I was reading in a local paper a column that advised not to let your gas tank get to low or consistently low because that makes your fuel pump work harder and will eventually result in a worn out pump? Is that the case? Is it as simple as that?
Fuel Pump -Low fuel?
- Thread starter coopns
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Originally Posted By: coopns
I was reading in a local paper a column that advised not to let your gas tank get to low or consistently low because that makes your fuel pump work harder and will eventually result in a worn out pump? Is that the case? Is it as simple as that?
The short answer is yes. Some cars that have in tank fuel pumps actually use fuel to cool the fuel pump. Running too low on gas is not good for the pump. As a rule I like to gas up when I'm just above the 1/4 tank mark. At $4 a gallon that lessens the hit of filling up.
I was reading in a local paper a column that advised not to let your gas tank get to low or consistently low because that makes your fuel pump work harder and will eventually result in a worn out pump? Is that the case? Is it as simple as that?
The short answer is yes. Some cars that have in tank fuel pumps actually use fuel to cool the fuel pump. Running too low on gas is not good for the pump. As a rule I like to gas up when I'm just above the 1/4 tank mark. At $4 a gallon that lessens the hit of filling up.
I've always thought that was the idea of the "idiot light" - gas up when the gas light comes on, when the idiot light comes on, the pump would no longer be "submerged" in fuel, to keep it cool.
Or so I thought.
My 2 previous vehicles had an idiot light that would emit when the vehicle had ~1 gallon of gasoline remaining.....
Now, my 88 Aries, no light what so ever
but I've learnt that it does have some sort of "reserve" - every resource I've found points me to a 14 gallon tank, BUT I have never put more than 11 gallons of fuel in the tank.....and that's taking the gas gauge real low.
Or so I thought.
My 2 previous vehicles had an idiot light that would emit when the vehicle had ~1 gallon of gasoline remaining.....
Now, my 88 Aries, no light what so ever
Plenty of fuel going through the pump to cool it.
One might make it work *slightly* harder lifting fuel from a foot lower in the tank, but since they push 60+ PSI, I don't see it being a big deal.
I've never had a fuel pump conk out on my watch. Like water pumps or alternators, some things just never happen *to me.*
One might make it work *slightly* harder lifting fuel from a foot lower in the tank, but since they push 60+ PSI, I don't see it being a big deal.
I've never had a fuel pump conk out on my watch. Like water pumps or alternators, some things just never happen *to me.*
I generally fill the tank, and fill it when the low light comes on. Best of both worlds, as a compromise.
Some systems are more sensitive to low fuel in the tank. And some can cause more pump wear when low.
In general, not a problem unless you REALLY let it get low.
This is also one big reason why I use TCW3 2 stroke oil or MMO in the fuel. Alcohol infused gas is NOT good for pump life.
Some systems are more sensitive to low fuel in the tank. And some can cause more pump wear when low.
In general, not a problem unless you REALLY let it get low.
This is also one big reason why I use TCW3 2 stroke oil or MMO in the fuel. Alcohol infused gas is NOT good for pump life.
It is a very good idea to re-fuel before you get too far past the 1/4 tank mark. It keeps the fuel pump cool and even though you have a fuel filter, refilling at 1/4 tank also helps avoid sucking up any dirt or debris that might be in the bottom of the tank. You can run the tank low every now and then but running low too often is definitely not good for the fuel pump.
Fuel actually runs through the fuel pump motor itself, the armature and electrics. As long as there is fuel at the pickup, then there is fuel running through the pump cooling it.
The fuel pump pulls from the bottom of the tank whether it is full or nearly empty. Any dirt and garbage in the bottom of the tank is there when it is full, as well as when it is nearly empty. Fuel level has nothing to do with how much garbage a pump pulls.
The fuel pump pulls from the bottom of the tank whether it is full or nearly empty. Any dirt and garbage in the bottom of the tank is there when it is full, as well as when it is nearly empty. Fuel level has nothing to do with how much garbage a pump pulls.
Originally Posted By: punisher
Fuel actually runs through the fuel pump motor itself, the armature and electrics. As long as there is fuel at the pickup, then there is fuel running through the pump cooling it.
The fuel pump pulls from the bottom of the tank whether it is full or nearly empty. Any dirt and garbage in the bottom of the tank is there when it is full, as well as when it is nearly empty. Fuel level has nothing to do with how much garbage a pump pulls.
"Fuel level has nothing to do with how much garbage a pump pulls."
^^^
I respectfully disagree with that.
