Today while driving, my range finally dropped to zero. Based on previous fillups I think that there is at least another gallon of usable fuel sloshing around in the tank. I'm trying to decide if it is worth it to find out how much our tanks actually hold. Is there any danger to the car from running out of gas. I know the fuel pump is cooled by being immersed in fuel. I would be forever in debt of anyone with experience as a tech or mechanic chiming in. To be clear, I am right now 2 miles past zero on the range. If I do this, I would carry a can with me so that I'm not stranded. Do you have any thoughts. I've never run a car out of gas before and am curious to see where the real limits lay.
2 miles past zero
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While it's not the best thing to do to your car, people run out of gas every day. Once wouldn't hurt. I'd say go for it. But if you start to hear whining for the rear of the car, stop and fuel it up.
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1,276 Posts
I dunno. I'd be careful. The owner's manual (page 89) says:
"Running out of fuel can cause the engine to misfire, damaging the catalytic converter."
But, like Johnny said, people do run out of gas every day. So, while it's not the best thing for your car it likely won't do anything if you do it once or even twice (but I'm not a mechanic).
However, I'd err on the side of caution. Why take a chance on damaging it in some way after you just paid thousands of dollars for it. :dunno:
I'd be willing to bet that you could contact one of the techs at your dealer (or maybe even Honda corporate) and they could tell you exactly how much the tank actually holds...might be a lot cheaper and less of a hassle than fixing the cat!
"Running out of fuel can cause the engine to misfire, damaging the catalytic converter."
But, like Johnny said, people do run out of gas every day. So, while it's not the best thing for your car it likely won't do anything if you do it once or even twice (but I'm not a mechanic).
However, I'd err on the side of caution. Why take a chance on damaging it in some way after you just paid thousands of dollars for it. :dunno:
I'd be willing to bet that you could contact one of the techs at your dealer (or maybe even Honda corporate) and they could tell you exactly how much the tank actually holds...might be a lot cheaper and less of a hassle than fixing the cat!
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Here's a good question. Is your car a lease?
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How close are you to a filling station? Personally I would not take the chance on damaging the fuel pump or anything else just to see how low is low. People do run out of fuel everyday but we don't know how many fuel injector systems or fuel pumps are damaged.
When my fuel low level light illuminates my fuel range usually shows 77 miles and that means it's time to fill up. The owner's manual says that the light comes on when the tank has approximately 2.6 US gallons. Wat it doesn't say is if that is total remaining or usable remaining fuel.
When my fuel low level light illuminates my fuel range usually shows 77 miles and that means it's time to fill up. The owner's manual says that the light comes on when the tank has approximately 2.6 US gallons. Wat it doesn't say is if that is total remaining or usable remaining fuel.
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10,071 Posts
Not worth the inconvenience, no need to push your luck, why would it matter if you knew exactly the capacity of the tank? How you drive makes large difference of your fuel economy, so there is no point trying to find exact volume of gas your car can hold, or how many more miles you can cover after the reading says zero.
In driving over the last 3+ decades, I've only run out of fuel twice, fortunately both times I was going at reasonable speed and was able to coast into the gas station nearby without requiring a tow or borrow a fuel can, in fact the second time I had just got going after the traffic light had turned green, the car died half way through the intersection, so I put the clutch in and coasted into the gas station across the intersection and stopped right by the first pump.
I got lucky, and never did that again.
In driving over the last 3+ decades, I've only run out of fuel twice, fortunately both times I was going at reasonable speed and was able to coast into the gas station nearby without requiring a tow or borrow a fuel can, in fact the second time I had just got going after the traffic light had turned green, the car died half way through the intersection, so I put the clutch in and coasted into the gas station across the intersection and stopped right by the first pump.
I got lucky, and never did that again.
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107 Posts
In my experience, it has about a gallon left when it gets to zero range. But I'd be hesitant indeed to push it. I made it five miles once on zero, but that was pushing it way more than I wanted to.
I was stupid!
I took a gamble during my trip from MSP to SEA this summer. I thought I would have at least 1 gallon left but I misjudged additional fuel consumption due to a head wind. I lost the gamble 11 miles before Billings MT. Lost 2 hours and lectures from my kids and wife during that time. You do not want to take chances in ND, WY, SD, ID, MT as you could be stuck for a long time. It is not safe to lose power either if you are going down a hill.
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182 Posts
I'd just give it a little time, somebody's going to do this eventually willingly or otherwise. I'm curious myself but not enough to increase my risks that it wouldn't start afterwards and require a tow and time down for possible repair.
I think I'm just too nervous to do this with a brand new car. Going to the gas station next time I go out. I'll end up being about 5 past zero when all is said and done. If the car were a lease, I would probably be more willing to try it. I'm just too chicken I guess.
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2,322 Posts
Most trip computers have a 2 gallon error margin built in. I'm sure your car didn't take 17.2 gallons of fuel when you refilled it.
I once drove a Golf loaner vehicle for about 30 miles after the fuel light came on. The car took 14.2 gallons of fuel in a 14.5 gallon tank (and that was the first time the pump stopped).
I once drove a Golf loaner vehicle for about 30 miles after the fuel light came on. The car took 14.2 gallons of fuel in a 14.5 gallon tank (and that was the first time the pump stopped).
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http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/showpost.php?p=994462&postcount=24
My engine was still running there, but the needle was pretty much right at the point where complete fuel starvation happens:http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/showpost.php?p=1048653&postcount=30
Whatever the tank capacity is, that's not how much fuel is actually available to the engine. 17.8 gallon fillup with a 18.5 gallon tank.
And the car dies quite suddenly, and you lose power steering without the engine turning.
My engine was still running there, but the needle was pretty much right at the point where complete fuel starvation happens:http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/showpost.php?p=1048653&postcount=30
Whatever the tank capacity is, that's not how much fuel is actually available to the engine. 17.8 gallon fillup with a 18.5 gallon tank.
And the car dies quite suddenly, and you lose power steering without the engine turning.
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28 Posts
Actually you can accomplish this in nearly exact detail :
Bingo!! Exact fuel available.
- Take 1 gallon small gas can, fill it, secure in trunk (sealed)
- Drive car until empty and engine quits from fuel starvation. (safe location from traffic, etc...)
- Dispense spare 1 gallon from trunk into tank.
- Drive to nearest fuel station and FILL tank, note gallons purchased.
- Add 1 gallon to that total, subtract .1 or .2 (fuel used to get to nearest station)
- Now you know how many gallons your tank holds and has available to the engine (useable fuel)
Bingo!! Exact fuel available.
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You just hope you don't get rear ended with a can of gas in the trunk which could turn you into a crispier critter. :banana:
It's not worth the risk in my mind.
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28 Posts
Good point. With all things, there are risks..... I just wanted to address the OP question with a possible solution. He (or she) stated the possibility of carrying a can to accomplish the goal. With that, he could find out the exact details he's looking for.
This could be mitigated by carrying your spare container after the "low fuel" light came on or something similar.
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