Miamicarfan

It happened to me last night.


I was driving down expressway. The highway had about 5 lanes going one way. I was in the middle lane. Speed limit is about 65mph.

I knew that i was low on gas. But I did not know i was so low. My trip computer is not working. Also, i had accidentally erased my total trip mileage. So did not know exactcly how long i had gone after the last fill up.

I still thought I had a couple of gallons left. This had never happened to me before.

As I was driving, I was playing the music loud. Hearing some great music by the way (Coldplay, "The Scientist")

Then I noticed that speed began to decrease. Since I had radio on, i was not able to hear engine and did not immediately know what was happening!!!

Then i shut down radio. I knew then.

It was terrifying!!!

People honking at me. Blasting by me. I gradually made it to the right emergency lane with my heart in my throat!!!

I will never run out of gas again.

On the bright side: In the event that this ever happens to anyone, you will glad to know that after someone came and put in a gallon of gas in the car, the car started right up!! On the first try as if nothing had ever happened!!!

I have been in cars in the past with friends driving that have runned out of gas. They never started back up on the first try after adding gas. The TSX is a great car. It was entirely my fault what happened last night. But it comforting to know that even when something messes up, it can quickly be put back on the road.

samnguyen

no not really, I always filled up my tank when it get down to .25 left, or whenever the light's on.

Ken1997TL

Hondas (and Acuras) have what I call 'idiot' gas lights. You usually have 2 or 3 gallons left from when the light first comes on.

psteng19

I was just about to ask how many miles left the MID reported, or how long you were driving with the idiot light on.

LuvMyTSX

I very rarely allow it to get below 1/4 tank remaining.

killerjonan

I almost ran out of gas years ago on a highway. The next exit was like a 5 minute drive, and luckily as I exit, I saw a Chevron so I just pulled up to it and filled up. Whew!

nj2pa2nc

no but close-in my travels I was in unfamiliar territory. I started looking for a gas station when it was down to a 1/4 tank. By the time I did find a gas station it was showing the low fuel message. When I travel from NC to NJ I make sure the gas tank is full, I then stop in Fredricksburg VA (easy off-easy on 95) to fill it up even tho I still have fuel and then when I reach my destination. Heading to NJ around the 21st. Visiting friends in Lockwood, NY first for a few days.

SoCaliTrojan

You shouldn't let your tank run too low. You never know when you'll have to jump into your car for an emergency. You probably won't want to have to stop for gas when you have to drive a family member or friend to the hospital, for instance.

Also, by letting the tank run low, you force the car to suck in "dirty" fuel at the bottom of your tank, such as sediments that might have come from a gas station's tanks while a gas truck was filling up the underground tanks while you were pumping your gas.

Honda/Acura does set the low fuel indicator to turn on way before it's actually needed so that idiots will go get gas and not get stranded at the side of the road. I think I can go about 70 or so miles with my heavy foot before I really need to fill up.

Personally, I fill up when the light turns on at my earliest convenience (if it turns on while I'm on my way to work, I fill up when I get out of work).

Ck98vteC

I had a similar almost out of gas scare a few months ago, but from what I have heard, (and this makes sense) running on empty causes added strain to the fuel pump, so I try to fill up right when the light comes on.

Tsx6363

i don't get why people say you suck dirt in from the bottom of your tank when you run low on gas.. doesn't the fuel get sucked in from the bottom anyway?

BluLabelCL9

iTrader: (1)

I was late to work one Sunday hopped in the car with the light on. Drove to Downtown NYC where I work Sundays and couldnt find a Gas station google on my phone gave me one that was closed down. I started to drive up west side hway and found one with 3 miles remaining as per the MID. Now I fill up as soon as I get a chance once the light turns on.

jskrobot

Does anyone know EXACTLY how big the tank is? I know the specs say 17.1 Gal, however I used to have a civic and it said the tank was 13.2 Gal and on more than one occasion I filled up 13.5...13.7...and at one time 14.6 GAL! Granted that was "topping" it off (putting in as much as I could) Just curious.

Ken1997TL

You're going to cause some serious damage to the fuel pump if you keep doing that.

Simba91102

Does it matter? I often run the tank pretty low (the low fuel light comes on with around 3.5 gallons left in the tank judging by my experience) to try and keep fairly fresh fuel on board (especially important with the crappy ethanol spiked excuse we have for gasoline that we have to use now). It seems to me that anyone who has been paying any attention at all should be able to judge pretty much how much gas in left in the tank based on the miles traveled since the light came on. Of course those of us that have a gas station on every corner (relatively speaking) have little worries compared to those that pass a fuel stop every 20 miles or so. This isn't rocket science folks......

darowa

The fuel pump is cooled by the gasoline in the tank. When the level is low the pump runs hotter (and heat lowers the reliability).

deepen03

I don't get people who run out of gas and end up stopping.. it's so stupid.. the empty sign means you have 2-3 gallons left.. so if you are driving more than 50 miles on empty, it's time to fill that sucker up!

azndoritos209

Pump as soon as the gas light comes on or meter barely hits the big E.

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

done it in the TL....i was trying to see how many gallons i have after the "E" light comes on and after the range goes to 0....

well you shouldnt do it as gas acts as a lubricant for the fuel pump and with no lubricant you are hurting the pump....

Also since your cars are all electronic when the gas runs out, the car turnf off and no electronics work...

the power steering becomes just steering
abs is off and the brake pedal tightens up


i knew the car was going to turn off so I was in the 3rd lane (4 lane highway) and the car turned off on me...taking it from the 3rd lane to the shoulder was a pain....

i had 2 gallons of gas sitting in my trunk, I put it in and was back on the road....

but the experiment paid off and i got this: