Tank Runs dry at how many gallons?

[2002AmSE]

Hey guys, its probably a stupid question, but when I am in a hurry and the gas guage runs into the chime and the light is on, and i always fill to see that there is 2 gallons that should be in there, because it only pumped 12 in the 14 gallon tank, do i actually still have 2 gallons useable, or is there around a gallon that is unusable

I ask this because sometimes im in a hurry to get home when as shortly after i leave the parking lot from work the chime comes on(meaning 12 gallons used), and its a 25 mile commute and i have always played it safe and filled it up....


So has anybody ran their tank to the point where the car stalls because i really want to know the minimum gallonage so that i could get an idea if i could pull the 25-30 miles home, and for other people who are wondering.

B.T.W - I get 21 MPH, meaning i should have a total of 276 miles per tank, while i drive ~252 miles until i get chimed

[eren00gt]

I know in one of the previous gm vehicles I owned in the past the manual said you have between 1-3 gallons left depending on how the car was sitting when it came on. If it was sitting on a hill with fuel going away from the pickup sensor it would come on earlier than if it was on level ground. The manual on my current GA just says you still have some left but that you should get more soon. My rule of thumb for this is always assume I have at a minimum of 1 gal left. So I have at least 20-25 miles left before I need more.

[2000GA]

dude just put 10 bucks in once a week and you'll be fine or fill up a day or two earlier. It would suck to be in a true emergency and u had to stop and get gas wouldnt it

[CATAssassin]

$10 a week? HA! I wish. I drive roughly 500 miles a week. yeah thats about $40 a week in gas.

[Greed4Speed]

Unless you want to have fuel pump problems don't let it get under 1/4 tank. After 2 pump changes we found out that low fuel in the tank allows the pump to overheat causing it to crap out.

500 a week isn't that bad. We used to do at least around 800 miles. Thats filling up every other day.

21 mpg is low, unless you're doing all that driving in town.

[PontiacGT2K]

I've had the car since brand new, put 82k miles on it now....run it below empty every time, haven't had a fuel pump problem....

But it's true, if you keep the gas guage around empty all the time (only fill it up 1/4 or 1/2 way) you'll def. burn your fuel pump up. Just fill it to the top every time, you'll be fine.

[Greed4Speed]

You've been lucky then

[PontiacGT2K]

I think I've been lucky all over my car. Only had the intake manifold gasket go out once, water pump, and that's all the problems I've had really.

[VaGT]

Hmm, this is my third car. I've probably put 150,000 on cars in the 10 years I have had a DL.

I have never made a conscientious effort to keep my tank above 1/4, and I have never had a fuel pump go on any of my cars.

But, the theory makes sense, so maybe I'll not let it run down as often in the future.



As for the original question... I've had the needle just below the last line and was still running :D .


Ever see that episode of Seinfeld?

[PontiacGT2K]

I've run out of gas ONCE.....and it was about 2cm below empty when that happened. We have somewhat of a safety zone for running out.

[2002AmSE]

2cm?? whoa, thats like an extra 1/4 of a tank.... That cant be right...

[atc3434]

I've gone 40 miles after the light... still could only get like 13 gallons in it. Its funny the difference between in town and highway driving. I hit half a tank at 200 miles on the highway, meanwhile, while driving once a week at school for short distances, and usually "spiritied" driving, I've hit half a tank at only 115 miles. Crazyness!

[SC/TGrandAm]

yeah i ran out of gas once and the needle was about a cm past the red empty mark. Lets just say you dont run out when you are on the red mark.

As for keeping the tank above 1/4 mark. Im not sure on the fuel pump thing, ive never had a problem and i run my tank down to the yellow light then i get gas. But i can tell you that it clogs up your fuel filter alot faster and worse when you run your tank down.