[guitarman8373]

Some say this is a bad practice. Is that true?

I try not to do it too much but I don't have many gas stations nearby and go to work overnight when everything is closed. So only chance to really fill up is right after work at the local station.

Just curious!

[Glen e]

Originally Posted by guitarman8373

Some say.....

Some say...who?

Does not matter, fill when light comes on ,you're fine.......

[nancygrl]

Don't know....I never let it get that close on any of my vehicles.

[stella16]

word is, waiting so late causes stress on the fuel pump. These fuel pumps are in the gas tank. The are kept cool because they are submerged. If you consistently wait to fill your tank, you are subjecting the fuel pump to a hotter environment and shortening its life.



That's what a mechanic had told me. I have no idea if it's true

[dohvb1]

I usually fill up when it gets to 1/4 tank. My wife uses the low fuel light to mean the car needs gas on the next trip. Somehow, I'm always the lucky one taking that next trip.

[1hprush]

Originally Posted by dohvb1

I usually fill up when it gets to 1/4 tank. My wife uses the low fuel light to mean the car needs gas on the next trip. Somehow, I'm always the lucky one taking that next trip.

[ZED SLED]

Originally Posted by stella16

word is, waiting so late causes stress on the fuel pump. These fuel pumps are in the gas tank. The are kept cool because they are submerged. If you consistently wait to fill your tank, you are subjecting the fuel pump to a hotter environment and shortening its life.



That's what a mechanic had told me. I have no idea if it's true

It used to be but I don't believe that is the case anymore. But I try not to let it get that low just in case.

[Ebbsnflows]

Heat and friction are killers of electro-mechanical components. Fuel acts as both a lubricant and cooling agent for fuel pumps. By purposely and repeatedly running your tank to low-levels, you are regularly starving the fuel pump of those critical components - and ultimately shortening the life of the pump. The question is: shortening by how much? By 1000 miles? By 10000 miles? Who knows. But the point is - why would you intentionally risk it? Gas doesn't get cheaper when you buy more. It costs the same whether you buy 10 gallons or 18.5 gallons. What's the benefit of running your tank to near-empty?

Now, having said all of that, I know that a some race cars use various types of baffled-fuel tanks to try and trap fuel around the fuel pump so that it doesn't suffer starvation (during acceleration/cornering), but I don't think the typical street-car / truck use baffled tanks. Unsure if the Camaro does or not?

[Glen e]

Do you really think the GM would chance a HUGE warranty problem with the fuel pump if you filled when the light went on?

Hogwash ....GM just can't take that chance. Now if you want to run it out of gas and then fill, that's a different situation -and not what the OP asked........

[SSJ455]

"They" really talk, don't "they"?

[wingchunsifu]

I routinely fill all my vehicles up when they're at half. To me that is the empty mark....because, I am old enough to remember the gas lines of the 70's [when I was a kid], the 80's and most recently in 2012. All it takes is a slight buzz from the media about a gas shortage to make everyone panic and want to go and fill up their cars all at the same time thereby creating a gas line and consequent shortage.

Also: a FULL fuel tank in a conveyance won't explode just burn profusely . A gas tank needle displaying "E" on the other hand, is full of petrol fumes that will explode if ruptured.

Food for thought

[chrest]

I'm that guy. i wait until that car is begging for fuel lol.

there are 2 types of people in the world...

[enzia35]

I fill up at half empty.

[Ebbsnflows]

For those skeptics that refuse to acknowledge the validity of this problem (probably the same people that say "Smoking doesn't cause cancer. Why would cigarette manufacturers sell something that caused cancer?"

Here is what Walbro has to say - But what do they know, right?

https://walbrofuelpumps.com/why-fuel-pumps-fail

"Frequently running your vehicle on a low gas tank is extremely bad for your fuel pump and fuel system components. On many vehicles, approximately 10-15 times the amount of fuel your fuel pump sends towards your engine gets sent back to your fuel tank. This helps cool down your fuel components and the fuel in your gas tank. By running on a low gas tank, the fuel in the gas tank heats up a lot quicker causing the fuel pump to overheat or even worse, run dry. Avoid leaving your gas tank low whenever possible."