Fuel actually runs through the fuel pump motor itself, the armature and electrics. As long as there is fuel at the pickup, then there is fuel running through the pump cooling it.
The fuel pump pulls from the bottom of the tank whether it is full or nearly empty. Any dirt and garbage in the bottom of the tank is there when it is full, as well as when it is nearly empty. Fuel level has nothing to do with how much garbage a pump pulls.
"Fuel level has nothing to do with how much garbage a pump pulls."
^^^
I respectfully disagree with that.
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I think punisher is correct unless there is crud that is floating on top of the fuel. The fuel pickup is hung off the fuel pump and usually has a sock filter around the pickup. It is going to pickup some crud from the fuel nearby that it is taking in. But there is also a lot of movement of the gas in the tank due to driving in general.
Originally Posted By: lexus114
"Fuel level has nothing to do with how much garbage a pump pulls."
^^^
I respectfully disagree with that.
.......and I respectfully disagree with your disagreement.
"Fuel level has nothing to do with how much garbage a pump pulls."
^^^
I respectfully disagree with that.
.......and I respectfully disagree with your disagreement.
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As far as the fuel cooling the pump, while the fuel going through the pump may cool it internally, isn't part of the cooling dependent on the pump being surrounded externally by the fuel?
I've changed the sock filter on my fuel pump (so I know where it is located in my tank) and it does seem to me that the pump would lose the cooling effect, at least partially, when the fuel level went very low.
I've changed the sock filter on my fuel pump (so I know where it is located in my tank) and it does seem to me that the pump would lose the cooling effect, at least partially, when the fuel level went very low.
Originally Posted By: punisher
Originally Posted By: lexus114
"Fuel level has nothing to do with how much garbage a pump pulls."
^^^
I respectfully disagree with that.
.......and I respectfully disagree with your disagreement.
And I agree with YOUR disagreement!
[punisher is way right]
Originally Posted By: lexus114
"Fuel level has nothing to do with how much garbage a pump pulls."
^^^
I respectfully disagree with that.
.......and I respectfully disagree with your disagreement.
And I agree with YOUR disagreement!
[punisher is way right]
Whatever...that is the way I learned it and it's my reasoning behind what I think about fuel pumps and low fuel levels. I still fill up when I hit the 1/4 tank mark or at the most just a tad below it. I replaced my original fuel pump last year, it lasted about 125K which I figure I got my money's worth from it. It wasn't even a fuel pump failure that caused me to replace it. The internal fuel pump pressure regulator had a check valve that had failed and my engine was taking a few extra seconds to start up after sitting overnight. This is a known common problem on Dodge Dakota fuel pumps. Once started it ran fine but I changed the pump asssembly out before it or a part of it had a chance to fail and leave me stranded some where. I fill up with good quality gas at 1/4 tank and use MMO in my fuel so hopefully I won't need another new fuel pump for a very long time.
This is how I learned it. That's my story and I am sticking to it. Or as John Wayne once put it so well, "A man's gotta do what he thinks is right."
This is how I learned it. That's my story and I am sticking to it. Or as John Wayne once put it so well, "A man's gotta do what he thinks is right."
Originally Posted By: lexus114
"Fuel level has nothing to do with how much garbage a pump pulls."
^^^
I respectfully disagree with that.
So, do you care to give some arguments as to why you disagree?
IMO, punisher is right.
"Fuel level has nothing to do with how much garbage a pump pulls."
^^^
I respectfully disagree with that.
So, do you care to give some arguments as to why you disagree?
IMO, punisher is right.
Originally Posted By: Jimmy9190
Whatever...that is the way I learned it and it's my reasoning behind what I think about fuel pumps and low fuel levels.
Atta boy! Way to be open-minded about things.
Whatever...that is the way I learned it and it's my reasoning behind what I think about fuel pumps and low fuel levels.
Atta boy! Way to be open-minded about things.
Originally Posted By: punisher
Originally Posted By: lexus114
"Fuel level has nothing to do with how much garbage a pump pulls."
^^^
I respectfully disagree with that.
.......and I respectfully disagree with your disagreement.
I think it has a tendency to pick up more dirt when the level is low.
Now I`m not saying I`m right by any means, But to me it just makes more sense.
Originally Posted By: lexus114
"Fuel level has nothing to do with how much garbage a pump pulls."
^^^
I respectfully disagree with that.
.......and I respectfully disagree with your disagreement.
I think it has a tendency to pick up more dirt when the level is low.
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IMHO, it depends on the pump and filtering in the car.
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