Ruined fuel pump?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 27, 2007 | 07:26 PM
  #1  
phee's Avatar
Thread Starter
I got the Shifts
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,203
Likes: 231
Ruined fuel pump?

hey guys/girls the other day i ran my tl dry just to see how many miles i get out of a full tank (300 btw) and noticed that when i put about 15 bucks in my car it reports it to be half full and thats only about 5 gallons. i know for a fact that it takes about 50 bucks to fill my car up. does this mean that i have a crappy fuel pump? what could be the cause of this error?
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2007 | 03:35 PM
  #2  
Anachostic's Avatar
Safety Car
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,845
Likes: 145
I've had cars where the first half of the fuel gauge went slow, then it dropped like a rock in the second half, and I've had cars acting the opposite way.

It's just knowing your car and how it behaves. Better to know under controlled conditions. It's not the fuel pump; it's a float in the tank.
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2007 | 10:06 PM
  #3  
Rsoetidjo's Avatar
Rich
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 489
Likes: 5
From: Rockledge, Florida
Originally Posted by Anachostic
I've had cars where the first half of the fuel gauge went slow, then it dropped like a rock in the second half, and I've had cars acting the opposite way.

It's just knowing your car and how it behaves. Better to know under controlled conditions. It's not the fuel pump; it's a float in the tank.
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2007 | 12:27 PM
  #4  
phee's Avatar
Thread Starter
I got the Shifts
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,203
Likes: 231
Thanks for the info, you right, every car is different, i guess im just really paranoid because its a used car and i have no repair history on it. thanks
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2007 | 06:42 PM
  #5  
Dangling Unit's Avatar
10th Gear
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: In the Mountains
For one, you're getting horrible gas mileage. I get ~400-miles before the idiot light comes on. That's city and highway. The gas tank is 17-gallons, so you're only getting 17.6-mpg. Something is wrong.

Running your tank dry is extremely stupid and a good way to ruin your fuel pump. The pump uses fuel as a lubricant.
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2007 | 09:13 PM
  #6  
phee's Avatar
Thread Starter
I got the Shifts
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,203
Likes: 231
Originally Posted by Dangling Unit
For one, you're getting horrible gas mileage. I get ~400-miles before the idiot light comes on. That's city and highway. The gas tank is 17-gallons, so you're only getting 17.6-mpg. Something is wrong.

Running your tank dry is extremely stupid and a good way to ruin your fuel pump. The pump uses fuel as a lubricant.
thank you for being so understanding what do you suggest i do to get better gas mileage? i see no point in saying there is a problem when you cannot provide a solution
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2007 | 11:37 PM
  #7  
Rsoetidjo's Avatar
Rich
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 489
Likes: 5
From: Rockledge, Florida
Originally Posted by phee
thank you for being so understanding what do you suggest i do to get better gas mileage? i see no point in saying there is a problem when you cannot provide a solution
Tune up, change airfilter (if it's dirty), clean the injector, and the throttle body.
Might help the gasmileage.
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2007 | 08:31 AM
  #8  
Anachostic's Avatar
Safety Car
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,845
Likes: 145
Originally Posted by Dangling Unit
Running your tank dry is extremely stupid and a good way to ruin your fuel pump. The pump uses fuel as a lubricant.
This is the first I've heard that I've been stupid for years. I always run my tank to E and fill it. No reason other than habit and laziness, but I have heard unsupported statements that by running your tank to E you are helping keep sediment from collecting in your tank.

Let me correct that. This is the first time I've heard I've been stupid for letting my tank run to E. I am married, after all.
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2007 | 12:53 PM
  #9  
phee's Avatar
Thread Starter
I got the Shifts
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,203
Likes: 231
Originally Posted by Rsoetidjo
Tune up, change airfilter (if it's dirty), clean the injector, and the throttle body.
Might help the gasmileage.
Thanks, i really dont know how to cleant he throttle body, got a link to a Tut? and how much should a tune up for a 99 tl cost?

Originally Posted by Anachostic
This is the first I've heard that I've been stupid for years. I always run my tank to E and fill it. No reason other than habit and laziness, but I have heard unsupported statements that by running your tank to E you are helping keep sediment from collecting in your tank.

