This is overblown advice. Maybe this matters a bit more in the summer or in desert climates, but in normal conditions, it isn’t meaningfully impacting your fuel pump’s service life. All of my cars have easily gone over 200K miles without ever having a fuel pump issue, and I don’t baby their fuel levels. Mathematically I’m in the ballpark of somewhere around 1,300 fill-ups over the last 21 years of driving, and I’m in SoCal, which is considered a harsh environment on vehicles.
Interesting to come across this. Subaru Forester ran out of gas twice in the last year or so; once w/ the guage indicating a little less than 1/4 tank, next time w/ indication of a little more than 1/4 tank. Turned out to be exactly this problem. Replaced the fuel pump ($1400), no problem since. Sounded like BS when my mechanic told me about it, but sho 'nuf, that was the problem.
Not sure if this is completely true. Fuel pumps are usually located inside a "bucket" that is full of fuel even though your tank is not. Not sure if this applies to all cars but I have seen this many times. The bucket prevents the pump from surging in corners and keeps it cooled.
I always just fill my tank halfway when it's on E. I'm currently driving a 12 year old WV Polo that iv'e owned for 6ish years. Never had an issue with the fuel pump or with any other car I've owned.
Wtf are these guys telling its total bs as long as fuel runs trough the Pump its is cooled and as long as the Pump dont run dry the Pump will not notice any fucking differents in your tank it dont give a fuck if it running on the last liter or if its filled up to the top...
It'll cool the actual pump mechanism, but not the motor. The fuel doesn't run through the motor, but the motor does get submerged when the tank is fuller. And it's the motor that gets warm.
It was a design flaw... On GM cars in the early 90's. It's BS because it's like saying because Nissan Leafs had no thermal management, all EV batteries would degrade quickly, even though that was literally the only EV so badly designed. Or like... because some people are allergic to wheat gluten, wheat gluten is bad for human health to eat.
I used to keep it on e a lot, and eventually my car would start, but stall when I'd give it gas. Sediment had clogged the fuel filter. Since then, I try to not let it stay on e, avoid old gas stations that might have rust in their fuel tanks, and try to avoid getting gas when it's been raining, so I'm less likely to get water in the gas
Unless the gas station stores the fuel in the open air (which would be horribly inefficient, not to mention illegal) or rain is falling directly into the opening on your gas tank, no rainwater is getting in your gas tank
I must have gotten the wrong idea from the news stories from people getting water in the gas after heavy rains and having to have their fuel drained out around here
Now condensation is another story. But there are sensors and temp gauges that see all that. It's done before every fuel drop. Has to meet parameters or they get no drop
side note, ancient or "classic"... cars tend to have a bunch of random rust n shit sloshing around in there, it's best to keep that a diluted as possible, soo, same basic rule like 1/2 a tank all the time.
Thats more a old wives tail. Fuel is sucked from the bottom of the tank. Any trash will get sucked up if the tank is full or very low. Fuel pumps have a "sock" on them so the fuel goes through that and keeps any large pieces from getting into the fuel pump.
Letting it get low, on older vehicles, can be an issue as they did not have the same baffles as newer tanks so low fuel and a hard corner and you can suck up air.
My first car (77) had an extra filter in the fuel line easily accessible. Whenever the car died, reach under the hood, disconnect and blow it out, reconnect. Good for another 250mi or so.
It would help, also, if you turned your key while you had the filter removed, making the starter try and start your car and causing the fuel pump to pump gas. The built up sludge and debris in your fuel line would be pumped out, clearing your fuel line.
Anyone driving an ancient car should have the fuel tank, pump, filter, injectors, and all soft lines replaced at this point. It will leave you stranded.
I did have this happen to me in a 01 Chevy Silverado. I was on empty and when I stepped on the gas, I could hear something falling apart and it lurched forward amd stopped in the intersection
I'm pretty sure this is ancient advice from the early days of fuel injection. On any car I've seen the pump on recently, the pump is way up top and would be out of the fuel by the time you're down to 3/4 tank.
I have a hybrid vehicle, so I’m at least partially protected. Half the time I’m rolling on battery power. Having said that, I still keep my tank half full at a minimum, and fill up more often. As a side benefit, when the time comes to run from the impending apocalypse, I’ll at least get a few hundred miles away. (Just kidding, sort of.)
