2006 Sonata GL MPG
05-08-2006, 05:22 PM
#31
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2006 Sonata GL MPG
Bob wrote:
> "Matt Whiting" <whiting@epix.net> wrote in message
> news:Mwx7g.8566$lb.780660@news1.epix.net...
>
>>Matt Whiting wrote:
>>
>>>Things are definitely looking up in the mileage department with the
>>>warmer weather. I just got my second tankful of 31+ MPG. I got exactly
>>>31 today and my last tank was 31.02. It looks like the change to
>>>synthetic oil cost me 0.02 MPG. :-) I couldn't resist....
>>>
>>>With these last two tanks, my mileage average since buying the car (it
>>>now has 5500 miles) has crept above 28 MPG. I'll be a happy camper if
>>>the average stays above 30 for my daily commute. That should mean that
>>>the EPA 34 highway rating is actually achievable on a long trip.
>>
>>My last tankful achieved 31.6 (nearly 500 miles on one tank!) so things
>>are still improving slowly. Hey, this car may bet 34 MPG before the
>>summer is over!
>>
>>Anyone run theirs dry yet to see if the tank capacity is really as
>>advertised? I haven't run more than about 15 miles after the light came
>>on, but have yet to put in more than 15.6 gallons, which means I should
>>still have a couple left.
>>
>>
>>Matt
>
>
> Running an electric fuel pump dry is really hard on it. Even sitting still
> with not alot of gas in the tank is a bad thing to do. They are cooled by
> the gasoline. While the car is in motion, whatever gas is left in the tank
> is sloshed over the pump and helps cool it. While running the car out of gas
> once is not likely to kill the pump, it really doesn't help with it's
> longivity.
I've heard both sides of this and am pretty sure this is another urban
legend. A fuel pump designer in another ng (I believe the Chrysler
group) said that the fuel pump is cooled by the fuel going THROUGH it,
not sloshing around. If the fuel pump is still pumping fuel, then there
is no danger of overheating it. And once the tank runs dry, most folks
turn off the key before the fuel pump runs long enough to damage the
pump. Personally, I don't know for sure, but I've run my cars nearly to
empty for 20 years and have had only one fuel pump failure and that was
after 150,000 miles, which is considered to be decent life for an in
tank fuel pump.
Matt
> "Matt Whiting" <whiting@epix.net> wrote in message
> news:Mwx7g.8566$lb.780660@news1.epix.net...
>
>>Matt Whiting wrote:
>>
>>>Things are definitely looking up in the mileage department with the
>>>warmer weather. I just got my second tankful of 31+ MPG. I got exactly
>>>31 today and my last tank was 31.02. It looks like the change to
>>>synthetic oil cost me 0.02 MPG. :-) I couldn't resist....
>>>
>>>With these last two tanks, my mileage average since buying the car (it
>>>now has 5500 miles) has crept above 28 MPG. I'll be a happy camper if
>>>the average stays above 30 for my daily commute. That should mean that
>>>the EPA 34 highway rating is actually achievable on a long trip.
>>
>>My last tankful achieved 31.6 (nearly 500 miles on one tank!) so things
>>are still improving slowly. Hey, this car may bet 34 MPG before the
>>summer is over!
>>
>>Anyone run theirs dry yet to see if the tank capacity is really as
>>advertised? I haven't run more than about 15 miles after the light came
>>on, but have yet to put in more than 15.6 gallons, which means I should
>>still have a couple left.
>>
>>
>>Matt
>
>
> Running an electric fuel pump dry is really hard on it. Even sitting still
> with not alot of gas in the tank is a bad thing to do. They are cooled by
> the gasoline. While the car is in motion, whatever gas is left in the tank
> is sloshed over the pump and helps cool it. While running the car out of gas
> once is not likely to kill the pump, it really doesn't help with it's
> longivity.
I've heard both sides of this and am pretty sure this is another urban
legend. A fuel pump designer in another ng (I believe the Chrysler
group) said that the fuel pump is cooled by the fuel going THROUGH it,
not sloshing around. If the fuel pump is still pumping fuel, then there
is no danger of overheating it. And once the tank runs dry, most folks
turn off the key before the fuel pump runs long enough to damage the
pump. Personally, I don't know for sure, but I've run my cars nearly to
empty for 20 years and have had only one fuel pump failure and that was
after 150,000 miles, which is considered to be decent life for an in
tank fuel pump.
Matt
05-08-2006, 07:13 PM
#32
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2006 Sonata GL MPG
Call it urban legend or whatever you want.
I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were always
coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer, and
the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
than they should have more than they should have."
Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since it
makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do it.
Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is drain
and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
Tom Wenndt
"Matt Whiting" <whiting@epix.net> wrote in message
news:%DO7g.8589$lb.781746@news1.epix.net...
> Bob wrote:
>
>> "Matt Whiting" <whiting@epix.net> wrote in message
>> news:Mwx7g.8566$lb.780660@news1.epix.net...
>>
>>>Matt Whiting wrote:
>>>
>>>>Things are definitely looking up in the mileage department with the
>>>>warmer weather. I just got my second tankful of 31+ MPG. I got exactly
>>>>31 today and my last tank was 31.02. It looks like the change to
>>>>synthetic oil cost me 0.02 MPG. :-) I couldn't resist....
