Low Fuel Light

[dorkweed]

Just filled up about 20 minutes ago. Drove about 20 miles after I got the "low fuel" warning in the display along with the light by the gauge. The display said I could still drive about another 65 miles before it would read 0.

 

Can you drive until the display says 0?? I have the 34 gallon tank on my truck; and when I filled her, I put in 30.2 gallons. I had 648 miles on the tank of fuel also.

 

Don't know how sensitive these new "babies" are to low fuel in the tank.

 

Thanks.

[Rawyzf]

Mine doesn't go to zero. Once it gets really low, it just says something along the lines to extremely low fuel.....aka get gas you bastard.

 

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[NomadicCPO]

I suppose you could..but why would you? The fuel in the tank cools the pump. Running on empty tank = hotter pump = faster wear. Also..I'm not a huge fan of walking to a gas station to lug a heavy gas can back to my truck.

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

Easy solution is to not let it get to the light. Ever since having fuel pump issues twice on my '98 I have never let it get below 1/4 tank since and never had a problem. I had to replace the pump 2 times within about a 3 year span. Well after the 2nd time I started to not let it get below 1/4 tank and always used big brand stations where before I used the cheap stuff. After that I never had a problem with the fuel pump in the '98. I actually don't even like letting the needle even get to the 1/4 mark so I tend to fill up when the needle is just above it. The '98 the fact that it was submerged in the gas helped keep it cool and letting it get below 1/4 let it run hotter than it should. I can just assume that any in tank pump is the same way. Someone said that the pumps on these K2s don't use the gas to help keep it cool, but I feel better to still not let it get below 1/4 and to use big company gas.

[dorkweed]

This is just my 3rd fill up; that's why I'm axing!!! Thanks.

[Andy Seibel]

Once it gets really low, it just says something along the lines to extremely low fuel.....aka get gas you bastard.

 

I have the same thing. i usually fill up before the light goes on, but once I let it get to the "fill-up now, bastard" warning.

 

What this got me wondering now is does it always come on when it determines you have 65 miles left? I would assume there is a sensor for fuel level. My CC has the 26 gallon tank, but I'm usually only putting in around 22 gallons at the most. My wife thinks the warning is supposed to mean you have 2 gallons left, but I can't confirm this.

[TxTruckMan]

To answer your question - Yes you can go a little longer. GM puts a buffer on the "Distance to Empty" because they don't want you to run out. On my truck (26 gallons) the light comes on with ~50 miles left and then goes to LOW at ~35 miles left. That's when I fill up around town. (On trips I don't wait so long.) It usually takes 32-33 gallons at that point, so really had a little more than computer thought - as long as you don't start driving all crazy. I drive all my vehicles this way.

 

Older trucks (2000 to 2007 year models) did have a problem with fuel pumps burning up, but that's not "normal." The gas flowing through the pump should be enough to keep it cool. So refueling at 1/4 tank is unnecessary.

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

To answer your question - Yes you can go a little longer. GM puts a buffer on the "Distance to Empty" because they don't want you to run out. On my truck (26 gallons) the light comes on with ~50 miles left and then goes to LOW at ~35 miles left. That's when I fill up around town. (On trips I don't wait so long.) It usually takes 32-33 gallons at that point, so really had a little more than computer thought - as long as you don't start driving all crazy. I drive all my vehicles this way.

 

Older trucks (2000 to 2007 year models) did have a problem with fuel pumps burning up, but that's not "normal." The gas flowing through the pump should be enough to keep it cool. So refueling at 1/4 tank is unnecessary.

 

Well when I had my '98 it seemed like that body style had a problem with fuel pumps. Bad enough to where some people actually cut a hole in the bed or the back of the SUV to make it quicker and easier to change it out. As I said, I changed 2 pumps the first 2-3 years after buying it in '04. After the 2nd time I never let it get below 1/4 tank and always used top tier big company stations and never had a problem with pumps after that for the next 7 years when I got rid of it in '14 for my new one. Both pumps were the same brand from the same place.

 

Also if you want to have that mentality, then you could also say that it's unnecessary to let it even get low enough for the light to come on. But, I guess we all have opinions. I'm just speaking from experience.

[TxTruckMan]

The pump in my 2003 Yukon went out right at <40,000 miles as many did. I replaced it with a high-quality, non-OEM (per mechanic's recommendation) pump with a lifetime warranty and it never went out again. Had that truck for 13 years until 210,000 miles.

 

The fuel pump in my 1996 Silverado went out around 100,000 miles. I also replaced it with a high-quality, non-OEM replacement and it never failed again. I had that truck for 11 years and it had 180,000 miles. Never another problem in Texas heat.