Depends, on my last car 'check engine' was a generic light for any fault, including stuff not strictly about making the car go such as the side impact sensors. I think that just disarmed the airbags and that was it, the real pain was that to be sure about diagnosing it and fixing would require the manufacturer tool to plug into the OBDII even before thinking about replacing anything
Normal CEL is emissions/engine efficiency stuff (O2 sensors, misfires, A/F imbalances, ignition timing problems, etc) Flashing CEL is your engine telling you it is moments away from catastrophic failure
Some DTCs can be indicative of actual big engine problems - like if you're getting an excessive knock code you should for sure check that out, but really most of them you can drive along just fine with the biggest issue being if you're in a state with emissions inspections. Flashing CEL is always a very very bad thing to see
As someone who's taken my fuel pump out more times than I can count I can assure you that its no longer submerged way before 1/4 tank. Every cars tank design is a bit different though. Not the end of the world. No sediment eother, My cars over 10 years old and there is zero shit at the bottom of the tank even with me dickin around in there so often
Likely good advice. But my experience and priorities differ. For example, my entire driving career has been cars with 200k to 300k miles. I’ve lost head gaskets, timing belts, radiators, clutches, alternators…. Never lost a fuel pump…
I've never had a car past 250,000, but I once hit an elk, and four times people turned left in front of me. Each time their insurance paid out. I've only had one car wear out. I've never replaced a fuel pump. I've replaced all of those components, though.
Not that big an issue since most fuel tanks have been plastic since the late 80’s. Before then, steel tanks caused condensation and resulted in rust-flakes damaging/jamming the fuel pump.
Same. They even had a question about it on Car Talk a few years back. The question was framed from a couple whose husband always liked to drive around low on gas because it meant the car was lighter and got better mileage. Their answer was that it barely made any difference. They did not bring up the fuel pump.
I used to regularly drive on almost empty because I'm lazy and didn't want to take the time to stop. Once I had to get my fuel pump replaced I stopped that.
it's only been a thing since the advent of electronic fuel injection, previous to that -- fuel lines were low pressure ~10 psi. now they are ~90psi. so only the last 30-40 years.
Don't know why you're getting down voted. It is. Electric fuel pumps also come in external, and flow a lot more than your factory fuel pump which should imply more temperature... so maybe the fuel flowing through it is enough after all and this all just bullshit.
Yeah, letting it run empty, or nearly empty, sure. Not driving when its 1/4? Bullshit. Maybe within one gallon minimum, but why would someone design a vehicle where you can only use 3/4 of the tank?
It's not a part that dies too often, unless you constantly drive like this, but also I find a lot of cars fudge the numbers a little bit, so when it says 1/4 left, there's usually a bit more than this, partly to protect the pump, and partly to save people from their idiot selves and getting stranded :)
Not saying it was the smartest decision I ever made but I made it 45 miles with the DTE showing less than 10 miles remaining (it literally stopped going down once it hit 10, if you're that dumb, godspeed) and this was a loaded semi (so you see why I couldn't just go to the next gas station). Fukin made it. Needed a new fuel filter for the trouble, but I made it. My usual planned fuel stop ran out of the go-go juice and I coasted that big girl into the next option on fumes and prayers.
driving a prius that can just switch to battery for driving at any time has made me VERY cocky sometimes. My economy record for an individual drive was 72.6 miles to the gallon, with 1/16 tank left
I once drove 4 miles on "0 Miles to E". I stopped for gas off an exit in BFE, station was all lit up (including an open sign) and I swiped my card, it processed and said to start pumping, but it didn't pump any fuel. I tried another pump, same thing. I went to go inside and the door was locked. Attendant yelled from inside "WE'RE CLOSED". I'm like, WTF mate? A pay at the pump gas station that closes?
I've done similar in my old civic when all the fuel bars are gone and the orange "you're an idiot" light was on. I definitely understand the nail-biting feeling. Though once I got to the station I could only put 45L into a 50L tank, so I think they keep 10% on reserve for idiots like me :)
As a person who has some experience in the automotive repair field, or at least with a certain product line, this isn't a problem. I've heard this theory many times over, but just not seeing any pattern to prove it. Now things may be different with vehicles outside my area of expertise. Regards.
