How low can you go?

[eglaisi]

Originally Posted by Zero Six LE

Your fuel pump needs fuel surrounding it to help cool it. If you run it too low on a regular basis you will likely shorten the life of the fuel pump. Why chance it?

exactly, I keep mine at a minimum of 1/2. Usually top it off when it gets 1/4

[HKYStormFront]

just fyi stuff here, i believe i read somewhere on another thread that the fuel light comes on at ~5 gallons left. at least on SE's and lower that don't have the DTE function on the trip computer. that seems about right to me as based on my average MPG, mine usually comes on right around there...x2 with Zero Six, keep fuel in that bad boy!!!

[perna]

The fuel pump only needs fuel going through it to cool it, so as long as your truck is running it is kept cool. Running out of gas and letting the fuel pump run will damage it.

Your fuel is pumped from the bottom of the tank, plus when ever you drive everything gets stirred up, the only way stuff in the tank will damage the pump is if the filter at the bottom breaks.

[Zero Six LE]

Originally Posted by perna

The fuel pump only needs fuel going through it to cool it, so as long as your truck is running it is kept cool. Running out of gas and letting the fuel pump run will damage it.

Your fuel is pumped from the bottom of the tank, plus when ever you drive everything gets stirred up, the only way stuff in the tank will damage the pump is if the filter at the bottom breaks.

You fail to realize that the fuel surrounding the pump aids in heat transfer. Fuel doesn't go throung the motor part of the pump and cannot provide any cooling of that section.

[perna]

So how is an external fuel pump kept cool?

[hanjob]

I've actually gotten it to do the blinky thing and then when you fill it, it tells you the amount you had before death, er.. before "empty" and I got it to zero once...

[Zero Six LE]

Originally Posted by perna

So how is an external fuel pump kept cool?

We're talking about electric in tank fuel pumps here. External fuel pumps are desiged differently.

[05XE]

The manual warns against driving for extended periods of time on a neary-empty tank. I forget where and the reason behind the warning, but I read it.