Comments on: Tank on Empty http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/ The Neat Side of the Web Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:40:26 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Slippy Lane http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/comment-page-1/#comment-394996 Slippy Lane Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:03:02 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/#comment-394996 Thanks for the clarification there Sid. Yes, my (ex-)mechanic is indeed a crook. As are most mechanics, in my experience. Not a problem for me any more as I've ditched the car and it's ever-increasing running costs. Thanks for the clarification there Sid. Yes, my (ex-)mechanic is indeed a crook. As are most mechanics, in my experience. Not a problem for me any more as I've ditched the car and it's ever-increasing running costs.

]]> By: Sid Morrison http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/comment-page-1/#comment-349149 Sid Morrison Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:44:34 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/#comment-349149 @Slippy- When you ran the diesel system dry you entrained air in the fuel system. That is the problem from which you are apparently still suffering, not crud in the system or anything that needs "cleaning" or "treating". System cleanings and the like indicate your mechanic is either a quack or a crook -- you need to have the system properly bled. @everybody else- The trait the blog post refers to is in industry typically called "reserve" or "empty reserve". Essentially, they purposely miscalibrate the fuel level senders to protect stupid people from running out of gas. How much a miscalibration depends upon the manufacturer, but it's all very intentional and all based on buyers like #5, who rate a car higher if it goes a long way when it is supposedly out of fuel. The same tricks are pulled for a full tank (except it's called "full reserve" there). A lot of buyers like that they can fill the tank and then drive around for a week with the gauge still above "F". Of course, suddenly it starts dropping really fast, but a lot of people don't get the connection, that it is a purposely miscalibrated gauge. My mother-in-law is *convinced* her car gets better fuel economy when the tank is full. Ugh... In a perfect world (for me), when the tank is truly full (usable volume) it would read "F" and when the gauge reads "E" it's about to sputter. It'll never happen because cars are now designed for idiots. @Slippy-
When you ran the diesel system dry you entrained air in the fuel system. That is the problem from which you are apparently still suffering, not crud in the system or anything that needs "cleaning" or "treating". System cleanings and the like indicate your mechanic is either a quack or a crook -- you need to have the system properly bled.

@everybody else-
The trait the blog post refers to is in industry typically called "reserve" or "empty reserve". Essentially, they purposely miscalibrate the fuel level senders to protect stupid people from running out of gas. How much a miscalibration depends upon the manufacturer, but it's all very intentional and all based on buyers like #5, who rate a car higher if it goes a long way when it is supposedly out of fuel.

The same tricks are pulled for a full tank (except it's called "full reserve" there). A lot of buyers like that they can fill the tank and then drive around for a week with the gauge still above "F". Of course, suddenly it starts dropping really fast, but a lot of people don't get the connection, that it is a purposely miscalibrated gauge. My mother-in-law is *convinced* her car gets better fuel economy when the tank is full. Ugh...

In a perfect world (for me), when the tank is truly full (usable volume) it would read "F" and when the gauge reads "E" it's about to sputter. It'll never happen because cars are now designed for idiots.

]]> By: Slippy Lane http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/comment-page-1/#comment-348814 Slippy Lane Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:53:21 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/#comment-348814 Little tip, if your car runs on diesel oil, don't let it run out of fuel. I let mine run out of fuel once, and it's never run right since, even after having the fuel system cleaned out and repressurised. Little tip, if your car runs on diesel oil, don't let it run out of fuel.

I let mine run out of fuel once, and it's never run right since, even after having the fuel system cleaned out and repressurised.

]]> By: Thomas http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/comment-page-1/#comment-348800 Thomas Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:42:20 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/#comment-348800 I get about 45 or 50 miles after the light comes on. First thing I do when I buy a used car is give it a quarter tank, drive until the light comes on, and clock how many miles it has until it craps out. I carry a spare 5 gallons of gas of course. Luckily I've never had a car that has to have the computer reset if it runs out of gas. I get about 45 or 50 miles after the light comes on. First thing I do when I buy a used car is give it a quarter tank, drive until the light comes on, and clock how many miles it has until it craps out. I carry a spare 5 gallons of gas of course. Luckily I've never had a car that has to have the computer reset if it runs out of gas.

]]> By: Courageous Grace http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/comment-page-1/#comment-348711 Courageous Grace Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:58:24 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/#comment-348711 My 04 Montero Sport will go for about 60 miles after the low fuel light comes on before it runs out of gas. But then of course, the light only means it has 4 gallons of fuel left. That's a little less than 1/5 of the tank...lol Apparently Mitsubishi makes cars for people who don't like to fill their tanks or something. According to that site, it is only supposed to go about 30 miles after the light comes on. The previous votes must have been for an older model. Heh, if I could only go 30 miles on 4 gallons...I'd be getting myself another car! Talk about crappy MPG! My 04 Montero Sport will go for about 60 miles after the low fuel light comes on before it runs out of gas. But then of course, the light only means it has 4 gallons of fuel left. That's a little less than 1/5 of the tank...lol Apparently Mitsubishi makes cars for people who don't like to fill their tanks or something.

According to that site, it is only supposed to go about 30 miles after the light comes on. The previous votes must have been for an older model. Heh, if I could only go 30 miles on 4 gallons...I'd be getting myself another car! Talk about crappy MPG!

]]> By: Skipweasel http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/comment-page-1/#comment-348710 Skipweasel Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:56:52 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/#comment-348710 Tricky. I put 50 liters in mine on Friday and it's covered just under 500 miles - and the needle isn't back to where it was before I filled up. Trouble is that parking it on a slope really upsets the gauge. Tricky. I put 50 liters in mine on Friday and it's covered just under 500 miles - and the needle isn't back to where it was before I filled up. Trouble is that parking it on a slope really upsets the gauge.

]]> By: cuimhne http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/comment-page-1/#comment-348675 cuimhne Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:42:20 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/#comment-348675 Apparently my car will go an average of 39.29 miles after the light goes on! Not bad :) Though I never let it run with the light on for long. Apparently my car will go an average of 39.29 miles after the light goes on! Not bad :) Though I never let it run with the light on for long.

]]> By: mikky http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/comment-page-1/#comment-348583 mikky Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:08:50 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/#comment-348583 just last saturday, the meter read 1/4 gas left. and my car stopped. so how far would i go? i'd say not very. just last saturday, the meter read 1/4 gas left. and my car stopped. so how far would i go? i'd say not very.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/comment-page-1/#comment-348380 Jeff Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:12:01 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/#comment-348380 I get nervous if my car goes below half a tank. Then again, I don't want to worry about gassing up in the middle of a zombie infestation. I get nervous if my car goes below half a tank. Then again, I don't want to worry about gassing up in the middle of a zombie infestation.

]]> By: Olaf http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/comment-page-1/#comment-348164 Olaf Mon, 17 Dec 2007 07:13:19 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/#comment-348164 makes me think of episode 11 season 9 of seinfeld when Kramer test-drives a car and convinces the car salesman that they should find out how far the needle will go beyond the E. makes me think of episode 11 season 9 of seinfeld when Kramer test-drives a car and convinces the car salesman that they should find out how far the needle will go beyond the E.

]]> By: Jon Anderson http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/comment-page-1/#comment-348154 Jon Anderson Mon, 17 Dec 2007 06:46:08 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/12/17/tank-on-empty/#comment-348154 When you put in a car that has had the same name for different models over the last 40 years, the data doesn't mean much. When you put in a car that has had the same name for different models over the last 40 years, the data doesn't mean much.

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