It was more an issue on older cars. Newer ones have baffles that keep the fuel around the fuel pump. So going around corners, even low, does not cause the same issues older ones did.
From my understanding, tank/pump designs have improved quite a bit to prevent this. 80s/90s it was definitely an issue. But still, not bad advice to follow in general, not all brands/models may be doing the same thing.
"It's a commonly believed fact!" I remember twice going to a shop to get my Honda Insight (2000) oil changed. And TWICE having to have it changed a second time because they put 5w fucking 30 in it and the engines in those cars were the first in the US calling for 0w20 so they were the first to each high mileage. Both times at two separate places they said "it's got 150k on it, 0w20 is too thin." The second time was the last time anyone but me ever changed the oil in any of our cars.
The insight forum had a spreadsheet of cars with high mileage and there were something like 14 of them with 400k+ miles and one with 720k miles on it (totaled when they hit a deer on the interstate, sadly). Never used oil. Sold it with 230k on the clock, sounded like a sewing machine at idle (solid lifters). Miss that car... I contacted the guy I sold it to recently, it's got over 300k on it now.
Some cars you can quickly access and remove the fuel pump assembly, swap in a relatively inexpensive motor, and you're back in business. Some cars require dropping the exhaust, rear axle, and removing the fuel tank (had to do this on a Camaro recently) and, well, no one wants to do that. It's 100% a smart idea to always keep at least 1/4th a tank of fuel in a car to keep that pump alive.
Oh yeah and some cars, the only way to replace the fuel pump is to buy the entire assembly, which can range from $100-$800 just for the part, plus the labor to install it. Good times.
And when the pump stops, don't manual run it a few times to "top off" else you risk filling your charcoal canister with liquid fuel, which will set a check engine light that'll fail emissions, and can cause hundreds or more to replace. When the pump stops, just stop fueling. It's worth it.
A friend of mine was a GM engineer and one of his early assignments was driving around in an astro van, only adding 1 gallon of gas after it ran out, repeatedly, to test this situation.
He told me about this when we were both ~22 years old and he was thinking starting work for GM might have been a mistake. Would be a weird lie. Anyway, he's still there and he's on the Cadillac LMP car team. Even said a few words in one of the promo videos.
These guys say this, but I’ve also heard that it takes as long to charge your battery from 80% to full as it does to go from empty to 80% at a DC Fast Charger. Who do I believe?
dirtyketchup
This is overblown advice. Maybe this matters a bit more in the summer or in desert climates, but in normal conditions, it isn’t meaningfully impacting your fuel pump’s service life. All of my cars have easily gone over 200K miles without ever having a fuel pump issue, and I don’t baby their fuel levels. Mathematically I’m in the ballpark of somewhere around 1,300 fill-ups over the last 21 years of driving, and I’m in SoCal, which is considered a harsh environment on vehicles.
Nooooooooooooooooooooo
Corporations, is it bad to design car parts that fail for such a standard fuckign concept?
EatPieLander
Justin: "Ask my wife. ..."
Jonnoatpeace
Today I learned....
Grendels2dCousinOnceRemoved
Interesting to come across this. Subaru Forester ran out of gas twice in the last year or so; once w/ the guage indicating a little less than 1/4 tank, next time w/ indication of a little more than 1/4 tank. Turned out to be exactly this problem. Replaced the fuel pump ($1400), no problem since. Sounded like BS when my mechanic told me about it, but sho 'nuf, that was the problem.
Bludclotjungletechno
this isnt true anymore. ive tested it for decades. running very low and even running out dry one time. it doesnt break or destroy anything.
ThatsRightImCrazyAllright
Not sure if this is completely true. Fuel pumps are usually located inside a "bucket" that is full of fuel even though your tank is not. Not sure if this applies to all cars but I have seen this many times. The bucket prevents the pump from surging in corners and keeps it cooled.
Getoffmyfrigginlawn
I always just fill my tank halfway when it's on E. I'm currently driving a 12 year old WV Polo that iv'e owned for 6ish years. Never had an issue with the fuel pump or with any other car I've owned.
sittingduckcm
Logical, but how often has anyone had to replace a fuel pump because of this? I've owned dozens of cars and never replaced one.
