Does waiting until the Low Gas light comes on before refueling kill your fuel pump in the long run?

 

No... It will cause no damage to your fuel pump whatsoever.

 

one thing...the fuel pump is actually cooled by the splashing affect of the fuel...the problem lyes with if you live in a hot climate and you run a low tank all the time(less than a quater tank)...there is not enough gas splashing on the pump to cool it and it will eventually fail prematurly

 

There have been owners here who routinely let their tanks go deeply into the red who have had to replace their in-tank pumps.

Coincidence?

 

Originally posted by STX/98
No... It will cause no damage to your fuel pump whatsoever.

Originally posted by TexfordD
...there is not enough gas splashing on the pump to cool it and it will eventually fail prematurly.

Originally posted by Dennis
...who have had to replace their in-tank pumps.

So which one is it?? Surely the answer cannot be both good AND bad..

 

Note:

1. If you ever run out of gas, this might cause drive train probs...

2. If you go into your reserves, you might not be able to fill your tank to the full capacity.

Those are the only two things my manual says...

 

I try to keep mine above a quarter tank and it gets hot here, heh

The only time I run it down is if I'm running Chevron Fuel injector cleaner thru it to get my money's worth.

I think it's amazing how many people don't replace their fuel filters regularly. It's only a $10 part. Yes I know it's a PITA to change but the fuel injection systems like clean filters.

 

That statement makes no correlation to an increased failure in pumps when running the tanks low. Only that people that have run them low have replaced thier pumps.

I could also make the statement "There have been owners here who NEVER let their tanks go deeply into the red who have had to replace their in-tank pumps."

People under both conditions have replaced thier pumps.

I have an '89 F-150 with in tank electric pumps. I've got 220k on my truck and I have let the back tank run COMPLETELY out on many occasions over the past 5 years that I have had the truck (since 91k). The fuel gage does not work in that tank, so I run it to where I think it is low and then switch to the front tank. I always ran it below 1/4 of a tank and use it as a primary, with my front tank as a secondary because I know how much is in it. I've yet to replace the pump. I'm not saying to run it out of fuel, as that can cause other problems.

Sounds to me like this refers to the injectors, which can be damaged from running dry. The injectors may also cause a lean condition as the engine starves for fuel. It does not specify the pump, and drivetrain would be more engine based IMO. Fuel system failure would be more accurate to describe a problem of that nature.

Just my thoughts, but in my 220k experience you wont see fuel pump failure from running below 1/4 tank.