Let me correct that. This is the first time I've heard I've been stupid for letting my tank run to E. I am married, after all.
ive actually heard that before, something like its better to let small amounts of sediment go through in sections than have a huge clump fall in one day. but i guess keeping your car fueled above the halfway mark is even safer.
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2007 | 11:33 PM
  #10  
Rsoetidjo's Avatar
Rich
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 489
Likes: 5
From: Rockledge, Florida
[QUOTE=phee]Thanks, i really dont know how to cleant he throttle body, got a link to a Tut? and how much should a tune up for a 99 tl cost?

Use a throttle body cleaner or carburetor cleaner.
I'm always use carburetor cleaner.
"Tune up", you can do it yourself.
By some spark plug (I use NGK on 2 of my vehicles).
Summit should have it.
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...115+4294925143
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2007 | 11:36 PM
  #11  
Rsoetidjo's Avatar
Rich
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 489
Likes: 5
From: Rockledge, Florida
[QUOTE=Anachostic]This is the first I've heard that I've been stupid for years. I always run my tank to E and fill it. No reason other than habit and laziness, but I have heard unsupported statements that by running your tank to E you are helping keep sediment from collecting in your tank.

Running the gas to "E" it is not a good thing.
Cuz the fuel pump will suck the sand or small particles from the bottom of your gastank.
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2007 | 02:26 PM
  #12  
myTaLizaS3.2's Avatar
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,150
Likes: 11
Originally Posted by Dangling Unit
For one, you're getting horrible gas mileage. I get ~400-miles before the idiot light comes on. That's city and highway. The gas tank is 17-gallons, so you're only getting 17.6-mpg. Something is wrong.

Running your tank dry is extremely stupid and a good way to ruin your fuel pump. The pump uses fuel as a lubricant.

Well,

How many gallons is he pumping. Then you subtract that from 17 gallons. Then you can figure out how many gallons he's using to get 300 miles. I'm pretty sure he's not milking it all the way down to dry. When my gas light turns on, it's about 300 miles also. Then I put about 14.5 gallons. Which means, 300/14.5= 20.69/MPG. And I do a lot of city driving, with some highway.

You are getting great gas mileage. I wish I got that amount. And I agree, it's bad running your fuel pump to E.
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2007 | 02:30 PM
  #13  
myTaLizaS3.2's Avatar
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,150
Likes: 11
Originally Posted by Rsoetidjo
I always run my tank to E and fill it. No reason other than habit and laziness.
x 2
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2007 | 02:40 PM
  #14  
phee's Avatar
Thread Starter
I got the Shifts
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,203
Likes: 231
Originally Posted by myTaLizaS3.2
Well,

How many gallons is he pumping. Then you subtract that from 17 gallons. Then you can figure out how many gallons he's using to get 300 miles. I'm pretty sure he's not milking it all the way down to dry. When my gas light turns on, it's about 300 miles also. Then I put about 14.5 gallons. Which means, 300/14.5= 20.69/MPG. And I do a lot of city driving, with some highway.

You are getting great gas mileage. I wish I got that amount. And I agree, it's bad running your fuel pump to E.

well yea, i actually ran it until the "idiot" light came on and did the math for the rest, but i dont think a tune up will hurt, i have noticed that my car is starting to kind of tremble when im idling, its real Minute but i remember that i would forget it was on when i first bought it.
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2007 | 02:43 PM
  #15  
phee's Avatar
Thread Starter
I got the Shifts
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,203
Likes: 231
Talking

[QUOTE=Rsoetidjo]
Originally Posted by phee
Thanks, i really dont know how to cleant he throttle body, got a link to a Tut? and how much should a tune up for a 99 tl cost?

Use a throttle body cleaner or carburetor cleaner.
I'm always use carburetor cleaner.
"Tune up", you can do it yourself.
By some spark plug (I use NGK on 2 of my vehicles).
Summit should have it.
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...115+4294925143
which engine do i have? 3.2L/3210cc,
3.2L/3206cc,
3.2L/3260cc???
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2007 | 07:07 PM
  #16  
Dangling Unit's Avatar
10th Gear
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: In the Mountains
Originally Posted by phee
well yea, i actually ran it until the "idiot" light came on and did the math for the rest, but i dont think a tune up will hurt, i have noticed that my car is starting to kind of tremble when im idling, its real Minute but i remember that i would forget it was on when i first bought it.
Running it until the idiot light comes on and running it dry are completely different. "Running it dry" means the car stalls from lack of fuel. This will ruin the fuel pump. When the idiot light comes on, you still have 2 to 3-gallons left and is far from stalling.