Evenmoreuselessname
"It's a commonly believed fact!"
JustTryingToHelpDude
I bet they're gaslighting us
MartyBrice
Why is this not the top comment?
IloveHockey
because people havent upvoted it more
Grinch01
Wtf are these guys telling its total bs as long as fuel runs trough the Pump its is cooled and as long as the Pump dont run dry the Pump will not notice any fucking differents in your tank it dont give a fuck if it running on the last liter or if its filled up to the top...
jridley
It'll cool the actual pump mechanism, but not the motor. The fuel doesn't run through the motor, but the motor does get submerged when the tank is fuller. And it's the motor that gets warm.
Jaimelee
Every time I fill the tank in the hoopties that I drive, my car shits the bed and I lose $60 in gas, so there's that.
johnxbear
That seems like a design flaw. Don't they know us poor folk can't put more than $10 in at a time
brettTvBaron
Cars break so easily.
Evenmoreuselessname
It was a design flaw... On GM cars in the early 90's. It's BS because it's like saying because Nissan Leafs had no thermal management, all EV batteries would degrade quickly, even though that was literally the only EV so badly designed. Or like... because some people are allergic to wheat gluten, wheat gluten is bad for human health to eat.
REOJackwagon
I used to keep it on e a lot, and eventually my car would start, but stall when I'd give it gas. Sediment had clogged the fuel filter. Since then, I try to not let it stay on e, avoid old gas stations that might have rust in their fuel tanks, and try to avoid getting gas when it's been raining, so I'm less likely to get water in the gas
Moonthatspellsmoon
Unless the gas station stores the fuel in the open air (which would be horribly inefficient, not to mention illegal) or rain is falling directly into the opening on your gas tank, no rainwater is getting in your gas tank
REOJackwagon
https://pmmic.com/about/blog/water-in-your-underground-storage-tank/
REOJackwagon
https://www.wsiltv.com/news/contaminated-fuel-at-local-gas-station-to-blame-for-multiple-vehicle-breakdowns/article_9b656aee-4e74-4f">l">https://www.wsiltv.com/news/contaminated-fuel-at-local-gas-station-to-blame-for-multiple-vehicle-breakdowns/article_9b656aee-4e74-4f11-bf7b-6cbd713e0d03.html
https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/local/state-confirms-water-in-gasoline-at-macon-gas-station/93-a10e91b0-2dd9-4752-b51e-b37bfe354243
REOJackwagon
https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/lake-county/mentor-water-contaminated-gasoline-station-little-mountain-cars-damaged-repair-bills-lake-county-auditor/95-6eb8fe4c-0a68-4883-bbe3-f0760eafcb79 rainwater
iamthemurray
The rain thing is fallacy, that's not how fuel tank storage work.
REOJackwagon
I must have gotten the wrong idea from the news stories from people getting water in the gas after heavy rains and having to have their fuel drained out around here
iamthemurray
Now condensation is another story. But there are sensors and temp gauges that see all that. It's done before every fuel drop. Has to meet parameters or they get no drop
SgtLemming
It's a fallacy in that it shouldn't happen, if it does, it means the tanks aren't being maintained & those fuckers need to be fined for it.
wobblecopterrrr
side note, ancient or "classic"... cars tend to have a bunch of random rust n shit sloshing around in there, it's best to keep that a diluted as possible, soo, same basic rule like 1/2 a tank all the time.
IHaveUnpopularOpinions
The first thing I thought, man I'm old... I doubt the modern tanks are metal so at least rust shouldn't be a problem.
Mimibuick
Thats more a old wives tail.
Fuel is sucked from the bottom of the tank. Any trash will get sucked up if the tank is full or very low.
Fuel pumps have a "sock" on them so the fuel goes through that and keeps any large pieces from getting into the fuel pump.
Letting it get low, on older vehicles, can be an issue as they did not have the same baffles as newer tanks so low fuel and a hard corner and you can suck up air.
kinarism
My first car (77) had an extra filter in the fuel line easily accessible. Whenever the car died, reach under the hood, disconnect and blow it out, reconnect. Good for another 250mi or so.