>>>>
>>>>With these last two tanks, my mileage average since buying the car (it
>>>>now has 5500 miles) has crept above 28 MPG. I'll be a happy camper if
>>>>the average stays above 30 for my daily commute. That should mean that
>>>>the EPA 34 highway rating is actually achievable on a long trip.
>>>
>>>My last tankful achieved 31.6 (nearly 500 miles on one tank!) so things
>>>are still improving slowly. Hey, this car may bet 34 MPG before the
>>>summer is over!
>>>
>>>Anyone run theirs dry yet to see if the tank capacity is really as
>>>advertised? I haven't run more than about 15 miles after the light came
>>>on, but have yet to put in more than 15.6 gallons, which means I should
>>>still have a couple left.
>>>
>>>
>>>Matt
>>
>>
>> Running an electric fuel pump dry is really hard on it. Even sitting
>> still with not alot of gas in the tank is a bad thing to do. They are
>> cooled by the gasoline. While the car is in motion, whatever gas is left
>> in the tank is sloshed over the pump and helps cool it. While running the
>> car out of gas once is not likely to kill the pump, it really doesn't
>> help with it's longivity.
>
> I've heard both sides of this and am pretty sure this is another urban
> legend. A fuel pump designer in another ng (I believe the Chrysler group)
> said that the fuel pump is cooled by the fuel going THROUGH it, not
> sloshing around. If the fuel pump is still pumping fuel, then there is no
> danger of overheating it. And once the tank runs dry, most folks turn off
> the key before the fuel pump runs long enough to damage the pump.
> Personally, I don't know for sure, but I've run my cars nearly to empty
> for 20 years and have had only one fuel pump failure and that was after
> 150,000 miles, which is considered to be decent life for an in tank fuel
> pump.
>
>
> Matt
I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were always
coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer, and
the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
than they should have more than they should have."
Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since it
makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do it.
Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is drain
and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
Tom Wenndt
"Matt Whiting" <whiting@epix.net> wrote in message
news:%DO7g.8589$lb.781746@news1.epix.net...
> Bob wrote:
>
>> "Matt Whiting" <whiting@epix.net> wrote in message
>> news:Mwx7g.8566$lb.780660@news1.epix.net...
>>
>>>Matt Whiting wrote:
>>>
>>>>Things are definitely looking up in the mileage department with the
>>>>warmer weather. I just got my second tankful of 31+ MPG. I got exactly
>>>>31 today and my last tank was 31.02. It looks like the change to
>>>>synthetic oil cost me 0.02 MPG. :-) I couldn't resist....
>>>>
>>>>With these last two tanks, my mileage average since buying the car (it
>>>>now has 5500 miles) has crept above 28 MPG. I'll be a happy camper if
>>>>the average stays above 30 for my daily commute. That should mean that
>>>>the EPA 34 highway rating is actually achievable on a long trip.
>>>
>>>My last tankful achieved 31.6 (nearly 500 miles on one tank!) so things
>>>are still improving slowly. Hey, this car may bet 34 MPG before the
>>>summer is over!
>>>
>>>Anyone run theirs dry yet to see if the tank capacity is really as
>>>advertised? I haven't run more than about 15 miles after the light came
>>>on, but have yet to put in more than 15.6 gallons, which means I should
>>>still have a couple left.
>>>
>>>
>>>Matt
>>
>>
>> Running an electric fuel pump dry is really hard on it. Even sitting
>> still with not alot of gas in the tank is a bad thing to do. They are
>> cooled by the gasoline. While the car is in motion, whatever gas is left
>> in the tank is sloshed over the pump and helps cool it. While running the
>> car out of gas once is not likely to kill the pump, it really doesn't
>> help with it's longivity.
>
> I've heard both sides of this and am pretty sure this is another urban
> legend. A fuel pump designer in another ng (I believe the Chrysler group)
> said that the fuel pump is cooled by the fuel going THROUGH it, not
> sloshing around. If the fuel pump is still pumping fuel, then there is no
> danger of overheating it. And once the tank runs dry, most folks turn off
> the key before the fuel pump runs long enough to damage the pump.
> Personally, I don't know for sure, but I've run my cars nearly to empty
> for 20 years and have had only one fuel pump failure and that was after
> 150,000 miles, which is considered to be decent life for an in tank fuel
> pump.
>
>
> Matt
05-08-2006, 07:13 PM
#33
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2006 Sonata GL MPG
Call it urban legend or whatever you want.
I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were always
coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer, and
the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
than they should have more than they should have."
Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since it
makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do it.
Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is drain
and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
Tom Wenndt
"Matt Whiting" <whiting@epix.net> wrote in message
news:%DO7g.8589$lb.781746@news1.epix.net...
> Bob wrote:
>
>> "Matt Whiting" <whiting@epix.net> wrote in message
>> news:Mwx7g.8566$lb.780660@news1.epix.net...
>>
>>>Matt Whiting wrote:
>>>
>>>>Things are definitely looking up in the mileage department with the
>>>>warmer weather. I just got my second tankful of 31+ MPG. I got exactly
>>>>31 today and my last tank was 31.02. It looks like the change to
>>>>synthetic oil cost me 0.02 MPG. :-) I couldn't resist....
