Negative side to filling the gas on empty?

[roastlechon]

Given a situation where the dashboard light for empty is on, is it bad to wait that long to fill up the gas? From my mother's mouth, she says that is the reason why all my sisters cars didn't last long. I believe that it isn't true, and that she is just saying that stuff to act if though she is right, but she says that her mechanic advises not to do that.

So... is it true?

I squeeze 300 miles out of my car a tank.

[jtrink]

i have never heard of anything like that. Maybe she got confused with oil????

[geoff5093]

Well I know in the winter up here it's good to have at least either 1/4 or 1/2 tank of gas because it will help minimize the amount of moisture that will accumulate, but other then that I cant see it causing any harm.

[unkit]

Well, people here will probably know a lot more, but here is what i think from common sense.

Your car, like mine is old. Likelyhood is, the fuel tank is not ENTIRELY clean, and u PROBABLY don't have a new fuel filter. Fuel at the mottom of the tank is likely to carry dust particles with it, therefore increasing the chance of problems.

Because our cars are injected, its not as big of an issue, but i know with carburators, fuel supply was easiest when the tank was more than half full

[CamNub]

Yes. This is very very bad. I would recommend keeping at least 1/4 tank at all times.

Your fuel pump is submerged into the gas, and the gas acts as a cooling liquid. So if you're running that low, your pump can overheat and die.

Also, if you live in a colder/winter climate, it's good to have gas incase you get stranded for the heat.

But your mom is incorrect in the sense that this isn't going to cause your car to die faster. It just means you are destroying your fuel pump.

[roastlechon]

Thank you all for the great information =]
I love this forum.. haha

So what does this fuel filter do and is it necessary to get a new one?

(Besides the obvious filtering of fuel if someone flames me.)

[CamNub]

^Nope. That's pretty much all it does..

Edit: Replace evvery 30-40k miles. It can get dirty pretty quick. It's not that expensive either...