Gas Tank - How low can you go?

[EDL]

On 5/2/2018 at 6:14 PM, newdude said:

How do you fill your tank?

I usually just stick the nozzle in the little hole on the side of the truck and squeeze the handle.

 

 

 

:-) sorry, couldn't resist...

[Supreme Pizza]

I often use the remote start to warm up the rig before driving it. I have a very steep driveway, so even at 1/4 tank, sometimes the pump runs dry and the engine dies. When the computer stops receiving a signal from the crankshaft position sensor for more than 2 seconds - the computer shuts the fuel pump down. If you go out to your truck, and turn the ignition on, you will hear the electric fuel pump run for 2 seconds and then stop. If you turn the ignition off, then back on, you can hear it again for 2 seconds. 

 

When the pump runs dry, I coast down the driveway to more level ground. Then I turn the ignition on and off several times to prime the fuel system. That way I can start it easily, rather than cranking it for 10 seconds. The sound is different when the pump is dry VS pumping fuel. 

 

 

 

 

 

[diyer2]

On 7/6/2018 at 10:01 AM, starman8tdc said:

I often use the remote start to warm up the rig before driving it. I have a very steep driveway, so even at 1/4 tank, sometimes the pump runs dry and the engine dies. When the computer stops receiving a signal from the crankshaft position sensor for more than 2 seconds - the computer shuts the fuel pump down. If you go out to your truck, and turn the ignition on, you will hear the electric fuel pump run for 2 seconds and then stop. If you turn the ignition off, then back on, you can hear it again for 2 seconds. 

 

When the pump runs dry, I coast down the driveway to more level ground. Then I turn the ignition on and off several times to prime the fuel system. That way I can start it easily, rather than cranking it for 10 seconds. The sound is different when the pump is dry VS pumping fuel. 

 

 

 

 

BS

I don't believe anybody is that dumb.

 

[Supreme Pizza]

39 minutes ago, diyer2 said:

BS

I don't believe anybody is that dumb.

 

 

 You do not believe that the pump turns it self off when the engine dies? Its pretty easy to test. Go start your truck, and stick your ear on the gas tank. Then go pull the brake booster vacuum line off the engine, so that it stalls. Then go put your ear back on the gas tank. When my rig stalls out from lack of fuel, the pump shuts off. 

 

 

[Supreme Pizza]

 

You might find this to be of some interest: 

 

 

 

https://www.yourmechanic.com/question/how-does-the-fuel-pump-know-when-to-shut-off

[diyer2]

I believe the pump shuts off.

But why do this?

Buy gas when the tank is at half.

I always fill up at half full to keep the fuel pump lubricated.

 

Your choice though.

 

[Supreme Pizza]

Like you, I generally keep my fuel tank full.

 

I get gas under these conditions: 

 

The tank is at 2/3 or less 

I happen to be near a gas station

I have the spare time to stop 

 

 

I don't make a special trip to town just for fuel though.

 

If by chance I don't make it to town for several days, and the fuel is at or below 25%, and I park the rig facing the wrong direction on the steep driveway, then sometimes the remote start warm up fails. The truck stalls out, and it sits there in the driveway without warming up. This happens maybe.... once or twice per year. 

 

The reason that I originally brought it up, was to share my experiences with other people that were concerned about running out of fuel. I have run various fuel pumps out of fuel over the years, and have not had any problems. When I was a kid, not only did I run my cars out of fuel frequently, but I would put my 32:1 two stroke Yamaha dirt bike fuel into my car gas tank, and drive it around. I have only had one fuel pump fail in my life. It was on a truck that was given to me after it had sat for 3 years. The pump failure was caused by MASSIVE amounts of rust and dirt inside of the fuel tank. 

 

When electric fuel pumps were originally developed, they were much more susceptible to problems if the fuel ran out. 

 

Modern pumps are specifically designed to withstand that kind of abuse. If that were not the case, car fuel pumps would fail all the time. I would not recommend running a fuel pump dry daily, but once in a blue moon is OK. 

 

Anyway, long story short - I agree with you that its better to keep your fuel tank full for a variety of reasons, but running out of fuel once in a while wont result in a broken fuel pump. 

[Loco-diablo]

I usually fill up when I get near a 1/4 tank. My R/T to work is 60 miles, and I won't buy gas in the town I work in. (Hopkinton MA).. Gas there is like .30 more per gal than where I live. I refuse to give that snobby town additional tax money! LOL!