>>>>
>>>>With these last two tanks, my mileage average since buying the car (it
>>>>now has 5500 miles) has crept above 28 MPG. I'll be a happy camper if
>>>>the average stays above 30 for my daily commute. That should mean that
>>>>the EPA 34 highway rating is actually achievable on a long trip.
>>>
>>>My last tankful achieved 31.6 (nearly 500 miles on one tank!) so things
>>>are still improving slowly. Hey, this car may bet 34 MPG before the
>>>summer is over!
>>>
>>>Anyone run theirs dry yet to see if the tank capacity is really as
>>>advertised? I haven't run more than about 15 miles after the light came
>>>on, but have yet to put in more than 15.6 gallons, which means I should
>>>still have a couple left.
>>>
>>>
>>>Matt
>>
>>
>> Running an electric fuel pump dry is really hard on it. Even sitting
>> still with not alot of gas in the tank is a bad thing to do. They are
>> cooled by the gasoline. While the car is in motion, whatever gas is left
>> in the tank is sloshed over the pump and helps cool it. While running the
>> car out of gas once is not likely to kill the pump, it really doesn't
>> help with it's longivity.
>
> I've heard both sides of this and am pretty sure this is another urban
> legend. A fuel pump designer in another ng (I believe the Chrysler group)
> said that the fuel pump is cooled by the fuel going THROUGH it, not
> sloshing around. If the fuel pump is still pumping fuel, then there is no
> danger of overheating it. And once the tank runs dry, most folks turn off
> the key before the fuel pump runs long enough to damage the pump.
> Personally, I don't know for sure, but I've run my cars nearly to empty
> for 20 years and have had only one fuel pump failure and that was after
> 150,000 miles, which is considered to be decent life for an in tank fuel
> pump.
>
>
> Matt
I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were always
coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer, and
the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
than they should have more than they should have."
Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since it
makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do it.
Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is drain
and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
Tom Wenndt
"Matt Whiting" <whiting@epix.net> wrote in message
news:%DO7g.8589$lb.781746@news1.epix.net...
> Bob wrote:
>
>> "Matt Whiting" <whiting@epix.net> wrote in message
>> news:Mwx7g.8566$lb.780660@news1.epix.net...
>>
>>>Matt Whiting wrote:
>>>
>>>>Things are definitely looking up in the mileage department with the
>>>>warmer weather. I just got my second tankful of 31+ MPG. I got exactly
>>>>31 today and my last tank was 31.02. It looks like the change to
>>>>synthetic oil cost me 0.02 MPG. :-) I couldn't resist....
>>>>
>>>>With these last two tanks, my mileage average since buying the car (it
>>>>now has 5500 miles) has crept above 28 MPG. I'll be a happy camper if
>>>>the average stays above 30 for my daily commute. That should mean that
>>>>the EPA 34 highway rating is actually achievable on a long trip.
>>>
>>>My last tankful achieved 31.6 (nearly 500 miles on one tank!) so things
>>>are still improving slowly. Hey, this car may bet 34 MPG before the
>>>summer is over!
>>>
>>>Anyone run theirs dry yet to see if the tank capacity is really as
>>>advertised? I haven't run more than about 15 miles after the light came
>>>on, but have yet to put in more than 15.6 gallons, which means I should
>>>still have a couple left.
>>>
>>>
>>>Matt
>>
>>
>> Running an electric fuel pump dry is really hard on it. Even sitting
>> still with not alot of gas in the tank is a bad thing to do. They are
>> cooled by the gasoline. While the car is in motion, whatever gas is left
>> in the tank is sloshed over the pump and helps cool it. While running the
>> car out of gas once is not likely to kill the pump, it really doesn't
>> help with it's longivity.
>
> I've heard both sides of this and am pretty sure this is another urban
> legend. A fuel pump designer in another ng (I believe the Chrysler group)
> said that the fuel pump is cooled by the fuel going THROUGH it, not
> sloshing around. If the fuel pump is still pumping fuel, then there is no
> danger of overheating it. And once the tank runs dry, most folks turn off
> the key before the fuel pump runs long enough to damage the pump.
> Personally, I don't know for sure, but I've run my cars nearly to empty
> for 20 years and have had only one fuel pump failure and that was after
> 150,000 miles, which is considered to be decent life for an in tank fuel
> pump.
>
>
> Matt
05-08-2006, 07:13 PM
#34
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2006 Sonata GL MPG
Call it urban legend or whatever you want.
I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were always
coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer, and
the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
than they should have more than they should have."
Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since it
makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do it.
Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is drain
and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
Tom Wenndt
"Matt Whiting" <whiting@epix.net> wrote in message
news:%DO7g.8589$lb.781746@news1.epix.net...
> Bob wrote:
>
>> "Matt Whiting" <whiting@epix.net> wrote in message
>> news:Mwx7g.8566$lb.780660@news1.epix.net...
>>
>>>Matt Whiting wrote:
>>>
>>>>Things are definitely looking up in the mileage department with the
>>>>warmer weather. I just got my second tankful of 31+ MPG. I got exactly
>>>>31 today and my last tank was 31.02. It looks like the change to
>>>>synthetic oil cost me 0.02 MPG. :-) I couldn't resist....