CharlesTooke
It would help, also, if you turned your key while you had the filter removed, making the starter try and start your car and causing the fuel pump to pump gas. The built up sludge and debris in your fuel line would be pumped out, clearing your fuel line.
kershaw
Anyone driving an ancient car should have the fuel tank, pump, filter, injectors, and all soft lines replaced at this point. It will leave you stranded.
wobblecopterrrr
true, and also a giant pain in the ass, soo...
76000BatteryLlamas
This is bullshit, because as long as the fuel pump is able to pick up fuel, it has cool fuel INSIDE it, which cools it as it operates
bigdix69420
It depends if the pump is in the tank or outside. Yes both exist
jridley
Which type of fuel pump doesn't have fuel inside it?
76000BatteryLlamas
I'm pretty sure it doesn't matter. Both have fuel running through them.
bigdix69420
It wouldnt cool the motor powering the impeller
RogCkn101
I did have this happen to me in a 01 Chevy Silverado. I was on empty and when I stepped on the gas, I could hear something falling apart and it lurched forward amd stopped in the intersection
genericanamoly
I drive a tiny car. Gas is so expensive that im always at a quarter after 20 dollars.
tachyx
If you go up hill and not even quite E the fuel sloshes away from the fuel pump and you die.
jridley
I'm pretty sure this is ancient advice from the early days of fuel injection. On any car I've seen the pump on recently, the pump is way up top and would be out of the fuel by the time you're down to 3/4 tank.
TheWhiteBarry
(laughs in EV) so many silly unnecessary parts 🤦
gogaman
We sidestepped all that nonsense 👍😅
drduffer
I have a hybrid vehicle, so I’m at least partially protected. Half the time I’m rolling on battery power.
Having said that, I still keep my tank half full at a minimum, and fill up more often.
As a side benefit, when the time comes to run from the impending apocalypse, I’ll at least get a few hundred miles away.
(Just kidding, sort of.)
AyatollahBahloni
Just don't drive with a _flashing_ "check engine" light. That's deadly.
aducksayswhat
Depends, on my last car 'check engine' was a generic light for any fault, including stuff not strictly about making the car go such as the side impact sensors. I think that just disarmed the airbags and that was it, the real pain was that to be sure about diagnosing it and fixing would require the manufacturer tool to plug into the OBDII even before thinking about replacing anything
TIREDGANG
Normal CEL is emissions/engine efficiency stuff (O2 sensors, misfires, A/F imbalances, ignition timing problems, etc) Flashing CEL is your engine telling you it is moments away from catastrophic failure
TIREDGANG
Some DTCs can be indicative of actual big engine problems - like if you're getting an excessive knock code you should for sure check that out, but really most of them you can drive along just fine with the biggest issue being if you're in a state with emissions inspections. Flashing CEL is always a very very bad thing to see
snarkybitch
I drove it long enough that the light went off so the engine fixed itself right? 👍
rdkill
As someone who's taken my fuel pump out more times than I can count I can assure you that its no longer submerged way before 1/4 tank. Every cars tank design is a bit different though. Not the end of the world. No sediment eother, My cars over 10 years old and there is zero shit at the bottom of the tank even with me dickin around in there so often
rdkill
Either*
BJWTech
Not all fuel pumps are in the tank. Most are, but not all.
DiracsDelta
Likely good advice. But my experience and priorities differ. For example, my entire driving career has been cars with 200k to 300k miles. I’ve lost head gaskets, timing belts, radiators, clutches, alternators…. Never lost a fuel pump…
copaceticus
Same
[deleted]
[deleted]
TacoPoweredHelicopter
Might be your reaction time.
All those people may be at fault... But perhaps you could have avoided it. 4x times makes me think you are slow to react.
MenloPart
I've never had a car past 250,000, but I once hit an elk, and four times people turned left in front of me.
Each time their insurance paid out.
I've only had one car wear out.
I've never replaced a fuel pump.
I've replaced all of those components, though.
OwlFarm
They never go out if you never fill up. The harder they are to get to, the longer they will run on E and faster they die on F. It's true.
zleeping3000
Then you never owned a tahoe.....lol
kurastwolf
First I've ever heard about this.
dashers
Likewise, but I've also, I was always told not to let it pull the dregs through with sediment in it.
