cannot figure thid out

i HAVE A 96 2500 V8(318) DODGE RAM VAN WHEN I GET DOWN TO 1/4 OF A TANK OF GAS IT MISFIRES AND LOSES POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THIS ONLY HAPPENS AT A 1/4 TANK I HAVE TRYED ALL THE WATER REPELLENT STUFF DOES NOT SEEM TO MAKE A DIFFERANCE.IT GOES AWAY AFTER I FILL THE TANK AFETR ABOUT 20 MILES ANY IDEAS?

check if its a mechanic or electric problem. to test it unplug the gas sensor from the gastank. Reiner

I've had my 96 B2500 for 4 years now and it has done the same exact thing when it gets to 3/8 of tank. When I use a code reader I get codes 300, 301, 302 (random, cylinder1, cylinder 2 missfires). If I fill the tank and clear the codes it makes the problem go away immediatley. I have purposely left the tank run below a 1/4 tank this time. Today I am going to drain the remainder of the fuel from the tank to check for water. If I don't find any, I'll drop the tank. I was told by a mechanic freind the float/filter pump setup on these vans is where to look. A new pump/filter unit is over $250 for these vans. I'll let you know what I find.

It's the electric fuel pump in the tank. I had the exact same problem with my 97 1500 5.9L. It would run fine as long as you had at least 20 dollars worth of gas in it. It took me a few days to figure out what was wrong. In fact, i got a CEL saying my ignition coil was bad. Changed it. Worked for a while, then broke down again. Got another CEL telling me that the O2 sensors were bad. Went and bought them, but before I went back out to the highway to pick up my truck I decided to take them back and get the fuel pump instead. Fuel pump has been on for a week now with over 500 miles on it and no problems. Change that pump, I'd bet anything that's your problem.

I did a complete tuneup on it on Saturday (which it needed anyway) and then drained the fuel on Sunday. I found no water at all in the gas.

LTJGWorth: I beleive that you are correct in saying it's the fuel pump. It's the only thing that makes sense. I'm a do it your-selfer type person but with my current work schedule I have scheduled an appointment on Tuesday with my local Dodge Dealership to get them to do a fuel pressure check and a pump replacement (after I give them my approval).

Since this is the only repair that the van has ever needed in 70,000 miles and it has never left me abandoned, I really have no complaints.
Thanks all

Sorry for the delayed response.
I took the van to the dealer for testing with only 1/4 tank of fuel. I cleared the codes before I left the house and as soon as I put a load on the engine going up a hill it began missing and popping. By the time I got to the dealership the MIL was lit again.They ran the diagnostic and it showed low fuel pressure. Module FU 14067004 (fuel pump assembly) was $367.00. Labor was $219.00. Add on the tax and Misc. shop supplies and the job cost $632.88.
I've ran it for three days without adding any fuel to the 1/4 tank (now down to 1/8) and it has run perfect. At this point I wish I would have taken care of this 4 years ago when I first started having this problem.