>>>>
>>>>With these last two tanks, my mileage average since buying the car (it
>>>>now has 5500 miles) has crept above 28 MPG. I'll be a happy camper if
>>>>the average stays above 30 for my daily commute. That should mean that
>>>>the EPA 34 highway rating is actually achievable on a long trip.
>>>
>>>My last tankful achieved 31.6 (nearly 500 miles on one tank!) so things
>>>are still improving slowly. Hey, this car may bet 34 MPG before the
>>>summer is over!
>>>
>>>Anyone run theirs dry yet to see if the tank capacity is really as
>>>advertised? I haven't run more than about 15 miles after the light came
>>>on, but have yet to put in more than 15.6 gallons, which means I should
>>>still have a couple left.
>>>
>>>
>>>Matt
>>
>>
>> Running an electric fuel pump dry is really hard on it. Even sitting
>> still with not alot of gas in the tank is a bad thing to do. They are
>> cooled by the gasoline. While the car is in motion, whatever gas is left
>> in the tank is sloshed over the pump and helps cool it. While running the
>> car out of gas once is not likely to kill the pump, it really doesn't
>> help with it's longivity.
>
> I've heard both sides of this and am pretty sure this is another urban
> legend. A fuel pump designer in another ng (I believe the Chrysler group)
> said that the fuel pump is cooled by the fuel going THROUGH it, not
> sloshing around. If the fuel pump is still pumping fuel, then there is no
> danger of overheating it. And once the tank runs dry, most folks turn off
> the key before the fuel pump runs long enough to damage the pump.
> Personally, I don't know for sure, but I've run my cars nearly to empty
> for 20 years and have had only one fuel pump failure and that was after
> 150,000 miles, which is considered to be decent life for an in tank fuel
> pump.
>
>
> Matt
I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were always
coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer, and
the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
than they should have more than they should have."
Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since it
makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do it.
Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is drain
and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
Tom Wenndt
"Matt Whiting" <whiting@epix.net> wrote in message
news:%DO7g.8589$lb.781746@news1.epix.net...
> Bob wrote:
>
>> "Matt Whiting" <whiting@epix.net> wrote in message
>> news:Mwx7g.8566$lb.780660@news1.epix.net...
>>
>>>Matt Whiting wrote:
>>>
>>>>Things are definitely looking up in the mileage department with the
>>>>warmer weather. I just got my second tankful of 31+ MPG. I got exactly
>>>>31 today and my last tank was 31.02. It looks like the change to
>>>>synthetic oil cost me 0.02 MPG. :-) I couldn't resist....
>>>>
>>>>With these last two tanks, my mileage average since buying the car (it
>>>>now has 5500 miles) has crept above 28 MPG. I'll be a happy camper if
>>>>the average stays above 30 for my daily commute. That should mean that
>>>>the EPA 34 highway rating is actually achievable on a long trip.
>>>
>>>My last tankful achieved 31.6 (nearly 500 miles on one tank!) so things
>>>are still improving slowly. Hey, this car may bet 34 MPG before the
>>>summer is over!
>>>
>>>Anyone run theirs dry yet to see if the tank capacity is really as
>>>advertised? I haven't run more than about 15 miles after the light came
>>>on, but have yet to put in more than 15.6 gallons, which means I should
>>>still have a couple left.
>>>
>>>
>>>Matt
>>
>>
>> Running an electric fuel pump dry is really hard on it. Even sitting
>> still with not alot of gas in the tank is a bad thing to do. They are
>> cooled by the gasoline. While the car is in motion, whatever gas is left
>> in the tank is sloshed over the pump and helps cool it. While running the
>> car out of gas once is not likely to kill the pump, it really doesn't
>> help with it's longivity.
>
> I've heard both sides of this and am pretty sure this is another urban
> legend. A fuel pump designer in another ng (I believe the Chrysler group)
> said that the fuel pump is cooled by the fuel going THROUGH it, not
> sloshing around. If the fuel pump is still pumping fuel, then there is no
> danger of overheating it. And once the tank runs dry, most folks turn off
> the key before the fuel pump runs long enough to damage the pump.
> Personally, I don't know for sure, but I've run my cars nearly to empty
> for 20 years and have had only one fuel pump failure and that was after
> 150,000 miles, which is considered to be decent life for an in tank fuel
> pump.
>
>
> Matt
05-08-2006, 10:15 PM
#35
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2006 Sonata GL MPG
Rev. Tom Wenndt wrote:
> Call it urban legend or whatever you want.
>
> I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
> made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were always
> coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
> then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
That's an even better legend! We're supposed to believe that all of the
fuel pumps magically failed in Rapid City only when they stopped for
gas? They didn't fail 10 miles before the City or 10 miles after? I
guess the question I have is what were the gas station folks doing to
kill the fuel pumps so that this garage could fix them and how much of a
kickback was he giving to the gas stations. They had scams like this a
few years ago on 20/20 or one of those similar shows.
Sorry, but I'll believe a fuel pump designer before I'll believe a
mythical garage owner in Rapid City, but that's just me...
> In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer, and
> the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
> than they should have more than they should have."
Show me one warning in an owner's manual or shop manual about not
running your tank low to prevent fuel pump failure. Just one...
> Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since it
> makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do it.
> Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
> has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is drain
> and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
It's possible that the sun won't come up tomorrow also, but I don't
worry too much about that. :-) There are enough probable things to
worry about that I don't need to worry about the improbable ones.
I don't see why it makes sense to stop and waste time buying gas more
often than one needs to. Once I know that I need gas, I stop and fuel
up, but I don't see any reason to stop every half tank when I can run
down until the light comes on or nearly so and have 100% assurance of
getting to the station, since I know where all of them are on my daily
commute. I agree that if you are traveling and not sure where the next
station is, then stopping the 1/4 tank point or so makes a lot of sense.
Matt
> Call it urban legend or whatever you want.
>
> I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
> made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were always
> coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
> then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
That's an even better legend! We're supposed to believe that all of the
fuel pumps magically failed in Rapid City only when they stopped for
gas? They didn't fail 10 miles before the City or 10 miles after? I
guess the question I have is what were the gas station folks doing to
kill the fuel pumps so that this garage could fix them and how much of a
kickback was he giving to the gas stations. They had scams like this a
few years ago on 20/20 or one of those similar shows.
Sorry, but I'll believe a fuel pump designer before I'll believe a
mythical garage owner in Rapid City, but that's just me...
> In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer, and
> the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
> than they should have more than they should have."
Show me one warning in an owner's manual or shop manual about not
running your tank low to prevent fuel pump failure. Just one...
> Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since it
> makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do it.
> Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
> has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is drain
> and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
It's possible that the sun won't come up tomorrow also, but I don't
worry too much about that. :-) There are enough probable things to
worry about that I don't need to worry about the improbable ones.
I don't see why it makes sense to stop and waste time buying gas more
often than one needs to. Once I know that I need gas, I stop and fuel
up, but I don't see any reason to stop every half tank when I can run
down until the light comes on or nearly so and have 100% assurance of
getting to the station, since I know where all of them are on my daily
commute. I agree that if you are traveling and not sure where the next
station is, then stopping the 1/4 tank point or so makes a lot of sense.
Matt
05-08-2006, 10:15 PM
#36
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2006 Sonata GL MPG
Rev. Tom Wenndt wrote:
> Call it urban legend or whatever you want.
>
> I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
> made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were always
> coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
> then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
That's an even better legend! We're supposed to believe that all of the
fuel pumps magically failed in Rapid City only when they stopped for
gas? They didn't fail 10 miles before the City or 10 miles after? I
guess the question I have is what were the gas station folks doing to
kill the fuel pumps so that this garage could fix them and how much of a
kickback was he giving to the gas stations. They had scams like this a
few years ago on 20/20 or one of those similar shows.
Sorry, but I'll believe a fuel pump designer before I'll believe a
mythical garage owner in Rapid City, but that's just me...
> In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer, and
> the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
> than they should have more than they should have."
Show me one warning in an owner's manual or shop manual about not
running your tank low to prevent fuel pump failure. Just one...
> Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since it
> makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do it.
> Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
> has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is drain
> and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
It's possible that the sun won't come up tomorrow also, but I don't
worry too much about that. :-) There are enough probable things to
worry about that I don't need to worry about the improbable ones.
I don't see why it makes sense to stop and waste time buying gas more
often than one needs to. Once I know that I need gas, I stop and fuel
up, but I don't see any reason to stop every half tank when I can run
down until the light comes on or nearly so and have 100% assurance of
getting to the station, since I know where all of them are on my daily
commute. I agree that if you are traveling and not sure where the next
station is, then stopping the 1/4 tank point or so makes a lot of sense.
Matt
> Call it urban legend or whatever you want.
>
> I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
> made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were always
> coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
> then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
That's an even better legend! We're supposed to believe that all of the
fuel pumps magically failed in Rapid City only when they stopped for
gas? They didn't fail 10 miles before the City or 10 miles after? I
guess the question I have is what were the gas station folks doing to
kill the fuel pumps so that this garage could fix them and how much of a
kickback was he giving to the gas stations. They had scams like this a
few years ago on 20/20 or one of those similar shows.
Sorry, but I'll believe a fuel pump designer before I'll believe a
mythical garage owner in Rapid City, but that's just me...
> In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer, and
> the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
> than they should have more than they should have."
Show me one warning in an owner's manual or shop manual about not
running your tank low to prevent fuel pump failure. Just one...
> Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since it
> makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do it.
> Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
> has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is drain
> and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
It's possible that the sun won't come up tomorrow also, but I don't
worry too much about that. :-) There are enough probable things to
worry about that I don't need to worry about the improbable ones.
I don't see why it makes sense to stop and waste time buying gas more
often than one needs to. Once I know that I need gas, I stop and fuel
up, but I don't see any reason to stop every half tank when I can run
down until the light comes on or nearly so and have 100% assurance of
getting to the station, since I know where all of them are on my daily
commute. I agree that if you are traveling and not sure where the next
station is, then stopping the 1/4 tank point or so makes a lot of sense.
Matt
05-08-2006, 10:15 PM
#37
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2006 Sonata GL MPG
Rev. Tom Wenndt wrote:
> Call it urban legend or whatever you want.
