Running low on gas

[M1Accord]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
All the old tales are still persisting.

But the facts are that the mfgrs have dealt with the age old 'bottom' issue in a conclusive way.

You will not hurt any modern car by running it low on fuel. You also will never empty the tank completely.


What years "modern" starts? I have a 92 Corolla and 2002 Accord. Would 2002 Accord considered modern since it is only 10 years old and the engine is pristine. I know folks Americans think it is too old now even though its engine is probably in better than their 2-3 years old cars that only get oil changed at hooffy lube every 7.5k miles using low quality conventional and not all oil is changed since hooffy has to get each car out the door under 15 minutes while still being able to top all fluids and clean the windshields.

 

[M1Accord]

OP here. By the way, I drive a lot each week so each vehicle get 1 or 2 fuel stops each week, depending on which one is used more. I drive 1300 miles a week, splited between 2 vehicles. Water in gas isn't an issue and all are long trips of 50+ miles each way. The Accord see more weekend driving and that is usually 100+ each way. Since I only pump gas at certain locations, preferably with Sunoco , Shell, Chevron, or Citgo in areas I am familiar with, I usually pump before leaving the house. However, when I use it for work, I just wait till I get home and fill it up before parking it at the house. That is when it tends to have only 2 gallons left out of 17.2 gallons capacity.

The Corolla is used mostly every day and it always get 9.5-11 gallons fill up when I get fuel and the capacity is 13.2 gallons. I probably need to stop that and just fill up at the mileage marker or tank gauge marker of 1/2 empty. In the winter, the gas gauge shows 3/4 full after only 60 miles driving; therefore, I never both with it until the warning lights comes on. Usually, there is 4 gallons left and I tend to drive a bit more after that since I live a distance away. But I am going to just fill up when it gets to 1/2 empty regardless of how accurate or inaccurate the gauge is.

 

[mechtech2]

When the fuel light comes on, cars have 2-3 gallons left in them.
Enough to get somewhere to refuel, and also a reserve so the engine does not misfire,and potentially cause cat damage, spark knock damage, or a road incident from a sputtering car with no power steering [or whatever].

I am no KRAMER from Seinfeld, but my usual style is to fill her up, and drive till the light goes on. I get the best of both worlds, and the worst of both worlds.

I do believe that the more fuel , the better [for fuel pump life].
Some pumps circulate, and some don't.

 

[Rickey]

FWIW:

I once ran my 85 Camaro out of fuel. (2.8 FI)
I got it to the gas station by rocking it to slosh fuel into the fuel pick up.
After refueling, it ran a block or two then quit.
Removing the in tank fuel pump I discovered that it had "ingested" part of the fuel strainer!

Maybe a fluke.....who knows?

Rickey.

 

[GMFan]

Ironically I had the gas light come on in my car today right before I filled up with gas and judging by the size of my gas tank and the amount it took to fill it triggered with 2.5 gallons left.

 

[DragRace]

Wives tale huh,yeah not gonna put much faith into that statement.
That fuel pump inside the gas tank relies on the gasoline to keep it lubricated and cool,period.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Duh.

The point is (and remains) that you cannot empty the tank.

Might want to measure the fuel temp sometime, it's not very cool anyway.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

The only time my gas light comes on is when I start the vehicle and the instrument cluster does the self test.

 

[surfstar]

When you think of the millions of cars on the road and the fact that a majority run until the light reminds them to get gas - fuel pumps are simply not going out right and left.

I have 340k miles on my original pump in my '93 Mazda - ran more tanks with the fuel light on than off. NO ISSUES.

Get gas when its convinient and required, not every 1/2 tank!

 

[Nick R]

Hah, I almost always wait until after the light comes on to fill up. Usually I'm getting down to running on fumes, this past time I was down until the car told me I had 11 miles remaining. When I still had the focus, I once drove 30 miles AFTER the car told me "0 miles remaining".

 

[MNgopher]

Zero issue with driving until the low fuel light turns on, if so equipped. I've driven my entire fleet of cars this way since I started driving, and I've never replaced a fuel pump. It is the fluid flowing through the pump that keeps it cool, not just the sheer volume in the tank. Will the temp be higher, yes. High enough to matter, not likely. So long as you don't run it dry, I see no issues.

 

[mechtech2]

Originally Posted By: surfstar
When you think of the millions of cars on the road and the fact that a majority run until the light reminds them to get gas - fuel pumps are simply not going out right and left.

I have 340k miles on my original pump in my '93 Mazda - ran more tanks with the fuel light on than off. NO ISSUES.

Get gas when its convinient and required, not every 1/2 tank!


Scyooze me, but fuel pumps are a common unit that fails.
Not many go 340+k with the factory pump - this is a rarity and not normal. Many do fail before that - loads.

 

[Dave Hess]

M1Accord,

You drive 1300 miles per week ???
What is your occupation that has you on the road so much?

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Duh.

The point is (and remains) that you cannot empty the tank.

Might want to measure the fuel temp sometime, it's not very cool anyway.


Yeah but when the pump is only trying to suck air, the tank may as well be empty cause the fuel isn't getting to the pickup that's under the pump...

I usually refill mine when it's at 1/4 or just slightly below, rarely do I let the low fuel light come on...

When I drag race my '88 T-Bird it will all but die off the line if there is less than 1/2 tank... Has a wide flat bottom tank that lets the fuel run away from the pickup...

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Originally Posted By: surfstar
When you think of the millions of cars on the road and the fact that a majority run until the light reminds them to get gas - fuel pumps are simply not going out right and left.

I have 340k miles on my original pump in my '93 Mazda - ran more tanks with the fuel light on than off. NO ISSUES.

Get gas when its convinient and required, not every 1/2 tank!


Scyooze me, but fuel pumps are a common unit that fails.
Not many go 340+k with the factory pump - this is a rarity and not normal. Many do fail before that - loads.



Depends on the vehicle I guess. Our service fleet has not had a fuel pump failure in many years. Two units rolling daily with 250k+ miles and 400k+ miles. I cannot recall the last fuel pump that ever failed on me, and that's across a pretty large section of vehicles old and new.

Far from a "common" failure. My local 8 bay shop owner says he gets about 5 or so a month, that's not exactly a ton when he services 40 cars a day. Hardly a scientific survey either.

Note that any later model car I have seen has a well around the pump unit to keep some gas around it no matter what.

 

[mechtech2]

Fuel pumps are bread and butter repairs. And they are not at their best longevity with alcohol in the fuel.
It's why I use MMO or 2 stroke oil in the fuel.