Wouldn't it then use *less* fuel if it's alternating between fuel, air bubble, fuel, etc..? Ya know, like when you get to the bottom of a milk shake with a straw... slurping definately gets LESS.

Besides, I'm guessing the engine would cutout/flood if injected with raw (non-aerosol'd) fuel.

 

Not really because it is not misting it is spitting, when the fuel is low you will get air bobbles so small that you can't tell if the injectors are spitting just a little or mistting and over time a full tank will give you more mpg then repeat gas stop's, and yes it will somtimes cutout. even if your are low on gas the fuel pump is not submurged in gas it will not be lubed and will overheat. and then you will have even more problem's other than just running out of fuel.

 

They are many other reasons to, but I can't think of them off the top of my head. But just because I don't know them does not mean they don't exist. I am at work right now and I will have to talk to some of my tech guy's and come back to you all with more answers. Sorry.

 

do you have a reference for this? i am having trouble locating more info to read about this.

 

I usually fill up before the gas light comes on. If it does, my heart always beats a little faster. I found out the hard way that my '95 Probe did not have a gas light so I always get gas around the half-tank mark. Plus I have also read where the gas keeps the fuel pump cool so running it low could possibly overheat it.

 

Nothing, I would ask some of my tech guy's but they are a little busy(pulling a tranny out of a 05 mustang GT) with work, I do know another reason has somthing to do with the ECU and ignition system when the fuel is low in the tank the ECU give's the word to the ignition system and it retards or advatges the timing and that also gives you lower gas milage, and also the ECU tells the ignition system to put out more gas because it does not want the car to stall on a low tank(to save the pump from burnout).

 

I would help you do a search for it but this computer at work it so fu*king slow, I hate it!

 

yeah work computers are always too slow. when i was in the USMC our pcs were always hand me downs from the navy so they were even slower. of course that was in the late 80s so everything is fast now comparitively. my last job tho was almost as fast as home.

 

I agree. I never intentionally let it go to the low-fuel light. No one would wait until the oil light comes on to refill with oil, nor should you wait for the fuel light to remind you to refuel. They're both emergency warnings to say "you screwed up buddy," lol... IMHO of course

 

well to me the light means "start looking for a gas station" not "you screwed up and are about to run out of gas!" at 24 miles to the gallon( on the highway i see it all the time) when the light comes on i generally have 2 gallons left which means 48 miles. i try to find a gas station within 20 of the light on.

 

My brother is in the USMC in Iraq. Although the Marines are a department of the Navy, he's always saying they are the men's department.

When your tank is down to the last 1/4, the shape of the tank might make the gauge read as if it's using it faster......correct?

 

LOL, well I tend to be a bit paranoid too... 2 gallons would get me 36 miles. That's just not a comfortable cushion for me. Stuff happens. Traffic jams. Emergency phone calls to get somewhere NOW.

Plus, I figure when the light comes on, you're potentially getting into fuel-pump-damage territory. Not likely at first, but if you keep pushing your luck past the light... I dunno, just not worth it.

I start thinking about fuel between 1/4 and 1/8. Between 1/8 and 1/16 it's a #1 priority. Much below that, and... well, to me, it means I messed up. I shoulda been thinking ahead.

 

Well we where talking about more real stats like if 2 cars were given the same amount of fuel just that car 1 was given it over a 3 gas stop's and car 2 just had it all at once in a full tank.
And if your gas gadge light comes on, put gas in as soon as possible. And avoid steep hills, I know from expirience. Light went on, 15 more miles and had to clime a steep hill and the truck stalled on me. if you stall going up a hill with low gas just don't even try and start the car back up you are just going to burn out your pump. put it in park and walk to a gas station don't be a dumb *** like me and do this.

That's funny I will have to use that one next time I talk to a frind of mine.That's in the navy.

 

our tanks our saddle bag shaped and can have some fuel in one side while the other side where the pump is sucking air. some have found that fuel starvation causing ultra lean conditions can happen on the race track if you let the fuel go too low because you are pumping from the one side befor ethetank can get tehfuel over from the other

 

Funny thing mine always comes on when I'm out of gas but never comes on with it full.

 

Hmm I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong but after reading this thread it seems that most people are getting well above the mileage I can eek out of a full tank of gas. Normally I'd say I average around 180-200 miles on a full tank @ 91 octane before the fuel light comes on. Is this within the acceptable limit or do you guys think its worth bringing up with the dealership?

Also are there any real benefits to running 91 octane as opposed to 89 or 87 for normal everday driving? At 3 bucks a gallon its getting a tad expensive, especially with the constant filling up...

 

thats low but still within th erange that it could be just driver(not knocking you) and prevailing conditions. have you ever taken a long highway trip? where you fill up,get directly on the highway, set the cruise and not get off again until you need gas?

 

I traveled from San Fran to LA once under optimal highway conditions (straight road, minimal traffic at 70 mph), I think I managed around 220 miles, don't remember at the moment but it was a little more than what I normally get.. I guess the question I should be asking is what mileage do you guys get in city conditions?

 

220 miles on how much gas?

 

220 miles on a full tank of gas @ 91 octane. That sill seems kind of low to me lol... when I bought the car I knew that it wasn't going to be the mof fuel efficient car out there but I was expecting at the very very least 20 mpg in optimal highway conditions.

 

my current tank of gas is doing pretty well, 145 miles on half a tank, since I just moved and am commuting on the highway now...I'll have to see if I get anywhere near 300 for the tank

I used to get 200-220 doing all city before the light came on

 

how many gallons did you fill up with? did you fill it just before you got on the highway?

 

I'm pretty sure I topped it off before starting the journey (its about 350 miles one way). So 90% of that drive was optimal highway conditions.

 

how many gallons did you refill with?

 

Seems like every time I insert my key. I like to drive.

Seriously, I never let my tank get that low. Pretty consistent numbers here: 100% city driving (Atlanta and it sux)- 15-16 mpg. Highway driving- 18-22 mpg (But my foot is pretty heavy)

The best I saw was 24 mpg and that was 100% highway w/ cruise control set no faster than 65. ZZZZZZZZ