Let car gas tank go to empty occassionally?

[Anonymous]

There is usually sediment at the bottom of your gas tank and you will never want that debris to get into your fuel pump and into your fuel line. Do not deliberately let the gas tank go empty.

I know that when my light comes on there is still 2 gallons in the tank. I might drive another 30 miles or so but never more than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are people talking about really running it dry or merely waiting until the light goes one or it gets to the last bar?

This. I thought they were asking about waiting until the light turned on. That can't be damaging bc I've been doing it in my one car for about 15 years and no issues yet! I have never let it run out to the point the car does not run and I am stranded on the side of the road. Who does that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are people talking about really running it dry or merely waiting until the light goes one or it gets to the last bar?

This. I thought they were asking about waiting until the light turned on. That can't be damaging bc I've been doing it in my one car for about 15 years and no issues yet! I have never let it run out to the point the car does not run and I am stranded on the side of the road. Who does that?

+1 I fill up when the light comes on, which is definitely not on empty because the gauge is above the red bar, and my car is 13 years old and has never needed more than routine maintenance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are people talking about really running it dry or merely waiting until the light goes one or it gets to the last bar?

This. I thought they were asking about waiting until the light turned on. That can't be damaging bc I've been doing it in my one car for about 15 years and no issues yet! I have never let it run out to the point the car does not run and I am stranded on the side of the road. Who does that?

+1 I fill up when the light comes on, which is definitely not on empty because the gauge is above the red bar, and my car is 13 years old and has never needed more than routine maintenance.

+2. I don't run it out of gas, although I have done that accidentally once or twice in other cars but I never go to the gas station when its half full! Why would you do that? You have to go to the gas station twice as often!

[Anonymous]

I always fill up when the light turns on.

[Anonymous]

Remember the derecho? There was no warning of that and in my area, we had no electricity for three days. The gas pumps in our immediate neighborhood weren't working because there was no electricity. If we'd needed to, we could have driven farther away to get gas, but we didn't have to worry about it because we never let our tank get below half full.

Just because of the possibility of an emergency, I would never let my tank get to the point where the empty light is turning on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Remember the derecho? There was no warning of that and in my area, we had no electricity for three days. The gas pumps in our immediate neighborhood weren't working because there was no electricity. If we'd needed to, we could have driven farther away to get gas, but we didn't have to worry about it because we never let our tank get below half full.

Just because of the possibility of an emergency, I would never let my tank get to the point where the empty light is turning on.

I mean this as non-snarkily as possible but that seems like an exhausting way to live!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remember the derecho? There was no warning of that and in my area, we had no electricity for three days. The gas pumps in our immediate neighborhood weren't working because there was no electricity. If we'd needed to, we could have driven farther away to get gas, but we didn't have to worry about it because we never let our tank get below half full.

Just because of the possibility of an emergency, I would never let my tank get to the point where the empty light is turning on.

I mean this as non-snarkily as possible but that seems like an exhausting way to live!

Early in my life, I was in a situation where we needed to drive somewhere for an emergency family situation and the car was practically on empty. It was late at night, no gas stations were open.

It is way less exhausting to have the security of keeping yourself prepared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Remember the derecho? There was no warning of that and in my area, we had no electricity for three days. The gas pumps in our immediate neighborhood weren't working because there was no electricity. If we'd needed to, we could have driven farther away to get gas, but we didn't have to worry about it because we never let our tank get below half full.

Just because of the possibility of an emergency, I would never let my tank get to the point where the empty light is turning on.

You don't need much gas to go 20 miles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is usually sediment at the bottom of your gas tank and you will never want that debris to get into your fuel pump and into your fuel line. Do not deliberately let the gas tank go empty.

I know that when my light comes on there is still 2 gallons in the tank. I might drive another 30 miles or so but never more than that.

all newer fuel pumps pick up fuel from the bottom of the tank. nice thing is that all the pumps have screens on them to keep the large debris out, and you have the inline fuel filter before it gets to the injectors to get the smaller stuff.

if you really want to keep debris out of your fuel tank. don't ever fill up from a gas station that is getting its delivery of fuel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remember the derecho? There was no warning of that and in my area, we had no electricity for three days. The gas pumps in our immediate neighborhood weren't working because there was no electricity. If we'd needed to, we could have driven farther away to get gas, but we didn't have to worry about it because we never let our tank get below half full.

Just because of the possibility of an emergency, I would never let my tank get to the point where the empty light is turning on.

I mean this as non-snarkily as possible but that seems like an exhausting way to live!

Not nearly as exhausting as walking home because you ran out of gas and weren't prepared.

It's ok, keep napping grasshopper. That ant is crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remember the derecho? There was no warning of that and in my area, we had no electricity for three days. The gas pumps in our immediate neighborhood weren't working because there was no electricity. If we'd needed to, we could have driven farther away to get gas, but we didn't have to worry about it because we never let our tank get below half full.

Just because of the possibility of an emergency, I would never let my tank get to the point where the empty light is turning on.

I mean this as non-snarkily as possible but that seems like an exhausting way to live!

Not nearly as exhausting as walking home because you ran out of gas and weren't prepared.

It's ok, keep napping grasshopper. That ant is crazy.

I always wait until the light comes on and have never had to walk home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL. While it is not necessary, it will not harm your car in any way. Lots of Chicken Littles in the thread.

While filters have gotten better, and contamination isn't what it once was, any sediment that is in your tank will settle and the lower you get the better the chance of it being sucked into the fuel line.

[Anonymous]

Helpful hint here. When you are planning a long trip I recommend you pick up a good engine/injector cleaner. My preference has always been BG 44. What I do is fill the tank about half way, pour the cleaner in the tank, then finish filling it up. When the tank gets down to 1/2 tank on my trip I fill it again and run it down below 1/4 tank.

Lucasoil has some good products as well.

[Anonymous]

I notice nobody has provided any links to non-quacky web site, or personal anecdotes, about this apparent calamity.