Type17
Not that big an issue since most fuel tanks have been plastic since the late 80’s. Before then, steel tanks caused condensation and resulted in rust-flakes damaging/jamming the fuel pump.
Snooj
Same. They even had a question about it on Car Talk a few years back. The question was framed from a couple whose husband always liked to drive around low on gas because it meant the car was lighter and got better mileage. Their answer was that it barely made any difference. They did not bring up the fuel pump.
BeatriceAine
I used to regularly drive on almost empty because I'm lazy and didn't want to take the time to stop. Once I had to get my fuel pump replaced I stopped that.
akelamishari
How many miles until it failed?
BeatriceAine
I made it all the way to the tow truck.
Olestra
it's only been a thing since the advent of electronic fuel injection, previous to that -- fuel lines were low pressure ~10 psi. now they are ~90psi.
so only the last 30-40 years.
Jackpot7777777
So pretty much valid for most drivers outside of Cuba.
dohcohv
Even older and the mechanical pumps were only a few psi, and run off a cam on the engine.
Grinch01
Because it is bs
snott
Don't know why you're getting down voted. It is. Electric fuel pumps also come in external, and flow a lot more than your factory fuel pump which should imply more temperature... so maybe the fuel flowing through it is enough after all and this all just bullshit.
mikeatike
Yeah, letting it run empty, or nearly empty, sure.
Not driving when its 1/4? Bullshit. Maybe within one gallon minimum, but why would someone design a vehicle where you can only use 3/4 of the tank?
ravenousj
First I've heard about this was back in 1995.
bitemark
It's not a part that dies too often, unless you constantly drive like this, but also I find a lot of cars fudge the numbers a little bit, so when it says 1/4 left, there's usually a bit more than this, partly to protect the pump, and partly to save people from their idiot selves and getting stranded :)
Einbrecher
My old Corolla was like this. Needle hitting empty meant there was ~1 gallon left.
IHaveGreatKittenRecipes
Not saying it was the smartest decision I ever made but I made it 45 miles with the DTE showing less than 10 miles remaining (it literally stopped going down once it hit 10, if you're that dumb, godspeed) and this was a loaded semi (so you see why I couldn't just go to the next gas station). Fukin made it. Needed a new fuel filter for the trouble, but I made it. My usual planned fuel stop ran out of the go-go juice and I coasted that big girl into the next option on fumes and prayers.
Kehy
driving a prius that can just switch to battery for driving at any time has made me VERY cocky sometimes. My economy record for an individual drive was 72.6 miles to the gallon, with 1/16 tank left
shamwedding
Wow
shadow351
I once drove 4 miles on "0 Miles to E". I stopped for gas off an exit in BFE, station was all lit up (including an open sign) and I swiped my card, it processed and said to start pumping, but it didn't pump any fuel. I tried another pump, same thing. I went to go inside and the door was locked. Attendant yelled from inside "WE'RE CLOSED". I'm like, WTF mate? A pay at the pump gas station that closes?
shadow351
Luckily I did have enough gas to reach the next exit on the highway, but it was a little bit of a nail bitter.
bitemark
I've done similar in my old civic when all the fuel bars are gone and the orange "you're an idiot" light was on. I definitely understand the nail-biting feeling. Though once I got to the station I could only put 45L into a 50L tank, so I think they keep 10% on reserve for idiots like me :)
shadow351
Yea, I put 19.2 gallons into a "19 gallon" tank....
RossTechVCDS
As a person who has some experience in the automotive repair field, or at least with a certain product line, this isn't a problem. I've heard this theory many times over, but just not seeing any pattern to prove it. Now things may be different with vehicles outside my area of expertise. Regards.
Mimibuick
It was more an issue on older cars. Newer ones have baffles that keep the fuel around the fuel pump. So going around corners, even low, does not cause the same issues older ones did.
thirteenpostever
I agree with you. Logic tell that the fuel going through the pump will cool it too. Running a pump dry is really bad tho.
SgtLemming
Yeah this, the fuel in the tank isn't doing shit to cool the pump, there is no thermal path from the pump to the fuel in the tank.
