How far have you gone "Below the E"
10-02-2007, 01:11 PM
#1
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How far have you gone "Below the E"
I tried doing a search, but I couldn't find any successful results.
My question is that lately I've had to "push the limit" when it comes to putting gas in my DD 87 Trans Am. I just want to know how far (miles, time-wise) have you gone below the "E" mark (past the orange "warning" section) on the fuel level gauge, before you broke down or filled up. I'm talking about those times when your fuel is so low that when you make any sort of turn, your car stalls a bit, then you pray that it sips up whats left of fuel then keep going... I think I've gone about 20mi before I got the chance to fill up. I'm just curious to see how much I can "push" my luck in the future with a 305 TPI...
My question is that lately I've had to "push the limit" when it comes to putting gas in my DD 87 Trans Am. I just want to know how far (miles, time-wise) have you gone below the "E" mark (past the orange "warning" section) on the fuel level gauge, before you broke down or filled up. I'm talking about those times when your fuel is so low that when you make any sort of turn, your car stalls a bit, then you pray that it sips up whats left of fuel then keep going... I think I've gone about 20mi before I got the chance to fill up. I'm just curious to see how much I can "push" my luck in the future with a 305 TPI...
10-02-2007, 01:53 PM
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Re: How far have you gone "Below the E"
I don't believe my car has ever even made it to the "E" before...It really makes me angry when It is still a ways off from it and I start getting fuel starvation on hard Right turns. I have actually ran out and it still wasn't anywhere near Empty. My gauge must just be VERY inaccurate. The first half tank goes by very slowly but once I get past the half way its like there was only a gallon left. Pisses me OFF
10-02-2007, 07:08 PM
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Re: How far have you gone "Below the E"
yeah how far you can get will greatly differ from fbody to fbody... i know my car when filled up all the way is over 1/8th tank mark past the full mark. i never let it get all the way down to the E either, because of fuel starvation around turns....
damn 255lph fuel pump
damn 255lph fuel pump
10-02-2007, 08:40 PM
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Re: How far have you gone "Below the E"
It is not good to run your car below E for very long because the fuel pump is cooled by the fuel (when in the tank). When you run your car down on fuel the pump heats up and you could burn out your pump.
10-03-2007, 01:58 AM
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Re: How far have you gone "Below the E"
I agree, I don't try to go below the "E" but sometimes, I just can't help it. I've also heard that the fuel pump is cooled by the gasoline. And I also hate the fuel starvation turns... Normally I don't make excessive trips when I'm running low....
10-07-2007, 01:24 AM
#6
Re: How far have you gone "Below the E"
I could go quite a ways further with my stock pump when it started dying around a hard turn, but not since I put a Walbro 255 pump in. A couple of months ago, I turned a corner and the car started to die. I made it about 1 mile further before it died completely. Btw, my gas gauge was screwed at the time. Running out of gas gave me the motivation to drop the tank and replace the sending unit. It was a lot of work just to fix a stupid gauge though. 
My gauge also reads about 1/8 above full when I have a full tank, and it reads great throughout the range. I don't like taking chances though, I usually find a gas station pretty quick as soon as it gets in the orange zone. That Walbro really sucks the tank down to the last drop. When my buddy showed up with a gas can, it was like a puny little half-gallon can, and that's all it took to get it fired up and several miles to the gas station. Being a gear driven pump, the sound of it actually changes pitch when it starts to run dry.
My gauge also reads about 1/8 above full when I have a full tank, and it reads great throughout the range. I don't like taking chances though, I usually find a gas station pretty quick as soon as it gets in the orange zone. That Walbro really sucks the tank down to the last drop. When my buddy showed up with a gas can, it was like a puny little half-gallon can, and that's all it took to get it fired up and several miles to the gas station. Being a gear driven pump, the sound of it actually changes pitch when it starts to run dry.
10-07-2007, 02:36 AM
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Re: How far have you gone "Below the E"
Thats pretty interesting. Same thing here. My full tank is about another 1/4 about the "F" mark and it will stay there for a day or two before it starts to go down. I also get about 14gallons of gasoline on a seriously low tank. But I'm not sure if there is a problem with my gas gauge. I doubt there is since it seems to be pretty accurate...
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10-07-2007, 10:47 AM
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Re: How far have you gone "Below the E"
My gas gauge bottoms out at like the 1/8th tank mark and never moves lower then that.
10-10-2007, 07:40 PM
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Re: How far have you gone "Below the E"
I made the mistake of running to low on gas one time...I was broke at that time lol, but bad mistake made a turn to fast, and i burned up my fuel pump......Ill never do that again mine never sees below a 1/4 tank now
10-10-2007, 07:56 PM
#10
Re: How far have you gone "Below the E"
My guage reads 1/8 - 1/4 when it's empty. So I always fill up be keeping my eye on the odometer. My guage acts just like 90 white Z's guage, 1st half goes slow, from the 1/2 reading to needing fill up is quick, same or next day needing fill up.
Last edited by krisb410; 10-11-2007 at 08:58 AM. Reason: corrected spelling errors
10-10-2007, 11:45 PM
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Re: How far have you gone "Below the E"
I've also noticed that with mine, the first half is subtle, but the second half is brutal...
10-14-2007, 05:23 PM
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Re: How far have you gone "Below the E"
This will give you an idea.. .and it was right at the E.... Just figured the gas mileage wrong in my head... 
Worst part is I drove past 3 gas stations and then ran out in a parking lot full of people I knew... 
It is actually working better now than when I first got it. I was one of the fortunate few that was still able to get a recall tank replacement.. once they did that, it is actually accurate. Before It would be all but empty and still have 1/4 tank showing. More than likely the inaccuracies are just due to bad fuel sending units. The one in my 87 Corvette also took a crap. Left me stranded showing a quarter tank left. I just recently changed the sending unit and it's been accurate ever since.
Worst part is I drove past 3 gas stations and then ran out in a parking lot full of people I knew... It is actually working better now than when I first got it. I was one of the fortunate few that was still able to get a recall tank replacement.. once they did that, it is actually accurate. Before It would be all but empty and still have 1/4 tank showing. More than likely the inaccuracies are just due to bad fuel sending units. The one in my 87 Corvette also took a crap. Left me stranded showing a quarter tank left. I just recently changed the sending unit and it's been accurate ever since.
10-15-2007, 02:47 AM
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Re: How far have you gone "Below the E"
haha been there, done that (with another car)...
10-15-2007, 04:01 PM
#14
Re: How far have you gone "Below the E"
That's why it takes a white to get from FULL to 3/4. Not too long before you get to 1/2.. then a VERY short while it's moving to the 1/4 mark!