 

My point is that a properly designed pump doesn't need to be submersed in fuel to be cooled properly. I know that 2000-2007 had notoriously bad reliability which is why many people think this way. It's not a bad idea, but it's not required to get proper life. I'm not going to inconvenience myself with 25% more gas station stops to save a $300 part that takes 2-3 hours to replace. If it fails pre-maturely, I'll buy a better part and forget about it. The last body style didn't have a problem with fuel pumps, and I haven't heard of anybody replacing them with this design either.

 

That's my 2 cents...

The pump in my 2003 Yukon went out right at <40,000 miles. I replaced it with another non-OEM high quality pump and it never went out again. Had that truck for 13 years until 210,000 miles.

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

The pump in my 2003 Yukon went out right at <40,000 miles as many did. I replaced it with a high-quality, non-OEM (per mechanic's recommendation) pump with a lifetime warranty and it never went out again. Had that truck for 13 years until 210,000 miles.

 

The fuel pump in my 1996 Silverado went out around 100,000 miles. I also replaced it with a high-quality, non-OEM replacement and it never failed again. I had that truck for 11 years and it had 180,000 miles. Never another problem in Texas heat.

 

My point is that a properly designed pump doesn't need to be submersed in fuel to be cooled properly. I know that 2000-2007 had notoriously bad reliability which is why many people think this way. It's not a bad idea, but it's not required to get proper life. I'm not going to inconvenience myself with 25% more gas station stops to save a $300 part that takes 2-3 hours to replace. If it fails pre-maturely, I'll buy a better part and forget about it. The last body style didn't have a problem with fuel pumps, and I haven't heard of anybody replacing them with this design either.

 

That's my 2 cents...

The pump in my 2003 Yukon went out right at <40,000 miles. I replaced it with another non-OEM high quality pump and it never went out again. Had that truck for 13 years until 210,000 miles.

 

 

Well making less trips to the gas station isn't a big deal since you're still having to sit there longer. So when you divide it up time wise it's the same no matter what unless you always go to a station that's packed to where you have to wait behind someone all the time. I mean even if it's to the E you really just spend no more than 5-10 minutes for it to fill up. I mean it's not a commercial truck where it cost a few hundred to fill up. But, not trying to talk you into thinking the same way I do, just giving my opinion.

[NomadicCPO]

I was also in two bad situations that arose from having a near empty tank at the wrong time. First was an unexpected traffic jam that had me praying I wouldn't run out. When I finally got to the gas station, it took 16.2 gallons to fill (it was a Toyota with a 15.9 gallon tank). The second was the tsunami scare of 2011 in Hawaii. It took almost 2 hours of waiting in line to get gas with tsunami sirens blaring the entire time. As I waited to fill up, I promised I would never let the tank get below a quarter again.

[foghorn23]

I was also in two bad situations that arose from having a near empty tank at the wrong time. First was an unexpected traffic jam that had me praying I wouldn't run out. When I finally got to the gas station, it took 16.2 gallons to fill (it was a Toyota with a 15.9 gallon tank). The second was the tsunami scare of 2011 in Hawaii. It took almost 2 hours of waiting in line to get gas with tsunami sirens blaring the entire time. As I waited to fill up, I promised I would never let the tank get below a quarter again.

 

These words kind of reminded me of when I got my license as a 16 year old, I recall my dad telling me, "Son it doesn't cost more to keep your tank full than it does empty." Very seldom do I see a low gas warning. Funny how things like that stick with you and are built into habits.

[wulfgott]

I suppose you could..but why would you? The fuel in the tank cools the pump. Running on empty tank = hotter pump = faster wear. Also..I'm not a huge fan of walking to a gas station to lug a heavy gas can back to my truck.

I always vote no on the "walking to a gas station" option when able. A no vote on walking to a gas station is a yes vote for your truck and is Pro truck. I am always Pro truck.

[Cosmic Charlie]

FWIW - I fill up almost every day (i drive alot)

reason being I'm kinda on call and want a full tank of gas to start my day

AND

when the zombie apocalypse comes I can Bug Out or use my 36 gallons for my home generator (even though I don't have a method to get the gas out of the tank (yes - I broke the filler valve thingy on my 2011 trying to siphon gas out 4 ears ago)

 

So - how do you get gas out of the tank in an emergency ? with breaking the filler mechanism ?

[Marticus]

This is a funny one. I like to just fill up but sometimes I get busy low on cash low on time. I have a friend who puts in 5 bucks a day. So many different opinions. As far as the original post is concerned. The dash display gives mileage reading until around 35 miles and then reads. LOW. And then it's good luck.

 

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