CompilerBreak
From my understanding, tank/pump designs have improved quite a bit to prevent this. 80s/90s it was definitely an issue. But still, not bad advice to follow in general, not all brands/models may be doing the same thing.
Evenmoreuselessname
"It's a commonly believed fact!" I remember twice going to a shop to get my Honda Insight (2000) oil changed. And TWICE having to have it changed a second time because they put 5w fucking 30 in it and the engines in those cars were the first in the US calling for 0w20 so they were the first to each high mileage. Both times at two separate places they said "it's got 150k on it, 0w20 is too thin." The second time was the last time anyone but me ever changed the oil in any of our cars.
Evenmoreuselessname
The insight forum had a spreadsheet of cars with high mileage and there were something like 14 of them with 400k+ miles and one with 720k miles on it (totaled when they hit a deer on the interstate, sadly). Never used oil. Sold it with 230k on the clock, sounded like a sewing machine at idle (solid lifters). Miss that car... I contacted the guy I sold it to recently, it's got over 300k on it now.
Seethreepeeoh
So …. You’re saying it’ll be fine?
pandemicmodedad
Sure
brassmule
Some cars you can quickly access and remove the fuel pump assembly, swap in a relatively inexpensive motor, and you're back in business. Some cars require dropping the exhaust, rear axle, and removing the fuel tank (had to do this on a Camaro recently) and, well, no one wants to do that. It's 100% a smart idea to always keep at least 1/4th a tank of fuel in a car to keep that pump alive.
brassmule
Oh yeah and some cars, the only way to replace the fuel pump is to buy the entire assembly, which can range from $100-$800 just for the part, plus the labor to install it. Good times.
brassmule
And when the pump stops, don't manual run it a few times to "top off" else you risk filling your charcoal canister with liquid fuel, which will set a check engine light that'll fail emissions, and can cause hundreds or more to replace. When the pump stops, just stop fueling. It's worth it.
THUB
A friend of mine was a GM engineer and one of his early assignments was driving around in an astro van, only adding 1 gallon of gas after it ran out, repeatedly, to test this situation.
relsky
Yeah sorry, that friend is pulling your leg. Nobody is going to pay an engineer to drive around like that. That's not how you test these things.
THUB
He told me about this when we were both ~22 years old and he was thinking starting work for GM might have been a mistake. Would be a weird lie. Anyway, he's still there and he's on the Cadillac LMP car team. Even said a few words in one of the promo videos.
BJWTech
There are much easier ways to test this
THUB
At the end of the day, real world testing can't be replaced. accelerated life testing is great and super important, but it's not the end-all be-all
BJWTech
Makes sense
androgenoide
They all have the same story. It's obviously a conspiracy! (/s)
DemSumBigAssRidges
Talk about gaslighting!
toomanytoons
You can tell they were coached ahead of time.
Jackpot7777777
These guys say this, but I’ve also heard that it takes as long to charge your battery from 80% to full as it does to go from empty to 80% at a DC Fast Charger. Who do I believe?
androgenoide
Both of those statements seem plausible.
Evenmoreuselessname
Jackpot7777777
I love a good charge curve. I canceled an order of a Subaru Solterra and bought a Kia EV6 because of the DC fast charging rates.
My car is a BEAST. Gets to 240kW and holds it to over 50%. Then ramps to 192kW for a while. It’s still over 150kW approaching 75%.
The car has always been ready to leave before I’m done.
GrandmasterSpank
I didn my own research and according to magafuelpumpconspiracies.com you should drive till the tank is completely dry and THEN fill it up.
InitHello
To make sure it's completely dry, chuck a hot coal from a nearby grill into the tank, the heat will evaporate the remaining gas.
(Don't do that unless you like your car being on fire.)
GrandmasterSpank
And make sure someone is there to film it so the proof can be put on youtube
dmex
Oh i get it, just like my phones battery!
MapleSyrupMafia
Works best if it's a diesel!! /s
vicvalour
I only use diesel if it's cheaper
CharlesTooke
Up until about 20 years ago, diesel was 1/4 of what regular gas cost.
CommunCreator
Because diesel fuel wasn’t subject to the same environmental regulations that gasoline was. Now it is.