Taking One For The Team!

[LF Motorsports]

OK. I remember someone here asked about how long you can drive with the fuel light on. Here is my recent experience while traveling from cheeseland (Wisconsin) to Southern Indiana, thru Illinios. So pretty much flat land w/ minor hills.

 

Background: cruise control set ~77 and started w/ full tank and all #'s rest. No topping off the tank either.

 

The light came on and I checked to see the gallons used and mileage left on tank. Pretty sure the GMT-900 have 26 gallon tank. So, used 23 gallons with ~45 miles left. I've got about 30 miles to the next large town. GOOD TO GO . Been getting ~15.5 mpg. As I watch the gallons tick by on the DIC, I was hoping I was right on the distance guess. When I finally pulled into the gas station the DIC read 24.5 gallons used. 1.5 to spare .

As I filled up the tank (again, not topping off) I put 25.5 gallons in . So, really only had 0.5 gallons to spare.

 

Moral of the story: Don't take the "miles left" and "gallons left" as gosple. But per driving habits, you should have ~30-40 miles left when the light dings.

 

Hope this helps some of you out, just in case you want to stretch things.

[jrrod2004]

good, always wondered if that was correct when the light came on........

[redvett]

Don't run out of gas because the pump is cooled by the fuel and if you run out and try to start the vehicle with no gas your burning up the pump. Just not worth the chance running low or out of gas.

[Darkanion]

That's interesting. The last time I put gas in my truck, the DIC said I had used x-amount of gas, but I put in x-amount + 1 gallon. I was planning to check it again, when I fill-up again... I generally get gas at the same place, with the truck parked the same direction, using the same fill-up procedure, etc. So, I was a little surprised that the DIC said I had used 22.5 gallons, but I was able to put 23.5 in the tank...

[hubbycap]

My GMT900 consistently under indicates .5-.7 "gallons used" on the DIC (I hate that acronym.)

[omegafiler]

Don't run out of gas because the pump is cooled by the fuel and if you run out and try to start the vehicle with no gas your burning up the pump. Just not worth the chance running low or out of gas.

 

Agreed. I never let the tank get below 1/4. There is just no good reason to run the tank that low. Especially when there are top-tier gas stations all over the place.

[unit731]

1990 1500 4.3 Manual Transmission Regular Cab Long Bed.

 

 

When the needle hits the beginning of the E I am out. I learned the hard way once in this truck.

 

Also, it's not good for the fuel pump to run that low.

[LF Motorsports]

I agree on the running low end of things. I also found out the hard way in the '93. Little red line means OUT!!! I pushed things because I was trying to make the trip with 1 stop. That is'nt the issue, just wanted to make sure people are aware and don't tear up a fuel pump by banking on the DIC.

 

Just hope it helps.

[Bostonsfavson]

Don't run out of gas because the pump is cooled by the fuel and if you run out and try to start the vehicle with no gas your burning up the pump. Just not worth the chance running low or out of gas.

 

Agreed. I never let the tank get below 1/4. There is just no good reason to run the tank that low. Especially when there are top-tier gas stations all over the place.

 

 

No "top-tier" gas stations around here. We do have 93 octane though, so I guess I can't complain.

[BigJayDogg3]

I like Mobil gas. It seems to last the longest in my vehicles.

[-Devil-]

no 'top tiers' here .. only the same stuff just relabeled and resold ...

 

i have never had to put over 22 gal in mine .. even started wondering if it does have a 26 gal tank on it

[Woodcutter]

I don't have the DIC buttons or this information displayed regarding gallons used or remaining. I did have a close call returning home the other day. What surprised me the most is that the "Fuel level low" message appeared with about 1/8 tank left, stayed on for about a mile or two, and then went away. It never reappeared, and I watched the needle, albeit much faster than I would've thought, go to just under the E mark. I didn't get to fill up (pump stopped on $50 worth), but I can't imagine there was much left in the tank. But with a 26-gallon tank I managed to squeak out 400 miles on the odometer.

 

I haven't left the fuel gauge go that low in quite a long time on any of my vehicles. But, its' funny how you try to ignore the instrument panel when you know there's nothing you can go but push it to the next gas station.

[NathanL]

New vehicles won't run the pump if it senses there is no load. Run your truck out and turn the key - you won't hear the pump come on like normal.

[Silverado4x4]

 

 

Don't run out of gas because the pump is cooled by the fuel and if you run out and try to start the vehicle with no gas your burning up the pump. Just not worth the chance running low or out of gas.

Yer right he just took a few years off his fuel pump life doing that.

[d3athsong]

So what you are all saying is these are piss poor fuel pumps that die after running low on gas a couple times?