Cherokee Chat General non-tech Cherokee chat
XJ/MJ/ZJ/WJ
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: DashLynx

Running out of gas.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-18-2012, 03:09 AM
  #1  
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
 
PNWjeeper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default Running out of gas.

How bad is it to run your jeep so low on gas that it will not go any farther? This happened to me tonight. I tried getting it to the gas station that was still open by my house, and ran out about 3 miles from it, on the freeway, at 11:30 at night.
Old 06-18-2012, 04:01 AM
  #2  
CF Veteran
 
GreenClassic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 2,103
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Year: 1995
Engine: 4.0L
Default

It's not a good idea to drive with less than 1/4 tank. Any sediment in the tank can clog the filter. The fuel also keeps the pump cool. Driving while low on fuel too often can cause premature fuel pump failure.
Old 06-18-2012, 04:17 AM
  #3  
CF Veteran
 
Morat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North Riding of Yorkshire, UK
Posts: 1,431
Received 64 Likes on 54 Posts
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Of course, if you offroad regularly you'll stir up all the sediment and prevent a build up. Offroading is part of maintenance!
Old 06-18-2012, 06:10 AM
  #4  
CF Veteran
 
91 limited owner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Oshkosh, WI.
Posts: 4,118
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by PNWjeeper
How bad is it to run your jeep so low on gas that it will not go any farther? This happened to me tonight. I tried getting it to the gas station that was still open by my house, and ran out about 3 miles from it, on the freeway, at 11:30 at night.
Not the handiest situation was it. Especially at 11:30 at night.
Old 06-18-2012, 11:39 AM
  #5  
CF Veteran
 
Bustedback's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oroville, CA
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 0
Received 19 Likes on 18 Posts
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
Default

Originally Posted by GreenClassic
It's not a good idea to drive with less than 1/4 tank. Any sediment in the tank can clog the filter. The fuel also keeps the pump cool. Driving while low on fuel too often can cause premature fuel pump failure.
^^This. Make 1/4 the new empty, then you will not run out ever again. I plan on refueling at 1/4 tank for two reasons, #1 it's less of a hit to the wallet to fill up at a quarter of a tank than it is at dead empty, #2 Gives me some range to make it to the good gas station, instead of the closest one that is always over priced and waters down the gas.
Old 06-18-2012, 01:33 PM
  #6  
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
 
PNWjeeper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

I only put $20 in at a time because that gets me 17 mpg compared to the 13 I get with a full tank. Also my gas gauge is not reliable at all. With a full tank all the way to what I assume is 1/4 tank it's pinned to the screw. Under that quarter it will move from the screw all the way to the red and back to the screw.
Old 06-18-2012, 01:49 PM
  #7  
I WIN!
 
purplegrocerygogetter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Sunny CALIFORNIA :-p
Posts: 10,898
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1997
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: BIG! HUGE!
Default

Ahhh hell I do it all the time! Lol well I did, my guage is off 1/4 tank and I kept running out going home up the mtn I live on. Never could figure out why till I had fuel pump, filter and stuff replaced lol...
Old 06-18-2012, 04:43 PM
  #8  
CF Veteran
 
TheJerm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Flint/Asheville
Posts: 2,501
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
Default

Worst thing is over heating your pump and decreasing its life, then again I've had 3 XJ over 200K, never ran out of gas and never changed a pump
Old 06-18-2012, 05:01 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
zimdogg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 596
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Default

The fuel light comes on with like 5 gallons anyway... which is a quarter of a tank. It costs the same whether you fill it up when the light comes on, or you fill it up after you try to squeeze every last drop out of it, so you might as well fill it up before you run out of gas and eliminate the problem of being stranded on a damn highway at 11:30 at night 3 miles from a gas station. I mean, or you could go with your method and keep having bad nights... it's up to you I suppose.

And if you pull the "I'm too poor to fill my tank when the light comes on", then you need to go sell your jeep, buy a civic, get your life in financial order, and then start buying toys again.
Old 06-18-2012, 06:33 PM
  #10  
CF Veteran
 
NorCalJeep's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Santa Rosa, California
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Year: 1987 Comanche,1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L Renix
Default

I get terrible mileage and once i hit 1/4; I fill up too.
Old 06-18-2012, 09:59 PM
  #11  
Seasoned Member
 
wifin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Falls Church, VA
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
Default

I fill up with Plus and get about 60 more miles onto the tank.
Old 06-18-2012, 10:16 PM
  #12  
AoA
Senior Member
 
AoA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Brookfield, WI
Posts: 967
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.2L bored out 4.0L I6
Default

My Jeep bogs when i turn left when im at 1/4 tank lolololol
Old 06-18-2012, 11:50 PM
  #13  
CF Veteran
 
dogger15's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,339
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Model: Cherokee
Default

Originally Posted by AoA
My Jeep bogs when i turn left when im at 1/4 tank lolololol
Same
Old 06-19-2012, 12:01 AM
  #14  
CF Veteran
 
Turbo X_J's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: ☼ Blackhole Sun
Posts: 8,567
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes on 16 Posts
Year: My Jeep is a GMC
Default

Old 06-19-2012, 12:58 AM
  #15  
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
 
PNWjeeper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by zimdogg
The fuel light comes on with like 5 gallons anyway... which is a quarter of a tank. It costs the same whether you fill it up when the light comes on, or you fill it up after you try to squeeze every last drop out of it, so you might as well fill it up before you run out of gas and eliminate the problem of being stranded on a damn highway at 11:30 at night 3 miles from a gas station. I mean, or you could go with your method and keep having bad nights... it's up to you I suppose.

And if you pull the "I'm too poor to fill my tank when the light comes on", then you need to go sell your jeep, buy a civic, get your life in financial order, and then start buying toys again.
I'm not pulling the "I'm too poor" its a fact that (in my jeep) with $20 in the tank i get 17 MPG, compared to the 13 MPG with a full tank. Also with a full tank ($70+) i have to fill up again in 5 days, but two $20 tanks will last me at least a week ($40 for a week or $70+ for 5 days hmmm). MAYBE my driving habits are better with less fuel in the tank, but I'm going with the fact that there is less weight for my engine to try and pull around.

I wish i could get enough money from selling this to buy a civic or similar vehicle, I mean who wouldn't want all my awesome upgrades, like my suspension mod which consists of falling rear leafs, oh and the cracked header mod (one of my favorites). Or better yet the ever growing lifter noise mod, who needs to hear the exhaust when you can hear the internal engine components starting to fail. If this were my toy it would have been back in its box LONG before 11:30 at night.

Being 21 with a part time job (that i have held on to for 5 years), a gas guzzling jeep, a taurus that leaks every fluid you can possibly imagine and then some you couldnt, and having to support my lovely wife and 1 year old daughter, there really isnt much room for toys, or trips, or $70 in gas, or really anything other then going to and from work and paying bills.


Quick Reply: Running out of gas.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:55 AM.