i've been wanting to test the fuel capacity for a while now so i finally decided to do so....now the BOOK says its a 17 gallon tank on my '00 so going on that figure i wanted to test out how much mileage i can get when the fuel light comes on. I figured that with local street driving i cud get at least 50 miles......im up to 30 miles on it since the fuel light comes on, im 2 blocks away from the gas station n boom, car stalls...... luckily its on a hill so im able to roll myself in neutral right to the pump.....now the tank is completely EMPTY, and im only able to fill up 16 gallons? The book says 17 gallons, why was i able to only fill up 16 to the top, strange isnt it?? ....also the brakes HARDLY work with the engine off, i had to e-brake it

 

just speculation but, maybe its a 17 gallon tank but only allow you to fill up 16 gallons so there is air inside of the tank for pressure....just guessing

 

I usually fill up between the gas light coming on and the empty line

I was just about on the red line last night. Filled up and it took nearly 14 gallons (normal).

When I drove off the gas gauge only said 3/4 of the tank. It usually goes the whole way to the line and the repressurization takes it past the line. Later on in the trip (15 mins?) I noticed it was up to the full line. I definitely clicked the gas cap more than 3 times...

Weird

 

Guys...DONT DO THIS!!!
Correct me if I am wrong however, I have been told in the past that the fuel pump is located in the tank and the residual gas in the tank acts as a lubricant for the FP. I have been told more then once not to let your tank go that far below a 1/4 tank before filling back up again.

Let me know your thoughts...

Axe

 

I have never heard that. Maybe that does explain why the light comes on with nearly 3-4 gallons left.

 

Your Lucky! I`m surprised that you were able to started up, after your test. It could have cost some serious money.

 

gee i guess that would be because the power brakes don't work when the motor is off

 

PROPS goes out to ShadyVille for testing this out for the rest of us!!!! Kinda funny that you went all out on this one to answer the burning question we all have about how far you can drive after the light first comes on. In my car, when the light comes on i can only only get 13-14 gallons back in there.
As for the 1 gallon difference you experienced, what can i say except perhaps there was still a little gas rolling around in the tank and since you said you were on a hill, it might have rolled to the front of the tank where it might not have been sucked up by the fuel pump tube. Then there is the little bit still i the fuel line and fuel filter. All on all a great test.

 

As said here before it's a bad idea to let your tank get that low. The fuel definitely cools the pump so it doen't overheat and fail.

As for the capacity issue there was an old circle track racers trick of shortening the fuel filler tube in the tank that extends from where you put the gas in. The shorter the tube the less of an air pocket at the top of the tank and thusly the ability to put more fuel in. I strongly DO NOT endorse doing this on a late model car of any type.

 

no doubt I think we all understand the "dont try this at home" message, but since he already did the experiment for us, now we dont have to ourselves!

 

na i was on level ground when i stalled out and i was like right at the brink of a little hill so i was able to push it n let it roll down.....my 30 miles since fuel light could probably have been more since i had been using the climate control frequently n stopped a few times n let the car run while talkin to some friends, so all that eats up gas too, plus with local stop n go traffic didnt help much either, but i was disappointed i was expecting to get more than 30 from the fuel light

 

I've gone over 45 miles after the light came on (not intentional, but there was simply no service station open at the time it happened)

 

sofa king we todd did.

 

its safe to run it till the low fuel light comes on(far below 1/4 tank) ive gotten 63 miles HIGHWAY when the low fuel light came on before i stoped and filled up 15.3 galons