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

[edmicman]

i can get at least 30 miles after the light has come on....only did that once though. usually just go 10-15 after the light comes on

 

[thrashev]

Originally posted by: 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...

the vapor is what you should worry about

 

[thrashev]

dp

 

[Asharus]

I fill it up when it lights up. On "empty", I always have about 45 miles left according to the computer. Oh, and it takes only about 16 gallons, and my tank has an 18 gallon capacity.

All manufacturers do that on purpose so asshats won't run out of fuel on the road. And no, you will not overheat your fuel pump while running w/ the light on, because you have plenty of fuel in your tank.

 

[labrat25]

learned my lesson last week when I ran out of gas at an intersection on campus

 

[StageLeft]

Max has 3 gallons left when the light goes on. Sentra has no light. I know it has a 12.5 gallon tank, so overtime I have been able to estimate how many gallons are left based on mileage. I felt lucky one time and managed to squeeze in just over 12 gallons in the tank

 

[imported_Tomato]

I fill up when my gas light comes on. I drove ~30 miles with it on one time (on a trip to Vegas), and will never do that again (felt like Kramer in that one Seinfeld episode).

 

[Vic]

Almost all cars have 2-3 gallons left in the tank when the needle hits "E" and/or the light comes on. Manufacturers do this on purpose (for the same reason my GF sets all the clocks in the house to run 10 minutes fast). For example, my car has a 16.5 gallon tank, but the most I've ever put in it, filling from "E" with the light on, is 13.5 gallons.

 

[anxi80]

i fill it up at a quarter of a tank left. but my reasoning is i dont want to be stuck in a situation with no gas like before. imagine arguing with a girl over the phone, then running out of gas, and having to do a 180 over the phone and asking her to come bring you gas. yep, no fun at all.

 

[Abhi]

I do ... sometimes...

but often hear i shudnt!

 

[bmwgolfer]

I don't let the tank run on empty. Especially in the winter...I hear condensation can build up in the tank and that'll cause problems.

 

[WobbleWobble]

I only fill up when gas is cheap, doesn't matter where my needle is. If it's expensive, then I'll try to hold off as long as I can.

 

[K1052]

I usually won't let my truck get below 1/4 tank. GM trucks seem to have a huge reserve, so I always feel safe.

The car does not get below half a tank before I am headed to the gas station. The fuel pump is sixteen years old and I don't want to screw with it before I am ready. It is a serious PITA to remove.

 

[matt426malm]

At a 1/4 of a tank I usually fill it, almost never let it go to the fuel light. I totally pamper my car because it's gettin old (115k) and I don't have the money to fix it/get a new one.

 

[Joemonkey]

yeah i fill up once my low fuel light comes on... usually 10 or so miles after it comes on

 

[poopaskoopa]

I sort of know how far below the red line I can go now.

 

[CtK]

i usually wait till the computer tells me theres about 30 miles left before i fill her up (325Ci)

 

[rudder]

I can drive about 80 miles once the fuel light comes on so I don't worry about it too much.

 

[Saulbadguy]

I wait until its lurching for fuel, then I fill it up.

Just kidding.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: 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.

I'm confused, how is it cheaper to wait longer between fillups? You are still putting in the same amount of fuel overall.

I almost never let it run empty because I don't like running out, and I like being able to jump in the car and go somewhere without having to fill up, so I do it when I can when I start getting lower than 1/2.

 

[slightlyhuman]

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).

my 92 blazer did the exact same thing, spent hundreds at chevrolet,etc, pulled my bros 95 z71 and started to replace every part and hte first one I replaced was the heater core, fixed it, no questions asked,

30 $ part after spending 100s

 

[SWScorch]

I try not to. My car has a hole in the gas tank, so water gets in there, and when it gets too low, the fuel injectors freeze up and it tends to run out of gas in a hurry. At least a dozen times I have driven at what I thought was a safe level of gas, only to have the car lurch and stutter all the way down to the gas station. And once it ran out entirely 100 yards down the road from my house

 

[LOLyourFace]

Originally posted by: rudder
I can drive about 80 miles once the fuel light comes on so I don't worry about it too much.

yea i actually did about 70 miles since the light came on.. I wanted to find out how much my car could withstand.

the manual says the gas tank is 21 gallons, the official mazda site says 18 gallons...

I filled up @ 17.7 :Q Thinking it was 21 gallons...

 

[trmiv]

"Listen to me. When that car rolls into that dealership, and that tank is bone dry, I want you to be there with me when everyone says, "Kramer and that other guy, oh, they went further to the left of the slash than anyone ever dreamed!"

 

[crypticlogin]

Originally posted by: bmwgolfer
I don't let the tank run on empty. Especially in the winter...I hear condensation can build up in the tank and that'll cause problems.

That's my paranoia. More gas and gas vapors in tank --> less space for water vapor.