Out of gas!!

[pintobronco]

What happens to the fuel pump if I run out of gas??

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[Ron Quixote]

Nothing. Your engine will just shut down and you'll coast to a stop.

 

[NM Mike]

Your fuel pump is inside of the gas tank. When you put fuel into that tank after running out, the pump will automatically reprime itself. Your truck likely shut down on low fuel pressure before the fuel lines were emptied fully. Any air in the lines will be purged once you refuel and crank the motor over. You’ll likely have to crank the engine for a short period to purge air out and build adequate fuel pressure, then the engine will fire up.
The fuel inside the tank cools and lubricates the fuel pump. As long as you don’t crank the engine for long periods of time without fuel, it doesn’t hurt the fuel pump to run out of fuel. But you can burn up a fuel pump if you try starting the engine without fuel and keep cranking the engine over.

 

[Gary Geampa]

Nothing. Your engine will just shut down and you'll coast to a stop.

Why in the world would you let your truck run out of gas in the first place? It is equipped with a gauge to let you know how much fuel is left in the tank and travel miles that you have left.

 

[John E Davies]

Why in the world would you let your truck run out of gas in the first place? It is equipped with a gauge to let you know how much fuel is left in the tank and travel miles that you have left.

He is in Nevada, there are MANY areas in the desert west where you may be 75 + miles from any gas station. There are a few spots where it is over 120 miles to the next services! And if you are driving off highway, the risk of running out is much higher. Which is why you bring extra fuel (even more so if you are towing something heavy ) and in case that “only” station is closed or has inoperative pumps.

World’s Loneliest Road

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[ChronciallyChronic]

Why in the world would you let your truck run out of gas in the first place? It is equipped with a gauge to let you know how much fuel is left in the tank and travel miles that you have left.

Mistakes happen.

 

[purdyd]

In the old days it was common to carry extra fuel and run out of gas so you would know how accurate your fuel gauge was for indicating empty.

hopefully only once.

 

[John E Davies]

Also, here is 167 miles with no services in Central NV. No cell service also, in much of it, so AAA won’t be helping you any time soon. I rarely carry extra gas, but if I am headed to the Great Basin that is mandatory.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[Gary Geampa]

He is in Nevada, there are MANY areas in the desert west where you may be 75 + miles from any gas station. There are a few spots where it is over 120 miles to the next services! And if you are driving off highway, the risk of running out is much higher. Which is why you bring extra fuel (even more so if you are towing something heavy ) and in case that “only” station is closed or has inoperative pumps.

World’s Loneliest Road

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

I ride my Harley

 

[Gary Geampa]

I ride my Harley in the desert quite often and never leave town without a full tank of fuel and that goes for my truck also..

 

[Ron Quixote]

Side note: I actually don‘t like the way the XL displays the gas gauge. It’s too easy to overlook. The bottom 1/4 should be red, like on a traditional gauge. Instead it’s just a stack of white bars. Bad design.

 

[superj]

we have a long section in south texas with no fuel stations or anything but brush and coyotes moving illegal alians, too.

 

[Dr. TJG DVM]

What happens to the fuel pump if I run out of gas??

On a similar topic: the manual states my Ranger 2.7L has a fuel tank capacity of 18.76 gallons. I drove to when the computer was getting adamant about nearing E (22miles left). Filled up with 13.5 gallons. Thats a 5 gallon and approx 85 mile “reserve”. Seems a bit excessive, has anyone actually pushed this? How angry does the computer get when you pass its calculated distance? Or does it just shut up assuming it gave fair warning and your on your own?

 

[waffleso_0]

What happens to the fuel pump if I run out of gas??

Hilarious timing as this almost happened to me this weekend after some fun at the shooting range. I knew I was low on gas when we left, but we wanted to get burgers since nothing tastes better after some pew pew time, and In & Out is just up the road..I said.

So as we left In-N-Out I passed a shell gas station with 4 miles left to empty. I told my buddy the Chevron up the road had better prices and I could use my Safeway points too! It's only a mile or two I said..

Well, I must have misjudged the distance because the miles to empty was fast approaching zero. I switched to eco-mode and clinched. As we were approaching the last hill on the route the 1 mile to empty showed and after a turn or two the last tick of 0 miles to empty warning appeared just about 1,000 feet from the gas station. We made it.

I hopped out, leaving the engine on, and started pumping gas. (see pic)
The funny thing is that as you pump with very little fuel left, you get a notification for each warning level the tank hits. I think they warn you at 10 miles to empty, 20 miles to empty, and finally 47 or 50 miles to empty warnings..I dont recall exactly.

So I never actually ran out fully, but I was probably seconds from it and I definitely learned my lesson which is funny as I generally always fill up when I hit half a tank. I guess I wanted to channel my inner Kramer:

 

[waffleso_0]

On a similar topic: the manual states my Ranger 2.7L has a fuel tank capacity of 18.76 gallons. I drove to when the computer was getting adamant about nearing E (22miles left). Filled up with 13.5 gallons. Thats a 5 gallon and approx 85 mile “reserve”. Seems a bit excessive, has anyone actually pushed this? How angry does the computer get when you pass its calculated distance? Or does it just shut up assuming it gave fair warning and your on your own?

See story above!

After pumping stopped I checked the meter and it said 17 gallons and some change.. waited 30 seconds and gave it one more push of the lever and got it up to 18.2 Gallons I guess I had .4 left??
I thought when the warning came up showing 0 miles to empty the engine was going to shut off but i think i just got very lucky. LOL

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