Actual known damages from running 07 4Runner with to low fuel light comes on?

[jow]

1. Actual known damages from running 07 4Runner with to low fuel light comes on? I was caught due to fuel brand choice and access to gas. I know an electric pump depends on fuel for cooling.

2. How much gas is left when the light comes on?

3. I know it’s not recommended to run below 3/4th tank but unknown’s and etc can catches you.

4. IMO as an old 1960’s mechanic, there should be enough fuel to run out/stop vs ruining a pump.

 

[mattleegee]

i would be more worried about walking

 

[CXS]

You didn't do ant harm IMHO as I've run under 1/4 tank all the time with no issues at all. I'm betting you'll hear that you've shortened the life of your fuel pump which makes sense but I don't worry about it. The same 1/4 tank standard applies to most cars such as my wife's Accord. She runs that thing below empty every tank and has since she bought it in '98 and the original fuel pump is still in it 150,000 miles later.

 

[NJshadow93]

We have a lot of reserve in our tanks. I've run the low fuel light, and had a range of about 6 miles, and still had 3 gallons of reserve in the tank, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[berettashot117]

my light comes on with 30 miles left on the range.

 

[KingPrat]

Only damage to running that low is to your bank account.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

1. Actual known damages from running 07 4Runner with to low fuel light comes on? I was caught due to fuel brand choice and access to gas. I know an electric pump depends on fuel for cooling.

2. How much gas is left when the light comes on?

3. I know it’s not recommended to run below 3/4th tank but unknown’s and etc can catches you.

4. IMO as an old 1960’s mechanic, there should be enough fuel to run out/stop vs ruining a pump.

Basically once low fuel light comes on you have roughly 2~3 gallons of fuel in the gas tank. Usually by the time your "lie-o-meter" reaches zero you still have a couple gallons left.

There isn't too much to worry about running low on fuel, most Toyotas are very conservative in their fuel capacities for this reason.

 

[M1911]

I've put around 125k miles on my '03 since new. I've run my tank down to the low fuel warning many, many times. As mattleegee said, the only thing to worry about is whether you'll have to start walking.

I've never run it completely out, but I have run down until the computer range meter said I had 30 miles left.

 

[jow]

Thanks for the Honest Opinions! I’ll have to plan better in the future and accept using other major brands of gas as I did as soon as the light came on. My preference of fuel is Chevron or Mobil but fuel is fuel when I need it.

I was at a loss and thrown off as to why I used more fuel returning 220 mi. Now I realized a strong wind pushed me south due to a front. I returned into that wind and remember questioning my acceleration not being as responsive. I need to drive more (LOL) due to having to change oil/filter (myself) at 6 mo intervals (with 1000 -2000 mi since my purchase 2 yrs this month). The change is due to the warranty records otherwise I would change at 3000 mi yearly (as I was doing).

 

[Pir8hippo]

Normally once mine reaches "0".... i'm actually out of fuel... My wife did this once on her way to her sister's cheerleading competition... She was stuck on the side of the road, until a friendly trooper took her to get some gas... AAA wouldn't cover where she was, and i was at work, 250 miles away... She texted me a photo, and said i think i have a problem... before the photo got to me, she was calling me saying it had shut off... I laughed, and told her i was headed that way... trooper got to her before i could... So.. in my case, "0" means no gas... Now that i have 16's again, instead of 20's, i hope that the lie o meter lasts a little longer...

 

[berettashot117]

Normally once mine reaches "0".... i'm actually out of fuel... My wife did this once on her way to her sister's cheerleading competition... She was stuck on the side of the road, until a friendly trooper took her to get some gas... AAA wouldn't cover where she was, and i was at work, 250 miles away... She texted me a photo, and said i think i have a problem... before the photo got to me, she was calling me saying it had shut off... I laughed, and told her i was headed that way... trooper got to her before i could... So.. in my case, "0" means no gas... Now that i have 16's again, instead of 20's, i hope that the lie o meter lasts a little longer...

It's not about wheel size it's about tire size.

 

[corrado]

i've run mine down to when the range says "0 miles", and then gone another exit or 2 until i found gas without feeling any problems. I ran my audi out of gas a few times and sold it with 160k on the original fuel pump. my point is that 1) i'm a risk taking cowboy and 2) you have nothing to worry about.

 

[JB.]

Blackworks numbers agree with what I've seen.

In my truck the low fuel light comes on consistently at a range reading of about 23, plus or minus a couple.

At that point, there are about 3 gallons left, usually a bit more. When the range hits zero, then there are about 2 gallons left.

I don't mind getting to the light, but I don't like to let it get below the 2 gallons at zero range.

 

[jow]

1. The 18 mi per gallon was good figure related to my trip.

2. Needing the 6 mo oil change at approx 2,000 mi after the 454 mi trip is bad (but will do).

3. I did find my note on my owner’s manual, “23 gals capacity, light comes on at 20 gals low”.

 

[berettashot117]

Blackworks numbers agree with what I've seen.

In my truck the low fuel light comes on consistently at a range reading of about 23, plus or minus a couple.

At that point, there are about 3 gallons left, usually a bit more. When the range hits zero, then there are about 2 gallons left.

I don't mind getting to the light, but I don't like to let it get below the 2 gallons at zero range.

The math in this post is all kinds of messed up.

 

[Jeff S.]

I've run my down pretty low. Once I drove it nearly 40 miles PAST the "0" light, and I topped it off with just under 21 gallons.

I just drove from Bozeman, MT to Gardnerville, NV.... and once here I drove around a bit until the estimated miles left was "0," so I went to top it off and I put the most gas I've ever put in at 21.4 gallons.


Two things I've learned: The estimated miles is very conservative and not extremely consistent.

 

[ridefast]

I reset my trip odometer at each fill up just incase my fuel gauge stops working. My light usually comes on at 365-370 miles with 30 miles on the range. At this point I find the nearest shell station. When I fill up she usually takes about 16-17 gallons.

I wont run my t4r with the light on if I know Im gunna need gas I plan for it on my way to where ever im join