*POLL* Do you let the gas tank run to "empty" ?

[rh71]

I do... mostly because I'm lazy to fill up frequently. I've heard it's supposedly better to use up the bottom of your tank so crap doesn't build up there. On the same token, you could also be clogging the fuel injectors. I haven't had any problem doing this on my '95 Rodeo at all, but have had hesitation issues with our '90 Accord where it sometimes wouldn't accelerate at all. Cleaning the fuel injectors did nothing to resolve it. Full tune-up either. After spending hundreds in diagnostics/fixes, all it took was a new O2 sensor (noticed fuel efficiency was sucking).

Anyway, most vehicles can go a few miles with the light on... I haven't tried further than about a mile.

 

[LAUST]

No, it not only makes your fuel pump work harder but having it submerged in fuel helps cool it.

Do you run your CPU without a heatsync?

 

[Chiropteran]

Unless I'm visiting my mom in Woodbridge where the gas is cheap, I don't fill up until the little red light comes on.

 

[Darein]

The tank hits half and I am in line waiting for gas.

 

[Ameesh]

i usually have a few gallons in the tank when i fill it.

 

[TwinkleToes77]

i usually fill up between 1/4 - 1/2 tank left. Mostly because im paranoid of being stranded and out of gas.

 

[brtspears2]

I usually put in roughly 11 gallons every fillup. Tank holds 15 gallons.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

I fill up just below 1/4 for a few reasons - firstly, because I don't like overworking my poor fuel pump, secondly, because running out would suck, and finally, because my car has no "low fuel" light. 😛

- M4H

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: LAUST
No, it not only makes your fuel pump work harder but having it submerged in fuel helps cool it.

Do you run your CPU without a heatsync?

YEP!! So right you are.

The only time I will run a tank intentionally dry is if I have to remove it for some reason.
Letting a submerged f/p grab gulps of air is rough treatment. Most are vane type pumps.
To install a new pump is expensive 🙁

 

[NFS4]

I always drive until the needle is about to pop off the guage (remembers back to the Seinfeld episode where Kramer test drives the Saab🙂).

Anyway, it's like a game to me...to see how far I can go once the "Low Fuel" light comes on. I know that I can get close to 500 miles on a tank and I know that I can get about 50-60 miles out of the car once the light comes on.

The closest I've come to running it dry was when I stopped to top it off again and realized that I put in 17.5 gallons in the tank. My tank holds 18 gallons.

Then again, my car has 130,000 miles on it and you can't kill this car ('95 Camry).

 

[tallest1]

When my gas tank hits Empty, I don't drive it anymore until gas prices go down

 

[Rob9874]

I didn't plan on it, but did today. Left for work this morning, and the computer said 17 miles till empty. Work is 9 miles away, so I figured I'd fill up during lunch. Well, I must have floored it coming to work, because when I parked it said 0 mte! I hope I make it to a gas station!

 

[Leejai]

nope....that always makes me late for work.....always say i'll fill up in the morning.....so i just never let it go empty now...

 

[Haps]

My tank holds 84 liters. I put 83.7 in it once coming back from a fishing trip.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: galvanizedyankee

Originally posted by: LAUST
No, it not only makes your fuel pump work harder but having it submerged in fuel helps cool it.

Do you run your CPU without a heatsync?

YEP!! So right you are.

The only time I will run a tank intentionally dry is if I have to remove it for some reason.
Letting a submerged f/p grab gulps of air is rough treatment. Most are vane type pumps.
To install a new pump is expensive 🙁

Yep, fuel pumps are not cheap to replace. When buying a used car from a private party, always ask how low they took it.

 

[dullard]

Running to E generally leaves 1-2 gallons still in the tank. So why would that harm the fuel pump? I can see that being an important factor if you run it completely out of gas, but that isn't what the poll question asks.

I usually wait until a bit under 1/4 tank and then fill it up when most convenient. My wife hates that. She fills up as soon as it hits 1/2 full no matter what. We could be rushing to the emergency room and it hits 1/2 tank and she'll pull over to fill it up. Obviously I hate that...

While I'm here, is there a way to disable the low fuel light easilly on a 2002 Honda Civic? That'll save me and my wife many arguements.

 

[TheBoyBlunder]

Never because it can damage your fuel pump and those are not cheap to fix.

 

[xSauronx]

i wait
mostly out of laziness

 

[ElFenix]

usually between 10 and 11 gallons, 13.5 gallon tank

 

[StageLeft]

I always let it run mostly out. Filling up the tank is a PITA, so the more gallons/fill the better.

 

[Beattie]

Originally posted by: LAUST
No, it not only makes your fuel pump work harder but having it submerged in fuel helps cool it.

Do you run your CPU without a heatsync?

There's just something about the idea of using a flammable liquid to cool a hot component that seems wrong...

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

It's a good way to allow condensation to form in your gas tank.

 

[rh71]

Hmm.. my Rodeo holds a documented 22 gallons but I don't recall EVER putting more than 17-18 gallons in at once when filling from "E". This means my car still has 4 gallons when the light comes on ?!

Oh that's right, I only get 12mpg. 😉

 

[Kenazo]

try not to, at least not in winter. It's freaking cold in Canadia

 

[Quixfire]

I fill up shortly after my low fuel light comes on, plus I know how many miles per tank I can get and always fill up with 25 miles from empty.