Empty light mileage!?

[Protege52003]

my mazda master tech told me that going below a 1/4 tank routinely will wear out the fuel pump much faster

don't know about that, but it could be true......

i heard you don't want to let your tank get low in the really cold weather, because if there is water in your gas it will freeze......don't know about that either?

 

[wannabe]

don't know about that, but it could be true......

i heard you don't want to let your tank get low in the really cold weather, becasue if there is water in your gas it will freeze......don't know about that either?

that sounds kinda bogus to me...shouldnt be water in your tank....

 

[Douggie]

don't know about that, but it could be true......

i heard you don't want to let your tank get low in the really cold weather, because if there is water in your gas it will freeze......don't know about that either?

It's all true. Because the fuel pump is inside the gas tank and the gas will help cool the motor and reduce the heat generated.

When you have less gas in the tank, you have more air in the tank and air contains moisture. The more air you have, the more moisture is available to be frozen up.

 

[wannabe]

ahh moisture..i was thinking actual water. hmmm...i guess i should start watching that....

 

[Protege52003]

^^^^ makes sense with above comment. i always have a full tank anyway, or above 1/2 unless i am driving a long distance......

 

[iLisa]

my mazda master tech told me that going below a 1/4 tank routinely will wear out the fuel pump much faster

is that true?

 

[Captain KRM P5]

is that true?

he seems to really think so

 

[iLisa]

he seems to really think so

then i'd better start changing my ways..... (shrug)

 

[Fluffy Bunny]

Is the pump no longer submerged once you get below 1/4?

 

[Douggie]

Is the pump no longer submerged once you get below 1/4?

Probably not, guessing from the shape of the fuel tank (wide and shallow). If the tank was tall and narrow, then the 1/4 tank would have a bit of depth.

 

[Protege52003]

.....I just pump as much as i can get into my tank. usually i make a mess but i try not to for the environment and for my health. i usually have a terrible gas odor in my car for the first 30 miles after i fill up......

don't want my fuel pump to overheat and shorten its life.......

 

[xtrememps]

I live in NJ, it's funny reading this thread because you guys talk about how much you put in so accurately when I'm kinda clueless since I don't have to pump my own gas (in fact you're not allowed to in NJ). I just know how much it usually costs to fill up approximately lol.

I frequently drive below the empty marker...I'm not sure how many miles exactly though.

 

[traitorhound]

hmm. . .ive personally gone 60 miles with the gas light on. . . .the last 10 miles were really scary cause i didn't know when it would just die. . . .lol

oh yea when i was in NJ everything was full service. . .why is that?

 

[xtrememps]

State law, no self serve. I don't mind it hehe.

 

[Protege52003]

State law, no self serve. I don't mind it hehe.

i would rather spill gas on my own car and take chips of paint off when i miss the gas tank, not the attendant.......

 

[jonlong]

i would rather spill gas on my own car and take chips of paint off when i miss the gas tank, not the attendant.......

??(beer)

 

[iLisa]

I just got 376 miles on one tank of gas...

 

[Fluffy Bunny]

.....I just pump as much as i can get into my tank. usually i make a mess but i try not to for the environment and for my health. i usually have a terrible gas odor in my car for the first 30 miles after i fill up......

don't want my fuel pump to overheat and shorten its life.......

I think I have heard from a couple of different places that this is not a good thing. There is the chance the vapor catch can will get some actual raw fuel in it and they really screw up the system.

Anyone else heard this?

 

[Protege52003]

I think I have heard from a couple of different places that this is not a good thing. There is the chance the vapor catch can will get some actual raw fuel in it and they really screw up the system.

Anyone else heard this?

...i really don't do this. i was just joking a little regarding zmzmzm's comment earlier in this thread.

-R

 

[LRHK]

Gees I feel like I'm getting pretty crappy gas mileage.. in town I get around 500km / tank (310 miles), highway 550 km (342 miles). The best I've had is 620 km (385 miles).

And as far as the light, it does come fast after a quarter, I've noticed that the bottom half of the tank goes about 2x as fast as the top half.