Have you ever run out of gas? And did you know you were going to?

[Xist]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Fortunately nobody threw a match, because I don't think that car could have outrun the flame front.

Must go faster! Must go faster!

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Xist

We found the nozzle and they poured in one can, a second, and then a third, but the truck would not start. We kept trying to figure out what was wrong, but did not have any idea.

I'm guessing the truck was diesel, and it needed to have the fuel lines bled (primed) to run.

I've run the Dodge out of fuel twice, and both times were actually a stroke of luck in disguise. The truck has an inexpensive low pressure fuel pump, and an expensive high pressure fuel pump. The high pressure fuel pump will eventually die if the low pressure pump doesn't feed it fuel. I found out both times I ran out of fuel that the low pressure fuel pump had died because it failed to bleed the fuel system. This alerted me to the failed low pressure pump, and I was able to replace it before loosing the expensive one.

Now I run a fuel pressure gauge, and have a quality low pressure pump installed.

...and I ran Lafawnda the Honda motorcycle out of fuel twice in 2 weeks during the summer, about 1/4 mile from the same gas station. I know just how far she will go on a tank, but always guess slightly optimistic.

[PaleMelanesian]

I ran my Civic out of fuel several times. Each one was a new tank distance record... that I kept breaking and going further the next time.

I've run my Fit out once. Now I know how low True Empty is, and set a nice distance record. I'll only do that again if my average suggests I'll beat that distance. That can only happen once a year in the middle of summer, so it's rare.

Edit: with a measured can of gas in the back ready and waiting.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by D.O.G.

That's when it dawned on me that the camber of the roadway was tilting the fuel in the tank away from the pump pickup.

Ha! So can we assume you drove on the wrong side of the road the rest of the way to the next gas station?

[Xist]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I'm guessing the truck was diesel, and it needed to have the fuel lines bled (primed) to run.

When we got back, after my Sergeant had me sign a counseling statement, I talked with the junior mechanics who showed me a black button behind the driver's side of the cabin. Push it three times, prime the pump, and start your engine. I try to make sure that other Soldiers know that, but when I try to tell them, my current Sergeant shouts "This is not story time!"

Yet I am told that I need to share my experience...

[Occasionally6]

I've run cars dry 5 times.

Twice in a beater that I was reluctant to overcapitalise by filling the gas tank. One of those I was lucky enough to coast a block into a gas station. The other time I walked - ~40 min round trip - to get fuel only to realise back at the car that I needed a funnel to transfer it into the tank. Fortunately I found a discarded (glass) soda bottle that with the bottom knocked off it could be used for that purpose.

Twice - in two different cars - I've run out after an instrument repair where the gas gauge needle was moved. The difference in each case was only about a needle width, but that was enough. One was another coast into the gas station. The other one I had a 15 min return trip run (I had people I was chauffeuring to our night out waiting with the car).

The 5th time was while as a professional driver where my partner and I were trying to finish the day's driving before refuelling. We ignored the flashing fuel warning light and low gauge and got caught. Another walk but with a lift from a passing Good Samaritan for part of the way.

I don't know if it counts as me running out of fuel but I was on a chartered tour bus (college field trip) that ran out. As a Diesel, that did require bleeding of the fuel lines after fuel was put in the tank.

[MetroMPG]

In case anyone's counting, that's 4 people who have coasted into gas stations with no fuel in their tanks.

[Frank Lee]

Add another. I was towing a mobile home cross country when the truck ran dry. I was able to coast into a gas station like I meant to do it that way.

P.S. I just remembered a good running-out-of-gas story. About a half-dozen guys from the Engineering Dept. went on a motorcycle ride. We were on our way back to town when the guy to my right ran out of gas. We were still rolling when he said it was already on Reserve so without skipping a beat I told him to flip his left side passenger peg down. He did and I pulled in close enough to put my foot on it and thus kept us both going that few miles to the nearest gas station. We made it just fine although my right leg felt like it was about twice as big as my left by the time we got there.

[kafer65]

I had a Cherokee with 180k miles on it that was very hard to start. I ran dry as I pulled into my driveway. That finished off the pump but being out of gas made it easier to drop the tank to replace the pump. I also had a bent rail and leaky injector which added up to low fuel pressure. That was why it was hard to start. Worked out pretty good for me except for the $$$ I had to spend on parts.
My 1st VW diesel ran out right in front of a gas station on our way home from a long distance trip to specialist for my oldest son. I kept thinking man this thing is getting great mileage the needle hasn't moved off of 1/4 tank in forever. I was at 596 miles on the trip odometer. I think the level indicator got tweaked during a pump replacement by PO.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Xist

When we got back, after my Sergeant had me sign a counseling statement, I talked with the junior mechanics who showed me a black button behind the driver's side of the cabin. Push it three times, prime the pump, and start your engine. I try to make sure that other Soldiers know that, but when I try to tell them, my current Sergeant shouts "This is not story time!"

Grrr. I understand the importance of the chain of command and how it's designed to protect the safety of the soldiers, but unchecked pride can be just as dangerous as an unheeded command. A great leader would allow others to learn from their mistake.