>
> I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
> made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were always
> coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
> then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
That's an even better legend! We're supposed to believe that all of the
fuel pumps magically failed in Rapid City only when they stopped for
gas? They didn't fail 10 miles before the City or 10 miles after? I
guess the question I have is what were the gas station folks doing to
kill the fuel pumps so that this garage could fix them and how much of a
kickback was he giving to the gas stations. They had scams like this a
few years ago on 20/20 or one of those similar shows.
Sorry, but I'll believe a fuel pump designer before I'll believe a
mythical garage owner in Rapid City, but that's just me...
> In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer, and
> the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
> than they should have more than they should have."
Show me one warning in an owner's manual or shop manual about not
running your tank low to prevent fuel pump failure. Just one...
> Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since it
> makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do it.
> Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
> has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is drain
> and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
It's possible that the sun won't come up tomorrow also, but I don't
worry too much about that. :-) There are enough probable things to
worry about that I don't need to worry about the improbable ones.
I don't see why it makes sense to stop and waste time buying gas more
often than one needs to. Once I know that I need gas, I stop and fuel
up, but I don't see any reason to stop every half tank when I can run
down until the light comes on or nearly so and have 100% assurance of
getting to the station, since I know where all of them are on my daily
commute. I agree that if you are traveling and not sure where the next
station is, then stopping the 1/4 tank point or so makes a lot of sense.
Matt
> Call it urban legend or whatever you want.
>
> I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
> made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were always
> coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
> then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
That's an even better legend! We're supposed to believe that all of the
fuel pumps magically failed in Rapid City only when they stopped for
gas? They didn't fail 10 miles before the City or 10 miles after? I
guess the question I have is what were the gas station folks doing to
kill the fuel pumps so that this garage could fix them and how much of a
kickback was he giving to the gas stations. They had scams like this a
few years ago on 20/20 or one of those similar shows.
Sorry, but I'll believe a fuel pump designer before I'll believe a
mythical garage owner in Rapid City, but that's just me...
> In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer, and
> the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
> than they should have more than they should have."
Show me one warning in an owner's manual or shop manual about not
running your tank low to prevent fuel pump failure. Just one...
> Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since it
> makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do it.
> Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
> has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is drain
> and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
It's possible that the sun won't come up tomorrow also, but I don't
worry too much about that. :-) There are enough probable things to
worry about that I don't need to worry about the improbable ones.
I don't see why it makes sense to stop and waste time buying gas more
often than one needs to. Once I know that I need gas, I stop and fuel
up, but I don't see any reason to stop every half tank when I can run
down until the light comes on or nearly so and have 100% assurance of
getting to the station, since I know where all of them are on my daily
commute. I agree that if you are traveling and not sure where the next
station is, then stopping the 1/4 tank point or so makes a lot of sense.
Matt
05-08-2006, 10:16 PM
#38
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2006 Sonata GL MPG
Rev. Tom Wenndt wrote:
> Call it urban legend or whatever you want.
>
> I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
> made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were always
> coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
> then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
>
> In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer, and
> the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
> than they should have more than they should have."
>
> Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since it
> makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do it.
> Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
> has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is drain
> and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
Hyundaitech,
What is your take on this? Do they warn you about this at Hyundai tech
school? Do you see frequent fuel pump failures on Hyundais that might
be attributable to running low on fuel often?
Matt
> Call it urban legend or whatever you want.
>
> I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
> made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were always
> coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
> then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
>
> In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer, and
> the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
> than they should have more than they should have."
>
> Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since it
> makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do it.
> Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
> has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is drain
> and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
Hyundaitech,
What is your take on this? Do they warn you about this at Hyundai tech
school? Do you see frequent fuel pump failures on Hyundais that might
be attributable to running low on fuel often?
Matt
05-08-2006, 10:16 PM
#39
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2006 Sonata GL MPG
Rev. Tom Wenndt wrote:
> Call it urban legend or whatever you want.
>
> I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
> made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were always
> coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
> then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
>
> In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer, and
> the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
> than they should have more than they should have."
>
> Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since it
> makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do it.
> Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
> has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is drain
> and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
Hyundaitech,
What is your take on this? Do they warn you about this at Hyundai tech
school? Do you see frequent fuel pump failures on Hyundais that might
be attributable to running low on fuel often?
Matt
> Call it urban legend or whatever you want.
>
> I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
> made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were always
> coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
> then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
>
> In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer, and
> the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
> than they should have more than they should have."
>
> Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since it
> makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do it.
> Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
> has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is drain
> and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
Hyundaitech,
What is your take on this? Do they warn you about this at Hyundai tech
school? Do you see frequent fuel pump failures on Hyundais that might
be attributable to running low on fuel often?
Matt
05-08-2006, 10:16 PM
#40
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2006 Sonata GL MPG
Rev. Tom Wenndt wrote:
> Call it urban legend or whatever you want.
>
> I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
> made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were always
> coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
> then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
>
> In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer, and
> the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
> than they should have more than they should have."
>
> Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since it
> makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do it.
> Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
> has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is drain
> and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
Hyundaitech,
What is your take on this? Do they warn you about this at Hyundai tech
school? Do you see frequent fuel pump failures on Hyundais that might
be attributable to running low on fuel often?
Matt
> Call it urban legend or whatever you want.
