Running fuel low

[DTro]

Just read an article in the Trib about gas price apps and people running out of gas trying to hit a cheaper station. This was in the article:

Damage to a vehicle can produce an even bigger expense. Letting the gas tank get below a quarter of a tank can cause the fuel pump to overheat, said Mike Patrick, service manager at Carver General Repair in St. Paul. Sediment can clog the fuel pump screen and eventually the fuel filter and the fuel injectors.

I almost always run until I have a couple of gallons left, (which is E on my tank) and always have with other vehicles too. Is this really a problem? Wouldn't that cost auto manufacturers tons of money in warranty claims if true?

[TooTallTom]

I usually run to or past 'E' as well. (I get at least 30 miles from the time the [PoorWordUsage]-light comes on.) But I know that there's gas left in the tank below what's "usable." (The most I've ever pumped is about 17.5 gallons into a 20-gallon tank.) The pump can't take all the gas out just because of positioning. So, really, I'm working the pump as hard as it can be worked and still pump gas when there's a couple of gallons left in the tank.

I really have no idea if their claim is true, but it would only cost the manufacturers for warranty replacement if the pumps are burning out when the pump is still under warranty.

[pureinsanity]

Sounds to me like mumbo jumbo. just like keep your tank filled in winter or it will get condensation? Maybe you would get condensation if you had water leaking into to your gas tank!

[Scott K]

Running it empty can hurt the pump, as it is lubricated, and cooled from the fuel. Running on low all of the time, may cause the pump to run a little hotter, and shorten the pumps life. So, there is some truth to it. My grandpa always told me, it costs the same to keep the tank on full, as it does on empty. Myself, I run it as low as possible, because I hate putting in gas, because the kids always NEED something from inside the store. So my normal cheap fill up of $90, then costs me $100 because they NEED a pop, and candy bar, and some chips.

[Jeremy airjer W]

The trick is to run them low on the hottest days or as i like to call it fuel pump season. A few years ago we had the really hot days in August. I was putting out 2-3 fuel pumps a day!

In my experience I have dealt with numerous bad fuel pumps with little gas in the tank on really hot days. The other scenario is they just filled up after running the tank low and now it won't start. Its almost comical on the hot days watching them come in on the flat bed. Most of them get towed in between noon and 5:00, the hottest part of the day.

The other key factor is the fuel filer. Most of of the failed fuel pumps had severely clogged filters. This makes the pump work harder to begin with now add the extra heat of the day and not enough gas in the tank to cool the pump and it's a recipe for disaster.

With that being said this problem seems to persist in specific manufacturers. GM and Dodge without question rank the highest especially the late 90's early 2000 models. For GM its across the board on just about all there makes and models. Dodge trucks and SUV's are the most common.

The chances of this happening with the other manufacturers, at least from what I see, is pretty slim if ever.

Is there some truth to this? If your in the business you would beleive there is!

With This weeks highs I am expecting a few!

[Scott K]

You can add the Taurus, and Windstar in that group of hot weather tow ins. I have done several on them as well. Although, I think GM has the largest problems. But I think that is because they dont run if the pressure drops just to the minimum spec. Fords typically will stay running with less then half the pressures spec, and just have a lack of power, or long crank with low pressure.

[goblueM]

My grandpa always told me, it costs the same to keep the tank on full, as it does on empty.

your grandpa was a smart man... I never ever let my gas go below 1/4 of a tank - I just like having that extra safety cushion in there, say if I get stuck in the winter and want to run the heater, or I'm out in the middle of nowhere and there's not a gas station around

[CJH]

your grandpa was a smart man... I never ever let my gas go below 1/4 of a tank - I just like having that extra safety cushion in there, say if I get stuck in the winter and want to run the heater, or I'm out in the middle of nowhere and there's not a gas station around

That's what I do too. Never understood running it until empty when you aren't saving any money! I have my toddler with me most of the time, so the last thing I want to do is get stuck somewhere.

[DTro]

Mostly it's laziness. While it doesn't cost more, you spend more time at the pump.

[BoxMN]

My Dad was a strict "top it off" guy He rarely let boat or truck or car get below half, especially in winter. But he never ran out of gas either! He used to bug us (as we got older and ran the boat) about how much gas there was, and if we needed to top it off. My brother got tired one time and asked Dad if he ever got in trouble in the Navy... Dad wondered what for, and bro said "for bugging the Captain so much to top it off!" ha!

Anyway, I always run my stuff to about 1/8-1/4 cause I hate filling up as well, so might as well do it less but more volume

[Jeremy airjer W]

Bingo! 2002 Ford Explorer - fuel pump!

[Scott K]

Bingo! 2002 Ford Explorer - fuel pump!

Ha, 94 Suburban shut it off to get gas, and now a no start! Being towed to me now. Wonder what thats going to be? But it has a full tank now

[Powerstroke]

My favorite is the part of the story about driving to find cheaper gas.

So, if you have a decent small car that gets 30mpg, and has a 10gallon tank, and gas is $3.99, it costs you ~13.3cents per mile. If you get gas at $3.89, that's a savings of 80-90 cents on a fillup, but you eat into that savings for every mile out of your way you drive to find cheaper gas and of course you tempt fate by running it lower. 7 miles and you're losing money.

Say an SUV getting 18mpg, is 22 cents a mile. You've got a 20gallon tank so you might save $1.80 but again, you're burning that savings and more than 9 miles and you're losing money.

If you want to save money slow down and check the air pressure in your tires. Keep up on routine maintenance. I just changed the oil and filter and did the air filter in my wifes car. That car is an 11yr old FOrd Focus and still gets 30mpg.

[BobT]

I never let my tank get below 1/2 if I can help it. I guess one should never say never because I will run it lower on a long trip so I don't have to stop so often. But for everyday driving back and forth to work and such my tank is never allowed to get below 1/2.