Miles left to empty

[hammersc]

How close to empty do you guys drive until fill up? I take it as close to 'zero miles left' as I can simply because I've never put more than 21.5 gallons of gas in the 'runner, even though it claims a 23 gallon tank. I'm actually trying to run it out of gas sometimes (carrying reserve fuel) just to know the true range for when I'm in a situation where there's very few stations and I need to know exactly how far I can make it.

I hear people tell me 'Don't run it down to empty because the last bit of gas is dirty'. Well ok then what happens when you fill up at 1/4 tank? Does that dirty gas disappear? My guess is it just mixes in with all the other new gas and you end up using it no matter what. I don't have a clue, all I know is I want to fill up with gas as few times as possible so I drive it as low as I can. Do I have lots of company or should I alter my fill'erup routine?

Oh and thanks for eveyone's responses - I'm new to this forum and probably ask dumb questions but they do help me a lot. This is what the internet was made for...helping people become better and more knowledgeable consumers.

 

[GYoter]

The farthest Ive run mine is about 40 miles past when the range read 0 miles. It took about 22.5 gallons on fillup that time. But usually I take note of when it reads 0 and dont go more than 20 miles past. It usually takes right around 21 gal when I do this. I am like you and like to fill up less often so I push it. You can go farther than you think on 0 range.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Fuel Pump

Welcome to the Forum!

This has been discussed at great detail with other threads.

The risk you run with running a low tank consistently lies in the fuel pump. The fuel pump is inside the tank, and relies on fuel to lube/cool it during operation. Running the tank low causes the pump to be exposed.

I believe the dirty fuel issue is not as big of an issue either. Yes, you are always drawing from the bottom of the tank. That is what a filter is for.

Most fuel tanks have a total usable level, and a total capacity level. Usable fuel will be less than total capacity, due to the pump not sucking every ounce of fuel out of the tank. There is usually a low point that allows sediment/water/etc to sink to.

For those of you that have put in 23 gallons (or more) into the tank, keep in mind that the 23 gals does not include any fuel that you manage to fill into the filler neck.

 

[swisstype]

I run mine to wherever I feel. I do have a habit of running it to the light coming on, and then I try to get gas when I can.

 

[hammersc]

Thanks Carl - good points. And I love the old school 'yota slogan.

And to the poster before, I had no idea you could go 20 or more miles after you hit '0'. Interesting, and dangerous. ha

 

[seh750]

My old BMW M3 left me stranded when the DTE indicator said 21 miles remaining.

Therefore, I've never pushed it past about 30 to go in the T4R but I've also never put more than about 19 1/2 gallons into it.

 

[Uneek]

Don't have answer for it, but the V8 Limited I test drove ran out of gas during the test drive New Year's Day 2006. During the test drive, I was thinking wow the V8's got a good punch when going up a nice long hill, then it just started to lose power and speed and then the 4Runner died. I rolled back into the emergency lane. The sales rep wanted to roll it all the way down the hill backwards. LOL :bash:

I've never ran out of gas on any car I've driven other than on that test drive. It was one of the funniest moments and test drives. I was dying in laughter waiting for the dealership to send another car and gas can with the sales rep. Funny thing is, I inquired about the low fuel light before we took off. I didn't buy from that dealership anyways.

 

[JP4RNR]

My old BMW M3 left me stranded when the DTE indicator said 21 miles remaining.

Therefore, I've never pushed it past about 30 to go in the T4R but I've also never put more than about 19 1/2 gallons into it.

When I was test driving a 2001 4Runner I ran out of gas too. They must keep the minimum amount of gas in the vehicle while on the lot. I do like thought that when you buy a car most dealers fill-up the vehicle before driving off the lot

 

[nc211]

One of the problems with keeping an empty tank, especially this time of year down here in the south, is condensation building up on the inside of tank, which will put water into your fuel system. If you live in a northern state, where you go above freezing during the day, below freezing at night, you could possibly find yourself stuck on the side of the road due to frozen fuel lines. This happened to me once in a GTI in Kansas. Ran it low, temps fell to around 0 that night, drove to school the next morning and the car just died. Thought I was out of gas, but what happened was condensation froze on the inside of thank, when the car warmed up and started to move, the ice melted into water, was pulled into the lines, and instantly froze again, which blocked the line.

 

[Spencerhealy]

Having just drove abt 15 miles on 0 I can confirm that it is possible although there is a noticable loss in power after around 10 miles past 0, I have even driven to where the gas needle is noticably below E and it hasn't died on me yet.

 

[BendRunner]

Having just drove abt 15 miles on 0 I can confirm that it is possible although there is a noticable loss in power after around 10 miles past 0, I have even driven to where the gas needle is noticably below E and it hasn't died on me yet.

This is good info to know. Thanks for posting, just picked up a v8 and was curious about this as well.

 

[Bluesky 07]

I’ve recorded the details for every fill-up for over 2 years. Drove it just past 0 miles remaining once and ended up putting in 21.2 gallons so my assumption is that there’s about a 2-gallon reserve. I don’t plan to test my theory but that info is good to know just in case. Miles traveled were 366 but obviously ymmv - literally.

I think all manufacturers’ goal is to minimize the risk of running out of fuel to the extent possible.

 

[jrm]

Theres a baffled

lower compartment in the bottom of the 3rd, 4th and maybe 5th gen fuel tanks that holds about a gallon and a half to two gallons of fule so when the truck is at an angle and low on fuel, the fuel pick up isnt in danger of sucking air. :fro:

 

[kevinpt]

guess im the only one that saw that this was a bump from 2008. but yea i have been 30 miles past 0 before