After years of serious off-roading, I discovered that my 2017 Jeep JK’s fuel gauge never went above 88% full due to a dented and deformed fuel tank skid plate. Despite replacing the fuel pump and sending unit, the issue persisted until I removed and replaced the damaged skid plate. With the new skid plate installed, the fuel gauge finally registered 100%, revealing that the damaged skid plate was limiting my tank’s capacity—likely reducing usable fuel by about 20%. This experience highlights the importance of inspecting underbody components after heavy off-road use to ensure accurate fuel readings and maintain full tank capacity.