And, on running the tank dry to "get rid of sediment," think of this logically: The fuel pump pickup assembly sits at the same place in the tank, regardless of the quantity of fuel. Therefore, it's going to suck in the same type and amount of sediment (if it even sucks it through the filter assembly at all) at any fuel level.
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2007 | 07:11 PM
  #17  
Dangling Unit's Avatar
10th Gear
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: In the Mountains
Originally Posted by myTaLizaS3.2
Well,

How many gallons is he pumping. Then you subtract that from 17 gallons. Then you can figure out how many gallons he's using to get 300 miles. I'm pretty sure he's not milking it all the way down to dry. When my gas light turns on, it's about 300 miles also. Then I put about 14.5 gallons. Which means, 300/14.5= 20.69/MPG. And I do a lot of city driving, with some highway.

You are getting great gas mileage. I wish I got that amount. And I agree, it's bad running your fuel pump to E.
I can't believe I'm replying to this. S/he said, "i ran my tl dry just to see how many miles i get out of a full tank (300 btw)..." Using reading comprehension, we deduce that that the tank is full (17-gallons), and he ran it dry (0-gallons). How many gallons s/he pumps has nothing to do with it, because the tank is full and is ran dry (nothing left in the tank and the car stalled).
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2007 | 07:26 PM
  #18  
myTaLizaS3.2's Avatar
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,150
Likes: 11
Originally Posted by Dangling Unit
"i ran my tl dry just to see how many miles i get out of a full tank (300 btw)..."
ahh, yes. I missed that. Well that would explain my explaination huh?

Originally Posted by Dangling Unit
I can't believe I'm replying to this.
And yes, I can't believe you did respond, because obviously I misread it. And from my explaination, if i did read it right, it's not that crazy of an explaination.

Originally Posted by Dangling Unit
Using reading comprehension, we deduce that that the tank is full (17-gallons), and he ran it dry (0-gallons). How many gallons s/he pumps has nothing to do with it, because the tank is full and is ran dry (nothing left in the tank and the car stalled).
Well, duh. That's obvious . Using some THINKING instead of reading comprehension, you will see that something is obviously wrong with his car to produce 300 miles full tank. Must not have been running it till' it stalls.
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2007 | 11:39 PM
  #19  
Rsoetidjo's Avatar
Rich
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 489
Likes: 5
From: Rockledge, Florida
Originally Posted by phee
which engine do i have? 3.2L/3210cc,
3.2L/3206cc,
3.2L/3260cc???
All tl have 3.2L.
I think the Type-S , same
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2007 | 10:47 AM
  #20  
acutee's Avatar
Drifting
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,153
Likes: 57
TL 3.2L (3210cc)
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2007 | 11:34 AM
  #21  
phee's Avatar
Thread Starter
I got the Shifts
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,203
Likes: 231
Originally Posted by acutee
TL 3.2L (3210cc)
thank you acutee, that was real helpful
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2007 | 11:23 PM
  #22  
Dangling Unit's Avatar
10th Gear
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: In the Mountains
Originally Posted by myTaLizaS3.2
And yes, I can't believe you did respond, because obviously I misread it. And from my explaination, if i did read it right, it's not that crazy of an explaination.
It's a good explanation, but irrelevant to the OPs comment.

Originally Posted by myTaLizaS3.2
Well, duh. That's obvious . Using some THINKING instead of reading comprehension, you will see that something is obviously wrong with his car to produce 300 miles full tank. Must not have been running it till' it stalls.
But, that's not what he said, and I'm not telepathetic.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
IBankMouse
1G TSX (2004-2008)
8
Jun 13, 2020 12:53 PM
joflewbyu2
5G TLX (2015-2020)
139
Oct 8, 2015 11:16 AM
Jboat
Car Parts for Sale
6
Sep 30, 2015 10:58 AM
Boraxo
1/2G MDX (2001-2013)
2
Sep 29, 2015 04:35 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:37 PM.