It seems like I see this light alot now that the price of gas is sooo high. My question is: once this light comes on whats the estimated fuel left in the tank? I ask this cause on my way home from work there is a long stretch with no gas stations, plus the gas is cheaper where I live compared to where I work.
thanks.

 

Mine comes on with about 4 gallons left in the tank. Part of the reason it comes on early is that the fuel pump is located in the tank and is cooled by the fuel. If you routinely run the tank very low, you risk premature fuel pump failure. Also, running the tank very low is more likely to suck sediment into the fuel filter, shortening its life was well.

IOTW, if you need to limp along upto 40-50 miles or so with the light on, I wouldn't sweat too much, but I wouldn't make a habit of it.

 

the light the '99 f150 that i got rid of would come on with about 4 gallons left


the light on my 2000 f259 PSD comes on with almost 10 gallons left

 

Thanks dirt bike dave, I live in petaluma and work in alameda, the gas up there is cheaper.

 

I have run 100 miles on my truck after that light came on. I also leveled the truck so the gauge does not read very accurate now.

 

My 2K1 says the light comes on with 3 gallons left. That's about right it seems.

-Mike

 

I can put 26 gallons into my 30 gallon tank when the light comes on. But I would not count on being able to use all of the remaining 4 gallons. My '94 F150 had dual tanks so I would run one tank dry before I swithed to the other tank. Even after sucking it dry, I never got more than 17.5 gallons into the 19 gallon tank and I never got more than 16.5 gallons into the 18 gallon tank. This suggests (if the tank ratings are true) that there is about 1 1/2 gallons in the tank that you can't use. If your low fuel light is going on when it should, I wouldn't count on much more than 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 gallons left. That won't take you far; maybe 30 to 40 miles is my guess.

 

My low fuel light comes on with a little over 3 gallons left.
I think that is good. I once ran an 82 Datsun dead empty with over $2000 in my pocket. Still had to walk a couple of miles for gas.

 

I get about 23 gallons in a 25 gallon tank on a fill up when the light comes on. Enough for about 30 to 40 miles.

dirt bike dave-

I asked a friend of mine who is a mech at one of my local Ford dealers about the "premature fuel pump failure" and he's never heard of this. Why would it cause a failure? The pump is located on top of the take with a siphon hose running to the bottom. The pump isn't submerged in the gas all the time. Only when your full. About 3/4's of a tank the pump enclosure is out of the gas.

And it's just my opinion but I'd rather have the crap in the filter and change it ever 5000 miles than have the build up in the bottom of the tank. One of the main reasons I've heard of NOT to let the tank go low is condensation. Again, no big deal. change the filter more!

And hey, T Ellenberger, What gives with the Username? Registered in 1970? How'd you pull that one off?

 

biggins - I was repeating what had been posted on this site when this topic has come up before. I've never personally verified the location of the pump on the F150.

My buddy has a motorhome with a fairly small fuel tank and fully submerged electric fuel pump. He got in the habit of running the tank low and the pump overheated, causing a loss in pressure. Luckily it died on us only a couple of miles from his house, and when it cooled we were able to limp home. The fuel actually cools the pump on the submerged designs. Low fuel = Hot pump = more wear =greater clearances = low or no pressure.

Re: tank crud, I'd rather the crud and condensation stay in the bottom of the tank where it's not hurting anything. When the crud clogs the fuel filter, you tend to find out at the worst possible time. I can think of several people I know who have needed assistance when their vehicle died after recently running the tank down to empty or near empty. Clogged fuel filter each ytime. Older vehicles are more prone to this.

 

That sucks about the motorhome. Looks like a design flaw. Atleast leaving the pump outside would allow for air cooling.

I see your point on the crud but makeing sure the filter is changed regularly would fix the problem. Sounds like those people didn't take care of thier vehicle. It's a "total car" thing ya know? I guess the key here is to buy gas frm a reputible company. I know two stations near me that pump thier tanks once a year. I know cause I stopped in one night and was going to fill up and they were closed for gas. I asked them what was going on and I was almost knocked out when they told me what they were doing. Atleast some places care about service and product quality.