Ran out of gas... share your story!
09-19-2006, 09:07 PM
#1
Ran out of gas... share your story!
Tonight was my first time.
I was driving on 880 North, minding my business... was aware I was low on gas, but I was about to pull on Mowry avenue and fill my car up as I got off (two stations - Chevron and 76); the low gas light was not on yet so I assumed I still had a couple of gas in reserve... OR so I thought.
WHY HELLO THAR MISTAR LIGHT? HOW ARE... wtf?! Light came on for 2 seconds... then car starts bucking and then i lose all power... coast up to a stop at the base of the hill of the Mowry exit, attempt to start the car and nothing... CURSES - as the gas station was 300 yards away - but I had no tank.
Thankfully, my gf was home and had a 4 gallon tank; she filled it up with 91 octane and brought me gas - :heart: my gf.
While waiting, I tried starting the car up a few times in hopes it would catch up on some gas leftovers and be able to drive all the way to the gas station. What possible damage could have occured? Clogged fuel filter? How would I know if my filter is clogged?
I was driving on 880 North, minding my business... was aware I was low on gas, but I was about to pull on Mowry avenue and fill my car up as I got off (two stations - Chevron and 76); the low gas light was not on yet so I assumed I still had a couple of gas in reserve... OR so I thought.
WHY HELLO THAR MISTAR LIGHT? HOW ARE... wtf?! Light came on for 2 seconds... then car starts bucking and then i lose all power... coast up to a stop at the base of the hill of the Mowry exit, attempt to start the car and nothing... CURSES - as the gas station was 300 yards away - but I had no tank.
Thankfully, my gf was home and had a 4 gallon tank; she filled it up with 91 octane and brought me gas - :heart: my gf.
While waiting, I tried starting the car up a few times in hopes it would catch up on some gas leftovers and be able to drive all the way to the gas station. What possible damage could have occured? Clogged fuel filter? How would I know if my filter is clogged?
09-19-2006, 09:45 PM
#4
i have one that flashes when it gets close to empty, but i still have a ton of range when it goes off. i'm pretty sure i've driven more than 10 miles w/ it coming on and off, way below the "E," but i have yet to run dry.
09-19-2006, 10:10 PM
#7
i remember when a few org members were playing this game call 'how low can you go' the goal was to run as low as you can before running out of gas and see how many gallons u took in at the pump... i played but i went so low that when i was about to go to work i backed out of the drive way and before i could put it in drive, it just went dead on me...luckily we always have filled up gas tanks in the garage...lol
i do have a light but if dont ever come on, i think the bulb is bad or somen...
i do have a light but if dont ever come on, i think the bulb is bad or somen...
09-19-2006, 11:07 PM
#14
Originally Posted by VIP Maxima
no, the thought of a $60 fill up makes u want to avoid getting into the gas station. true story
i fill up for $45, but now that gas price is down i fill up for about $30
09-20-2006, 06:04 AM
#16
Originally Posted by loverholic
$60 to fill up?where do you buy gas... or did you do the F-150 gas tank mod
i fill up for $45, but now that gas price is down i fill up for about $30
i fill up for $45, but now that gas price is down i fill up for about $30
Cali-f'in-fornia.
09-20-2006, 06:23 AM
#17
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,183
Hehe ... I ran out of gas like 4 times in my 95 GLE and ALMOST with my 98 SE. I my house driveway is on a downslope so there never a problem backing out or going through the neighborhood. Once you hit the hill of doom .... well you get the story. I would throw it in neutral, push the car till it got some turning, jump back in the car and ride it down to the hill. Start turning without PS to straighten your car back up for the hill, then TURN IT ON! It will last you another 2 mins or so. Worked EVERY time and there were cases where I caught a red light outside my neighborhood to the gas station and made it to the station without bucking.
And yes running out of fuel can damage your fuel pump since the fuel is used to cool it sorta.
And yes running out of fuel can damage your fuel pump since the fuel is used to cool it sorta.
