swapping will complete the swap within one hour without any external help.
If you do not have a fuel pump, you will have to buy one, and it can cost you about $150 to $400, depending on the quality of the pump.
You will have to spend $550 to $1550 to buy a 36-gallon fuel tank for your ford F150, but if you do not want to pay such a high price, you can buy used ones on different online websites.
Things to consider when adding 36-gallon fuel tank on F150
Companies construct them with multiple layers of materials, which helps prevent leakage and keep the gasoline contained within the f150 tank.
The most vulnerable layer of any fuel tank is its outer shell or exterior lining, which can quickly start leaking. Therefore, they should be properly handled and maintained to avoid any leakage or contamination; check them regularly to ensure it is secure and has no leaks.
If the tank has rust, clean it out before applying a protective coating, it will prevent further corrosion of the metal parts and make sure there are no cracks on its surface.
Even if you do nothing else with your vehicle, make sure you inspect its outer lining for wear and tear or damage.
When washing your truck, do not use high-pressure water hoses as these can damage the fuel tank by causing dents on its surface.
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