Comments on: Running On Empty

By: Hugh

Hugh — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:45:15 +0000

Mmmmmm. Pizza.

By: freakgirl

freakgirl — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:43:28 +0000

I live in NEW JERSEY. At any given time or location, I am only a ten-minute walk from a pizzeria. I’ll be fine.

By: Hugh

Hugh — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:40:27 +0000

I wouldn’t think sediment would be too much of a problem unless you live in the desert. And it’s been a while since I lived in Jersey, but…
You probably could screw up a fuel pump, and if you have fuel injection, well, good luck getting it started again unless your name is David Banner and you can lift the car up by the rear bumper.
Freakgirl! You live in NEW JERSEY where they pump it FOR you! Gas up, sister. We heart you and don’t want you to be stranded. Although it would probably make a funny blog post.

By: Janet

Janet — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:11:45 +0000

My friend Andy was a firm believer of running on E until we got stranded on the Thruway on the way to a wedding. He underestimated how far E would take us in his Honda. He schlepped a mile and back in the July heat while I picnicked with a nice family who happened to have a flat.

We missed the ceremony, which he really regrets. And as for me, he will never live that down.

By: freakgirl

freakgirl — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:57:21 +0000

BRING IT

By: GeekBoy

GeekBoy — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:38:28 +0000

Just for that, I will also create a little “I TOLD YOU SO” song and dance routine.

By: freakgirl

freakgirl — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:33:17 +0000

BLAH BLAH BLAH

By: GeekBoy

GeekBoy — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:29:50 +0000

Hugh, is her father really full of it? I’ve found mixed reviews on this from people who work with cars. Overall, it sounds as if the sediments at the bottom of the tank, thanks to modern filters and all that, aren’t going to kill your engine because you run to empty a few times … but if it’s habitual behavior, it can have an impact over months and years, especially if you’re not somebody who keeps up with filter maintenance. Likewise for the fuel pump, which apparently relies on the liquid gas itself as a cooling system and can run hot if the gas level gets too low, which decreases the life of the pump.

Now whether a quarter-tank is really the level you should never dip below, who knows. That’s probably just a convenient number to use as a rule of thumb. Maybe it’s an eighth of tank. Or maybe filling up immediately after the light goes on is fine. I don’t like to do it, because I hate to be at the mercy of looking for a gas station at an inopportune moment — like when I’m already running late for work or something. Also, I own my car, and I’ve had it for 7 years now, so I’m a little more concerned about what might cause long-term damage. Freakgirl leases for 3 or 4 years at a time, so it’s probably less of an issue in her case.

What I’m surprised about is that Freakgirl keeps doing this, knowing that if/when she ever does actually run out of gas one of these days, she’ll get THE biggest “I TOLD YOU SO” in the history of “I told you sos”.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:53:08 +0000

HI!

I can drive for 2 days with the gas light on. I’m not sure about miles. Generally I figure if I’m staying local I can drive with it on forever, it the trip requires highway I’ll stop and fill up. I’ve only run out of gas once, and I had made it home but when I went to leave again the car wouldn’t start… oops!

Old Job = fill up once a month yay!
New job = every two weeks…. boo!

By: Hugh

Hugh — Thu, 08 May 2008 21:36:45 +0000

shannon,
Your pops IS full of it - but with the best of intentions.

Please, ladies, keep it at a quarter-tank or more. The menfolk who love you live in fear of you running out of gas at the corner of Perv Avenue and Serial Killer Lane. That’s probably chauvinist, but I’ll own it.