How low can you go? (fuel)

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:47 am

How far have any of you guys gone once the LOW Fuel light has come on?

The most I've ever gone was 30 miles and I was getting really nervous.
When I filled up, it topped off at 19.5 gallons.

So maybe I could have gone another 20 or so?

Zonie · **Posted:** Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:22 am

I usually fill up when it's 1/4 or above, simply because I'm concerned with the long term damage "diesel roulette" can do the engine and fuel system.

Dave08 · **Joined:** Fri Nov 02, 2007 4:17 pm **Posts:** 250

Coming back from my college as of this fall with dad once... We found a lack of diesel and made it 80 miles down the interstate before filling... She was a thristy Jeep

rpapkey · **Joined:** Sun Jan 14, 2007 4:48 pm **Posts:** 39

The risk isn't completely in running out of fuel. When the tank is that low it's far more likely to be sucking smaller slugs of air. The engine will continue to run but your shortening the life of your pump. If you do it once no big deal life happens. But don't make a habit of doing it all the time.

That said i think the average for most cars is around 60 miles. Which in our cars would be 2 gallons. Wow does that seem like alot.

Uffe · **Posted:** Sun Jul 27, 2008 2:50 pm

There's 10.2 liters or ~2.6 gallons of fuel left when the orange light and chime comes on telling you about low fuel.

That would get you about 60 miles before you run it bone dry.

I am sure you're not right about running a tank low will cause air bubbles in your fuel. The CRD fuel system has much worse problems in the fuel filter head than a low tank would ever cause.

Most diesels have a lift pump in the tank thus pressurizing the fuel line, and your imaginary problem has gone away. Even in the CRDs case there is little reason to believe a low tank will suck air bubbles, unless you run it so dry the fuel skips away from the hole in the tank. Even then wouldn't the airbubbles run to the surface when the fuel comes back?

Turbo Tim · **Posted:** Sun Jul 27, 2008 3:46 pm

The problem is with the aeration of the fuel. The air bubbles are very tiny and does affect the lubrication within the pump. Also it is a problem for the extremely high fuel pressures the pump runs at. This condition is to be avoided as much as possible.

Aeration of fuel is even a problem with fuel injected gasoline (patooie) engines.
It does kill pumps.

curtis · **Posted:** Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:23 pm

A couple of times I have driven past when the computer 0 miles left (it must be lying). But normally I fill up once the light comes on. But my original filter head doesn't leak so I must be one of the lucky ones.

KJ 119 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:48 pm

Went 15 miles past the "0 miles left" on interstate.Boy that was dumb.

geordi · **Posted:** Sun Jul 27, 2008 9:04 pm

I went about 20 miles tonight past the "0 miles left" bit, and it was fine. Didn't have enough money to put more than 5 gallons in it anyway. Thanks GWB, you kept your campaign promise to "protect those oil prices"

Or was that oil PROFITS for your buddies?

1999, November: Diesel 98 CENTS per gallon.

2008 November: Probably about 5 times that. Not a bad record, if raping the country was your goal.

ivanidea · **Posted:** Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:31 am

My recent addition is a 2005 2.8 auto Liberty. When the light came on, I put 75 litres in, which means I have a 3 litre warning (78 litre tank), or 15 to 20 miles range. Considerably less than the 60 miles I have experienced in other vehicles. Even my TJ gives me at least a 40 mile warning.

Ivan

onthehunt · **Posted:** Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:17 pm

Quote:

Thanks GWB, you kept your campaign promise to "protect those oil prices"

Or was that oil PROFITS for your buddies?

1999, November: Diesel 98 CENTS per gallon.

2008 November: Probably about 5 times that. Not a bad record, if raping the country was your goal.

What's this have to do with how far you can drive on a tank of fuel?? Stop raping the forum.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Mon Jul 28, 2008 5:06 pm

rpapkey wrote:

That said i think the average for most cars is around 60 miles. Which in our cars would be 2 gallons. Wow does that seem like alot.

You just killed a cat. Poor kitty.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Mon Jul 28, 2008 5:13 pm

geordi wrote:

I went about 20 miles tonight past the "0 miles left" bit, and it was fine. Didn't have enough money to put more than 5 gallons in it anyway. Thanks GWB, you kept your campaign promise to "protect those oil prices"

Or was that oil PROFITS for your buddies?

1999, November: Diesel 98 CENTS per gallon.

2008 November: Probably about 5 times that. Not a bad record, if raping the country was your goal.

Well, if he didn't "steal" the election in 2000, fuel prices would have been artifically inflated much higher to advance an environmental psuedo-science. Or is that another inconvenient truth :roll:

GWB does not control congress or oil prices.

Threeweight · **Joined:** Mon May 14, 2007 5:57 pm **Posts:** 679

JL Rockies wrote:

Well, if he didn't "steal" the election in 2000, fuel prices would have been artifically inflated much higher to advance an environmental psuedo-science. Or is that another inconvenient truth :roll:

http://theflatearthsociety.net/

Personally, I'd rather have taken my pseudoscience with a gradual phase in of higher MPG standards, so we conserve resources and save $$, rather than hemorrhage the US economy and capital to oil producing, terrorist supporting states like Saudi Arabia. I know thats all crazy, socialist commie talk, but it would seem to me that some times our government's job is to look out for the long-term interests of the country.

But hey, I'm silly like that.

That said, I feel Geordi's pain, but the commentary doesn't belong here (any more than the "evil Californicators and egghead EPA whack jobs are trying to teach my kid evolution and turn them lame!!1!11!!!! and impregnated my daughter with a Muslim baby" comments do.)

rpapkey · **Joined:** Sun Jan 14, 2007 4:48 pm **Posts:** 39

Uffe wrote:

Most diesels have a lift pump in the tank thus pressurizing the fuel line, and your imaginary problem has gone away. Even in the CRDs case there is little reason to believe a low tank will suck air bubbles, unless you run it so dry the fuel skips away from the hole in the tank. Even then wouldn't the airbubbles run to the surface when the fuel comes back?

I don't see any real benifit of even a lift pump in this instance. Think about it, with a gallon or two on the bottom of the tank and the fuel pickup a quarter of an inch off of the bottom even a small turn around a corner will make the fuel slosh away from the pickup. In which case you'll get air in there. I'll purge through normal system use but you are still introducing air. Like i said no real big deal once in a while but if you do it with any regularity it all adds up to long term pump damage.

People will do what they want but, me, personally. I'm going to pay for it either way. Whats the mentality here if i don't fill up today maybe tomorrow fuel will be free. Might as well do it now, and try to do what little i can to protect my car. Saves me the fear of running out in the middle of nowhere. Just seems ignorant to put it off unless you can help it.

Uffe · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:40 am

ivanidea wrote:

My recent addition is a 2005 2.8 auto Liberty. When the light came on, I put 75 litres in, which means I have a 3 litre warning (78 litre tank), or 15 to 20 miles range. Considerably less than the 60 miles I have experienced in other vehicles. Even my TJ gives me at least a 40 mile warning.

Ivan

No, you filled up the tank with diesel AND also the fuel filler tube, which in total was 75 litres. Fuel filler tubes can easily hold 5 liters in some circumstances. If you took out your manual I think you too will find that you have a 10.2 litre "reserve" when low fuel chime comes on.

How low can you go? (fuel)

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