Letting your fuel run down too low?

[izard-industries]

Right ive heard this a numerous of time,

'you shouldnt run your car too low on petrol because it will suck dirt from the bottom of the tank'

But, the pump would suck from the bottom of the tank anyway, and theres a fuel filter to prevent any debris getting through to injectors/carbs?

Correct me im wrong!

 

[f0xy]

moved to correct section

 

[DrR]

Run mine till the light comes on quite often, less trips to the petrol station as possible.

 

[Fred@BTM]

its rubbish, you can run the tank as empty as you like, won't damage anything

 

[Josh@Renparts]

its rubbish, you can run the tank as empty as you like, won't damage anything

exactly. Fuel filter is there for a reason, plus it all gets stirred up while your driving anyway.

 

[fad]

I run mine down to the petrol light plus 30 miles then fill up.

Cars fine and I have run out once and it didnt affect the car at all still runs the same months later

 

[Lee_cs_12]

i done exactly what said ^ i ran mine bone dry filled it up started again and run fine since

 

[kully]

used to be said with older cars , but the newer cars nowadays have better fuel filters fitted , so a doesn't make a difference now .

 

[Floodie]

The tanks plastic anyway so what gunk is going to come from where?.. old myth nowadays

 

[martynrg]

just a question about the fuel light.......the past few weeks ive let the car run down to the red line but the light hasn't come on. How far does the line have to go down for the fuel light to come on??

 

[Sarah]

mine varies depending on how the car is being used

it comes on wen 44 miles of fuel is left

 

[bmh.01]

Fuel light should come on when theres 1 gallon left in the tank or so. The accuracy of the tank float varies from car to car though in my experience.

 

[Graham Gooch]

used to be said with older cars , but the newer cars nowadays have better fuel filters fitted , so a doesn't make a difference now .

Only true of old cars where the fuel filter hasnt been changed.

I used to go over to the reserve tank regulary on my 20 year old R5 GT Turbo and it never made one iota of difference.

 

[gaz44]

40 miles left approx - light comes on. I then continue for at least 30 miles (most times) before filling up.

Then I drive really slowly to try and keep the mpg up for as long as possible, until I get bored.

 

[Wellas]

40 miles left approx - light comes on. I then continue for at least 30 miles (most times) before filling up.

Then I drive really slowly to try and keep the mpg up for as long as possible, until I get bored.

hahaha that sounds familiar

 

[Graham Gooch]

Its exactly what I do lol.

 

[Ian_182]

I remember this old wives tale...lol

 

[R20 CWH]

mine usually comes on at 40, iv only ever ran out of petrol once, which was unfortunate, but usually get the full 40 out of it if i cant be arsed stopping

 

[AlexS]

My cars got such a s**t range I never put any fuel in till the lights been on for around 10 miles. It does seem to go abit better when its got fresh fuel in there though.
I leave my boat stored with a full tank though over the winter to prevent condensation (the tanks stainless), these seems to be the done thing in the marine industry but I guess cars have plastic tanks.

 

[shelley]

I always usually refill when the needle is on the red, have never run it low enough for the red light to come on, tempted to try it but knowing my luck the light won't be working and i'll conk out

 

[Eckascliovalver]

mines usually comes on at 42ish also, then i get paranoid so have to go to a petrol station after about ten miles max

 

[Jaff]

in mine and my brothers 1.2 it comes on with about 100miles left, the problem is that the trip computer miles to empty goes blank with 60 miles to go i suppose to force you to fill up.

 

[HartZ]

Mine constantly sits on the red.. wouldnt know any difference lol

 

[clairemae]

mine comes on just under 50 than the range just disappears which is gets worrying!

 

[Dafthead]

My mates mum used to do this with her car, fucked up something big time


It was a dacia duster, mind

 

[pinky]

It says in the manual that you shouldn't let it get too low..but dont know why:S

 

[daydotz]

most vans have a sticker saying never empty the fuel tank
i leave mine to the gage is just on the red :rasp: then again its been nearly 2months since ive filled mine up an im just under half a tank now

 

[Fletcher]

I always run mine as low as poss, before re-fueling.

 

[Chili Red]

I only let mine run really low once and the computer went blank under 40 miles...I didn't like to risk it getting any lower!

 

[Naith]

red light comes on... i got about 40 miles left in tank, i'll run it for another 35.

jobs a good un

 

[Fletcher]

red light comes on... i got about 40 miles left in tank, i'll run it for another 35.

jobs a good un

I've done that a few times

 

[The Seer]

I try and keep 1/4 tank's worth of fuel...."try" being the word.:dapprove:

 

[Aluco]

Less fuel = Less weight = Faster

Thats how i try and justify it always being on red

 

[Marky_]

^More mpg as well.

 

[dick]

i think ive run out about 3 times.

fortunately ive got good mates who bail me out

also ther as bad as me, so its swings and roundabouts.

its not like the pipe in in the bottom of fuel tanks either is it, there is still the impurities in the petrol that sink to be bottom,