09-20-2006, 07:46 AM
#19
man i had it the worse... it was in my old car.. i was drivin back from school and i totaly forgot to put gas in the car... i was actually heading to the gas station when it happened... all of a suddend the damn thing started buckling and im like NO.. Now i see the gas station 200 feet ahead of me but unfortunately its up hill.. so WHAT HAPPENS? i catch a red light half way up.. my car dies i cant push it up hill cuz it weights 3600lbs.. for the local guys i was heading up the hill on wise in schaumburg to get to the mobile on the intersection of wise and roselle... so i get stuck uphill the cops come and have to redirect traffic... i looked outside and noticed a empty milk container and went to mobile and filled it up and got the car started... WORST DAY EVER
09-20-2006, 08:18 AM
#20
Originally Posted by scrhale
Hehe ... I ran out of gas like 4 times in my 95 GLE and ALMOST with my 98 SE. I my house driveway is on a downslope so there never a problem backing out or going through the neighborhood. Once you hit the hill of doom .... well you get the story. I would throw it in neutral, push the car till it got some turning, jump back in the car and ride it down to the hill. Start turning without PS to straighten your car back up for the hill, then TURN IT ON! It will last you another 2 mins or so. Worked EVERY time and there were cases where I caught a red light outside my neighborhood to the gas station and made it to the station without bucking.
And yes running out of fuel can damage your fuel pump since the fuel is used to cool it sorta.
And yes running out of fuel can damage your fuel pump since the fuel is used to cool it sorta.
Regarding the fuel filter though - what are the symtomps of a clogged one>
09-20-2006, 08:23 AM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: South Denver Area(ish)
Posts: 393
I bought my car from a dealership and the dumbasses forgot to put gas in it, they claimed it would be enough for a test drive but we ran out of gas a couple of blocks down the road. So some guy helped me push my car out of trafic and broke my spoiler on the car i have not even bought!
Yes, yes. General rule of thumb, never let gas get lower than 1/4 tank.
09-20-2006, 10:15 AM
#27
Originally Posted by itsdaveonline
I bought my car from a dealership and the dumbasses forgot to put gas in it, they claimed it would be enough for a test drive but we ran out of gas a couple of blocks down the road. So some guy helped me push my car out of trafic and broke my spoiler on the car i have not even bought!
this thread is super
...........
09-20-2006, 10:59 AM
#31
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 7
Originally Posted by VIP Maxima
i believe ur fuel pump can die
09-20-2006, 11:39 AM
#32
ive never ran my car dry. Ive run it low but never empty. when my light comes on i usually put about 61 liters into the tank, and its a 70 liter tank so i guess 9 liters left till its bone dry.
09-20-2006, 01:04 PM
#34
Originally Posted by Saton472
It depends on the type of fuel pump. If its a fuel pump thats inside the gas tank then yes it can. this is because of the design of the pump it uses the gas to actually cool the pump down. Therefor if you run out of gas your pump overheats and dies. if you have a pump on the outside of the tank then you dont have to worry about it to much because the design is efficiant enough to release the heat in to the air.
09-20-2006, 06:11 PM
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 238
Yea i ran out of gas recently....probably a month ago. I went to work, it was a Thursday--payday for me. I knew it was low but didn't figure it was as low as it was. I got off work and planned on filling up when i got back to town. I was coming down the highway, about 5 minutes from town and it started bucking, etc. I kept going, hoping i would make it. I was coasting in neutral, chaning gears early, everything i could think of to squeeze every drop but i ran out 1-1/2 miles from the station i ALWAYS fill up at cause its cheaper there.
09-20-2006, 06:42 PM
#39
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Long Island, NY/Tampa, FL
Posts: 533
I know this is a 4th gen forum but I figured i'd share my little story. I picked up a 95 z28 camaro last year. I was on my way to work a week after picking it up and when I was sitting at a light, it started to misfire, shake, and sputter like crazy. I looked at the fuel gauge and it read 1/8th of a tank so I figured it had gas. So I went when the light turned green and it died right in the middle of the intersection. I had to get out and push it with everyone honking at me as well as flipping me off a few times. I was able to get it to the side of the road. I couldn't figure out what the hell the problem could be since the fuel gauge still read 1/8th of a tank. I called my friend who has the same car and he told me he had the same problem and to put gas in it. So I walked to a gas station and picked up some gas and dumped it in. It started right back up and I was on my way. So I learned that GM gas gauges suck.