>
> I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
> made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were always
> coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
> then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
>
> In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer, and
> the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
> than they should have more than they should have."
>
> Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since it
> makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do it.
> Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
> has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is drain
> and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
Hyundaitech,
What is your take on this? Do they warn you about this at Hyundai tech
school? Do you see frequent fuel pump failures on Hyundais that might
be attributable to running low on fuel often?
Matt
05-09-2006, 07:51 AM
#41
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2006 Sonata GL MPG
"Rev. Tom Wenndt" <trwenndt@grics.net> wrote in message
news:e3ojdr08a4@enews2.newsguy.com...
> Call it urban legend or whatever you want.
>
> I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
> made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were
always
> coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
> then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
>
> In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer,
and
> the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
> than they should have more than they should have."
>
> Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since
it
> makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do
it.
> Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
> has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is
drain
> and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
>
I think I would have to call that urban legend Tom. Either that or bad
data. It's just wildly inconsistent with the experiences of literally tens
of thousands of vehicles driven in virtually the same conditions every day.
I suspect the fellow you know of was overstating a case.
--
-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net
05-09-2006, 07:51 AM
#42
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2006 Sonata GL MPG
"Rev. Tom Wenndt" <trwenndt@grics.net> wrote in message
news:e3ojdr08a4@enews2.newsguy.com...
> Call it urban legend or whatever you want.
>
> I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
> made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were
always
> coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
> then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
>
> In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer,
and
> the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
> than they should have more than they should have."
>
> Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since
it
> makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do
it.
> Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
> has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is
drain
> and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
>
I think I would have to call that urban legend Tom. Either that or bad
data. It's just wildly inconsistent with the experiences of literally tens
of thousands of vehicles driven in virtually the same conditions every day.
I suspect the fellow you know of was overstating a case.
--
-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net
05-09-2006, 07:51 AM
#43
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2006 Sonata GL MPG
"Rev. Tom Wenndt" <trwenndt@grics.net> wrote in message
news:e3ojdr08a4@enews2.newsguy.com...
> Call it urban legend or whatever you want.
>
> I knew of a guy that owned a garage in Rapid City, SD. Every Summer, he
> made sure that he had access to fuel pumps 24-7, because people were
always
> coming in off the mountains, stopping for gas or whatever in Rapid City,
> then be unable to start their cars again, because of fuel pump failure.
>
> In almost every case, there was mountain driving in the heat of Summer,
and
> the consumers confessed to usually driving their fuel tanks down "further
> than they should have more than they should have."
>
> Bottom line - since it is at least possible that this happens, and since
it
> makes little sense to run your fuel down that far anyway, just don't do
it.
> Fuel pumps are an expensive job, unless you are one of the lucky ones that
> has an access port to it in a trunk or a back seat - otherwise, it is
drain
> and drop the fuel tank and go from there.
>
I think I would have to call that urban legend Tom. Either that or bad
data. It's just wildly inconsistent with the experiences of literally tens
of thousands of vehicles driven in virtually the same conditions every day.
I suspect the fellow you know of was overstating a case.
--
-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net
05-09-2006, 08:31 PM
#44
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2006 Sonata GL MPG
"Matt Whiting" <whiting@epix.net> wrote in message
news:%DO7g.8589$lb.781746@news1.epix.net...
> Bob wrote:
>
>> "Matt Whiting" <whiting@epix.net> wrote in message
>> news:Mwx7g.8566$lb.780660@news1.epix.net...
>>
>>>Matt Whiting wrote:
>>>
>>>>Things are definitely looking up in the mileage department with the
>>>>warmer weather. I just got my second tankful of 31+ MPG. I got exactly
>>>>31 today and my last tank was 31.02. It looks like the change to
>>>>synthetic oil cost me 0.02 MPG. :-) I couldn't resist....
>>>>
>>>>With these last two tanks, my mileage average since buying the car (it
>>>>now has 5500 miles) has crept above 28 MPG. I'll be a happy camper if
>>>>the average stays above 30 for my daily commute. That should mean that
>>>>the EPA 34 highway rating is actually achievable on a long trip.
>>>
>>>My last tankful achieved 31.6 (nearly 500 miles on one tank!) so things
>>>are still improving slowly. Hey, this car may bet 34 MPG before the
>>>summer is over!
>>>
>>>Anyone run theirs dry yet to see if the tank capacity is really as
>>>advertised? I haven't run more than about 15 miles after the light came
>>>on, but have yet to put in more than 15.6 gallons, which means I should
>>>still have a couple left.
>>>
>>>
>>>Matt
>>
>>
>> Running an electric fuel pump dry is really hard on it. Even sitting
>> still with not alot of gas in the tank is a bad thing to do. They are
>> cooled by the gasoline. While the car is in motion, whatever gas is left
>> in the tank is sloshed over the pump and helps cool it. While running the
>> car out of gas once is not likely to kill the pump, it really doesn't
>> help with it's longivity.
>
> I've heard both sides of this and am pretty sure this is another urban
> legend. A fuel pump designer in another ng (I believe the Chrysler group)
> said that the fuel pump is cooled by the fuel going THROUGH it, not
> sloshing around. If the fuel pump is still pumping fuel, then there is no
> danger of overheating it. And once the tank runs dry, most folks turn off
> the key before the fuel pump runs long enough to damage the pump.
