Almost empty gas tank...

[sharp4runr]

Well, I forgot my wallet at home and I needed to fill up my truck. On the computer it estimated a range of 37 miles from the gas in the tank, plenty of room to get back home. Too bad I had to go to DC to finish up some work. I left DC with 27 miles on the computer. I hopped on 95 and kept an eye on the computer the entire way home. I was sweating nervous driving with the tank that low and the little yellow idiot light didn't help. I finally got to the driveway with 4 miles on the computer. When I filled up this morning I topped off and only filled up with 21.079 Gallons. I'm pretty sure we have 23 Gallon tanks so the computer was being conservative with the range estimate.

It was probably not the best thing to be driving with an empty tank like that. I've read things that say the car is picking up all the sediments at that point. Hopefully didn't do anything bad to the Runner... Well, just wanted to share my story :arrow:

 

[EXTEX]

Gas Thing

The worst thing about running low on gas - besides that stomach thing - is some cars will not restart, if you do run out. Pressurized fuel system, bleed air, etc. Never had the pleasure.

I have run my share to 0 & beyond, but, like you, have jes' about never seen one take the spec'ed gallons. I have had my 4R to 1.
I also carry Rescue Fuel.

 

[toybox]

Although I am not proud to admit it I have driven it for several miles (a few times) with it reading 0 (zero).

 

[HuntRunner]

Mine showed 11 miles remaining and I was able to get a little over 23 gallons in it.

 

[sharp4runr]

The good thing was that I was able to get 18.5 MPG on it. Not too bad for 50/50 city/highway driving on/off with 4WD as well.

 

[boston_kevin]

running on empty

Most manufacturers recommend that you never get the gas below 90% of the overall tank capacity (and the warning light will go on at this point). The reason being is that almost all manufacturers move the fuel pump into the gas tank which is much more effecient and minimizes air disruption into the line. The bad thing is that if you run the tank dry you could seize your fuel pump (no lubrication from the gas), and delaying to fill up your tank with $38 for premium could result in a $500-800 bill (depending on the car) to replace the pump. I wouldn't recommend driving that empty unless you had no other choice.

My Yukon has a 26 gal tank and the warning light goes on with 5 gal left in the tank...

 

[Iman74]

I don't know if this is offered across the U.S., but here in CT you can get the Mobil Speedpass, which is a small plastic nub that is actually a credit card. Any Speedpass that is available, you can use it there. I keep mine on the keychain with my car keys.

 

[sharp4runr]

Yeah, I think I'm gonna keep an emergency $10 bill in the car from now on. It would have been pretty embarrasing to pull off on the side of the road because I ran out of gas.... :bonk:

 

[the_josh]

Mine showed 11 miles remaining and I was able to get a little over 23 gallons in it.

the amount of fuel you are able to put in your truck depends on the outside ambient temperature, the colder the temp the more fuel you may pump into your tank, although its not that much difference it still is a difference. gas pumps measure in gallons not pounds, so therefore in the early morning one gallon of fuel weighs more than a gallon of fuel in the late afternoon. in the aviation field, jets measure the amount of fuel in the tanks by means of a capacitance type system which uses the fuel as a dielectric and measure it in pounds and is a much more precise system. now i have heard that the new 4runner uses a electronic fuel measuring system which would be a cap type or maybe it was a typo and it was meant to say it was a electric type and that would just be a standard auto industry type system.
so anyways that maybe the reason you were able to squeeze more fuel in your tank than which it was rated. when i fill up my celicas tank in the morning (which is rated at 12 gal) i am always able to squeeze over 13 in it...

 

[linhsy]

From the begginning, just for MPG measurement, I always wait unitil it said 30 miles left on the display...then I fill it up...it cost me $38 each time....and it imediately reads 370 miles left...Next time, I should fill the tank around 60 miles for safe...and like sharprunner said...better keep some extra money inside your Rig...

 

[EXTEX]

Didnt' kno if anybody else did this or not - thought I was the only psycho. If I fill up with a quarter tank remaining, it makes me feel better about exorbident gas prices! Somebody's gotta be able to play with my head!

 

[linhsy]

I remember it only cost my honda civic (10 gallons tank) about $16 per tank...now, with the 4Runner it cost me around $40/tank...it does make me think "Damm....That's much!...the gas station guy must be happy every time he sees me..."

or maybe we should filled up when the tank is 1/2 remaining to make us feel better... !

 

[darktiger]

I usually keep $20 in my glove department just incase I am near empty. Closes I have go so far is when it said I only have 36 miles left.

 

[bluduk15]

I'll admit it. I ran out of gas after about 30-50 miles after the "0" reading. Just happened. Now I'm comfortable going beyond the "0" when I absolutely HAVE to. My rule is 40 miles beyond the "0" reading. YMMV.

The car started fine after I ran out. I bought a one gal. tank and filled it with that. As stated above, this is definitely a practice to avoid.

bd

 

[sharp4runr]

bluduk15 - that makes sense. I got to the gas station with 1 mile left on the range computer and filled up with just over 21 gallons. the tank holds 23 gallons. i get about 18.5 miles to a gallon so 18.5 times 2 is 37.

 

[SteveM]

It's not a great idea to let it get that low because the fuel pump is in the tank and it uses the surrounding fuel to cool the pump. Overheating and burning out the pump is going to be an expensive proposition. Though running it low occasionally is not going to instantly kill your fuel pump.

I've seen the 'miles to empty' on my BMW increase occasionally when it recalculates my instantaneous mileage.

 

[HuntRunner]

bluduk15 - that makes sense. I got to the gas station with 1 mile left on the range computer and filled up with just over 21 gallons. the tank holds 23 gallons. i get about 18.5 miles to a gallon so 18.5 times 2 is 37.

I guess this is going to be different for eveybody, depending on the computer and/or temprature as the_josh said. With my computer showing 11 miles remaining and filling a 23 gallon tank with 23+ gallons, I don't think I could have made it another 30 miles.

 

[bluewolf]

Didnt' kno if anybody else did this or not - thought I was the only psycho. If I fill up with a quarter tank remaining, it makes me feel better about exorbident gas prices! Somebody's gotta be able to play with my head!

No, you're not the only psycho. I play those mental games on myself as well. I just cant BEAR spending $40.00 on a single refueling, so I like to refill after it's a half or even a quarter-tank low. $20.00 is my limit by God!! If the price of gasoline keeps going up the way it is, I'll be at the pump every @$*&# day!!

 

[Jayded]

Damn...I also refill at quarter tank...

...but it takes $26 to do it!!!

That's the price I pay for living in Cali.