On Empty? How far can you go?

[packman]

Interesting thing in the article - running your car with that icon flashing can cause damage to your fuel pump which runs hotter with less fuel to pump.


http://mentalfloss.com/article/86233/what-your-cars-low-gas-light-really-means

[sharp_stick]

1. I can go 32 or 33 miles

on my Chrysler Pacifica. I pulled it into a gas station with the display showing 0 miles and put 19.6 gallons in. That means I had about 0.4 gallons left in the tank after 32+ miles with the light on.

I was sweating just a little for the last couple of miles.

[OriginalGeek]

2. my grandpa just gave me his 2003 Chevy Avalanche 2500

He said it was too hard for him to climb up in it any more. Thing has an 8.1 liter (500+ cubic inches) engine in it.

Trust me, I ain't letting it get to the flashing light stage. I start looking for gas stations at about half empty.

It's a beautifully maintained truck but man, is it thirsty.

[Brother Buzz]

3. Back in my day, my 1960 VW didn't even have a gas gauge

When you ran out of gas, you just flipped a lever under the dash to kick in the reserve. You literally kicked it because an accomplished driver would flip the lever with their foot. (I never knew about the fuel shut off position. Heck, I could have used it as a primitive anti-theft device).

[packman]

5. I remember when VW's didn't have a fuel gauge

you used a stick - a stick - which you put into the tank to see how much gas was left . Loved the VW but the master cylinder kept giving out on the brakes and cost me many an hours and $ in the shop.

[CBGLuthier]

4. Run many modern cars dry and you will be buying a new fuel pump.

Almost all are installed in the tank and will burn out if run dry.

[Major Nikon]

9. There may also be crap in the bottom of the tank you don't want in your injectors

At 1/4 of a tank I'm looking for a gas station.

[spiderpig]

6. I ran out of gas ONCE - back in the early 70s

A 3-speed stick Opel with no carpet and no radio. Talk about basic wheels.

Ever since I've been neurotic about watching the fuel gauge.

[astral]

7. I have a theory

1. All men know how far their car can go on empty. They just gotta push their limits, and Be Brave, and Live On THE EDGE.

Besides, they really want to know.

2. No women know this; they are not stooopid enough to keep on driving around on empty, besides if they did, they would need a MAN to help them out.

Sexist as all heck, I know, but 99% true, I believe.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

8. About 2 blocks... before my boyfriend nags the fuck out of me before I give in and get gas.

Same goes for getting over 5 miles before the exit. Just not worth it.

[CJohnson_LS]

10. I've done it several times

I was really strapped for cash in those days, so I took the risk. I've pretty much stopped doing that, after reading horror stories of fuel pumps being destroyed.