94 4cyl le auto gas question

[felpz123]

how much gas/how many miles can you usually go when your gas light comes on?

[bigbird]

im willing to best not many have tried on purpose, and its not somthing any place advertises. partially because its stupid, and because they dont want people soaking up the "bottom of the barrel" fuel in the tank which often has crap in it.

but get a gas can, fill it with gas and drive for a while to see. im gonna bet around 50 miles.

[ghettosled]

i usually drive another 30-40 miles once the light turns on.

bigbird - the fuel is always pulled from the bottom of the tank whether there is a full or empty tank. the only problem ive heard about running low on fuel is the fuel pump will run warmer and in turn, shorten its lifespan. but i always run until my light comes on.

[bigbird]

true...but the crap is in higher concentration when the tank is low. plus the less fuel is in the tank the more turbulent and the more that is stired up.

but hes not asking how much TILL his light goes on its AFTER his light goes on, not sure if you had cought that. which id imagine most of us refuel asap when it does.

[Mike Gerber]

"the only problem ive heard about running low on fuel is the fuel pump will run warmer and in turn, shorten its lifespan."

Well said. That's the best reason for not driving with the low fuel light on IMHO.

Mike

[uuuuu]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

"the only problem ive heard about running low on fuel is the fuel pump will run warmer and in turn, shorten its lifespan."

Well said. That's the best reason for not driving with the low fuel light on IMHO.

Mike

Learned something new...why is this the case?

[Zviator]

I think this topic is discussed before: The tank hold 18.5 gal in total. After 14.5 the light turns on. So u have 4 reserve gals to hit the nearest gas station.

Another reason not to run low on fuel is that air bubbles might got into the fuel line.

[felpz123]

Originally Posted by Camricer

I think this topic is discussed before: The tank hold 18.5 gal in total. After 14.5 the light turns on. So u have 4 reserve gals to hit the nearest gas station.

Another reason not to run low on fuel is that air bubbles might got into the fuel line.

not that i dont believe you(i really dont), but is this in the manual?

it just seems odd that you would have 4 more gallons when the needle is on E..

[Mike Gerber]

Originally Posted by uuuuu

Learned something new...why is this the case?

The fuel pump is emersed in the fuel in the tank. The pump is actually cooled by the fuel in the tank. As the fuel level gets lower and lower, more of the pump is exposed and is not kept as cool. The pump therefore runs a bit warmer. By constantly running the tank low, you are making the pump run a bit warmer over a period of time. This can and usually does shorten the life of the pump. I rarely run my tank lower than 1/4 full. I got in to this habit during the gas shortages of the early to mid 1970's and have just kept up the habit. I have never had to replace a fuel pump in any of my cars.

Mike

[cruisn76]

Originally Posted by Camricer

I think this topic is discussed before: The tank hold 18.5 gal in total. After 14.5 the light turns on. So u have 4 reserve gals to hit the nearest gas station.

Another reason not to run low on fuel is that air bubbles might got into the fuel line.

Yea 4 gallons is a bit much.

Just the other day my light came on and I was feeling brave so I drove about 40 kms from Downtown Toronto to Markham around 16th and McCowan and the needle was just above the line (barely).

Also another reason why not to run your tank to the bottom is given the age of our cars, the fuel pump might KO if it stops pump fuel. This is in addition to BIGBIRD saying that the pump heats up and causing it to overheat.

I have seen some cars run out of fuel and after they refill it the car won't start because the fuel pump died.

Just some car for thought