88 F-150 gas gauges

Sounds like the sending units are going out. Fairly common on Fords of that vintage. I had to replace the rear tank unit on my '86 F150/351W recently. New sending units are available online, as well as shops that will rebuild your unit(s). Run a search on Fuel Sending Units and some sources will show up.

AmmonMan

Here's an idea. Replace the sending units. About $15 ea. You can also buy them at NAPA, Carquest and of course Ford.

Use the trip odometer as a replacement fuel supply measuring device. I've had two fords, so far, where the fuel gauge didn't work and I just used the trip odometer: fill tank full every time and reset odometer; refill around 200-230 miles.

I also used an old Pontiac one winter that didn't have a trip odometer and 1/4 on the gauge meant "empty". A station wagon with worse gas mileage than my pickup!

As for fixing the problem ... I guess replacing the sending units sounds like a good idea, if you think the labor is worth it. I never tried to fix it on any of the vehicles I drove since the trip odometer was good enough for me.

-D

I do that. But after a couple of bad experiences, I now carry a gas can with about 2 gallons of gas in it...Get tired of walking, or having to call someone and wait...lol

$15 ?!?

Not bloody likely.

More like $75-$100 depending on year and tank.

Gus

No, you can get the whole fuel pump and sender assembly for that kind of money. I don't know what the sender costs, but it's not much. But then, if the posters really look to us for prices rather than to a store, it's not bloody likely they actually plan to buy or fix anything anyway.