> Personally, I don't know for sure, but I've run my cars nearly to empty
> for 20 years and have had only one fuel pump failure and that was after
> 150,000 miles, which is considered to be decent life for an in tank fuel
> pump.
>
>
> Matt
I'm talking from experience on Chevy 3500 Vans. I worked for an electric
utility, and many of the vans idled for hours to provide AC power for
certain test equipment. We had a rash of fuel pump failures - mine included.
We were cautioned not to idle them if the tank was less than 1/4 full
because that would leave the motor of the fuel pump out of fuel - the intake
was still well under the fuel level. I know my Town and Country passes fuel
over the motor when it's pumping - http://tinyurl.com/h62yw - so what was
said about the fuel pump designer is definitely true about Chrysler. The
Chevy pump motor is out in the "open" in the tank. It is only cooled by fuel
around the outside of it. I don't know if that's the case with the Hyundai
pump. There's also baffles in the Chevy tank that help with the level. From
what I saw, driving the vehicle with a low tank didn't seem to kill them. It
was when the vehicle sat still even when the tank wasn't terribly low.
It's not entirely urban legend.
Also, once an engine stalls due to lack of fuel the pump shuts off after a
few seconds. It's not controlled by a pressure sensor. It's controlled by
pulses from the ignition system. Cranking the engine starts the pump for a
few seconds, and it stops a few seconds after you let go of the key. You'll
not likely cook a pump in the short term - especially with no back pressure.
05-09-2006, 08:31 PM
#45
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: 2006 Sonata GL MPG
"Matt Whiting" <whiting@epix.net> wrote in message
news:%DO7g.8589$lb.781746@news1.epix.net...
> Bob wrote:
>
>> "Matt Whiting" <whiting@epix.net> wrote in message
>> news:Mwx7g.8566$lb.780660@news1.epix.net...
>>
>>>Matt Whiting wrote:
>>>
>>>>Things are definitely looking up in the mileage department with the
>>>>warmer weather. I just got my second tankful of 31+ MPG. I got exactly
>>>>31 today and my last tank was 31.02. It looks like the change to
>>>>synthetic oil cost me 0.02 MPG. :-) I couldn't resist....
>>>>
>>>>With these last two tanks, my mileage average since buying the car (it
>>>>now has 5500 miles) has crept above 28 MPG. I'll be a happy camper if
>>>>the average stays above 30 for my daily commute. That should mean that
>>>>the EPA 34 highway rating is actually achievable on a long trip.
>>>
>>>My last tankful achieved 31.6 (nearly 500 miles on one tank!) so things
>>>are still improving slowly. Hey, this car may bet 34 MPG before the
>>>summer is over!
>>>
>>>Anyone run theirs dry yet to see if the tank capacity is really as
>>>advertised? I haven't run more than about 15 miles after the light came
>>>on, but have yet to put in more than 15.6 gallons, which means I should
>>>still have a couple left.
>>>
>>>
>>>Matt
>>
>>
>> Running an electric fuel pump dry is really hard on it. Even sitting
>> still with not alot of gas in the tank is a bad thing to do. They are
>> cooled by the gasoline. While the car is in motion, whatever gas is left
>> in the tank is sloshed over the pump and helps cool it. While running the
>> car out of gas once is not likely to kill the pump, it really doesn't
>> help with it's longivity.
>
> I've heard both sides of this and am pretty sure this is another urban
> legend. A fuel pump designer in another ng (I believe the Chrysler group)
> said that the fuel pump is cooled by the fuel going THROUGH it, not
> sloshing around. If the fuel pump is still pumping fuel, then there is no
> danger of overheating it. And once the tank runs dry, most folks turn off
> the key before the fuel pump runs long enough to damage the pump.
> Personally, I don't know for sure, but I've run my cars nearly to empty
> for 20 years and have had only one fuel pump failure and that was after
> 150,000 miles, which is considered to be decent life for an in tank fuel
> pump.
>
>
> Matt
I'm talking from experience on Chevy 3500 Vans. I worked for an electric
utility, and many of the vans idled for hours to provide AC power for
certain test equipment. We had a rash of fuel pump failures - mine included.
We were cautioned not to idle them if the tank was less than 1/4 full
because that would leave the motor of the fuel pump out of fuel - the intake
was still well under the fuel level. I know my Town and Country passes fuel
over the motor when it's pumping - http://tinyurl.com/h62yw - so what was
said about the fuel pump designer is definitely true about Chrysler. The
Chevy pump motor is out in the "open" in the tank. It is only cooled by fuel
around the outside of it. I don't know if that's the case with the Hyundai
pump. There's also baffles in the Chevy tank that help with the level. From
what I saw, driving the vehicle with a low tank didn't seem to kill them. It
was when the vehicle sat still even when the tank wasn't terribly low.
It's not entirely urban legend.
Also, once an engine stalls due to lack of fuel the pump shuts off after a
few seconds. It's not controlled by a pressure sensor. It's controlled by
pulses from the ignition system. Cranking the engine starts the pump for a
few seconds, and it stops a few seconds after you let go of the key. You'll
not likely cook a pump in the short term - especially with no back pressure.