Will sputtering from running out of gas cause engine damage ?
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,706
Likes: 4
From: Dinwiddie, Va
To update i tried to drive the car to the gas station today and it didnt even make it a 1/4 mile from the house before it started sputtering again and i managed to turnaround the car myself in neutral pushing it than start it and get it back home.
I then got some gas put in a gas can at the gas station the car is still dead on all the way at the bottom now after driving on what little gas i put in so i plan on putting in a lot the next time or not even driving.
Lately I've been having to just start driving and not even let the car warmup before driving because of how little gas I have, I dont think this is bad however the car runs noticably worse when driven cold compared to when its at full operating temp.
I then got some gas put in a gas can at the gas station the car is still dead on all the way at the bottom now after driving on what little gas i put in so i plan on putting in a lot the next time or not even driving.
Lately I've been having to just start driving and not even let the car warmup before driving because of how little gas I have, I dont think this is bad however the car runs noticably worse when driven cold compared to when its at full operating temp.
Originally Posted by wtfdidusay82
To update i tried to drive the car to the gas station today and it didnt even make it a 1/4 mile from the house before it started sputtering again and i managed to turnaround the car myself in neutral pushing it than start it and get it back home.
I then got some gas put in a gas can at the gas station the car is still dead on all the way at the bottom now after driving on what little gas i put in so i plan on putting in a lot the next time or not even driving.
Lately I've been having to just start driving and not even let the car warmup before driving because of how little gas I have, I dont think this is bad however the car runs noticably worse when driven cold compared to when its at full operating temp.
I then got some gas put in a gas can at the gas station the car is still dead on all the way at the bottom now after driving on what little gas i put in so i plan on putting in a lot the next time or not even driving.
Lately I've been having to just start driving and not even let the car warmup before driving because of how little gas I have, I dont think this is bad however the car runs noticably worse when driven cold compared to when its at full operating temp.
Originally Posted by jwelder
One thing that everyone is forgeting to tell you is that running your car low on fuel is hard on the fuel pump, not only is it sucking air but it is running hotter. The fuel pump uses the fuel in the tank to cool itself. You should never run a fuel injector car with an in tank fuel pump below a 1/4 tank or the fuel pump wil burn out faster.
Pumps are cooled by the fuel flowing through them, not just the fuel around them. How do you think external pumps last? A fuel pump should never be run dry, but that can't happen when it's in the car because the fuel pump is immediately shut off if the engine stalls.
Originally Posted by 13b4me
Yea because it takes a huge piece of debris to stick an injector right?
Just about anything solid will sink. That doesn't necessarily mean it has to be large enough to avoid getting sucked into the pump.
Just about anything solid will sink. That doesn't necessarily mean it has to be large enough to avoid getting sucked into the pump.
Originally Posted by NZConvertible
This is another one of those damn myths. If this was a real issue, car manufacturers would've dealt with it years ago. In fact they probably did, which is why it's not an issue. Have you every read in any owners handbook that driving with less than a quarter of a tank will damage the pump? Do you actually know of anyone who's had this happen? I drive until the tank's nearly empty before refilling and I've been doing this for many years. All my fuel pumps are fine.
Pumps are cooled by the fuel flowing through them, not just the fuel around them. How do you think external pumps last? A fuel pump should never be run dry, but that can't happen when it's in the car because the fuel pump is immediately shut off if the engine stalls.
Again, you seem to be completely ignoring the FILTERS!
Pumps are cooled by the fuel flowing through them, not just the fuel around them. How do you think external pumps last? A fuel pump should never be run dry, but that can't happen when it's in the car because the fuel pump is immediately shut off if the engine stalls.
Again, you seem to be completely ignoring the FILTERS!

If you talk to any licenced machanic they will tell you that the life expectance of a fuel pump that always ran in less than a 1/4 tank of fuel on an ongoing base will be alot shorter than one that isn't. Think about it more fuel you got the colder it will be, the less fuel you have more heat it will pick up on hot days.
Originally Posted by jwelder
Think about it more fuel you got the colder it will be, the less fuel you have more heat it will pick up on hot days.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
smikels
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
3
Aug 18, 2015 01:26 PM
zuesskroph
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
0
Aug 13, 2015 06:05 PM
rx8volks
Canadian Forum
0
Aug 13, 2015 04:55 AM




