Fuel Question

Submitted: Thursday, Jun 16, 2005 at 21:28
ThreadID: 23929 Views:1921 Replies:9 FollowUps:5
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Evening all

I normally get around 600km out of my tank when the light comes on then I go and fill up and there is still about 20l left in the main tank....all that is good and fine but today it's sitting on nearly 650 and no light and it's very close to the E, could it be that my light is blown or some how I get magically better fuel economy? I have not changed anything. What I did was filled up the sub tank and I am just going to keep driving and see what happens. Is this wise? or will I damage something ?
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Reply By: Exploder - Thursday, Jun 16, 2005 at 21:39

Thursday, Jun 16, 2005 at 21:39
Yeah if it is a diesel DO NOT let it suck the tank dry.
AnswerID: 116068

Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Thursday, Jun 16, 2005 at 22:25

Thursday, Jun 16, 2005 at 22:25
If it's a 3.0L diesel it won't be such a mission to start if you run it dry, the high pressure electronic fuel pumps get the pressure back up pretty quick, about 10-20 turns of the motor and it'll be away. Still not a very good idea though, getting all that air in the system etc.
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Follow Up By: D-Jack - Friday, Jun 17, 2005 at 06:17

Friday, Jun 17, 2005 at 06:17
...and crud from thebottom of the tank
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Reply By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Thursday, Jun 16, 2005 at 22:28

Thursday, Jun 16, 2005 at 22:28
If it is a rotary pump like on a 1hz then running them dry is like running your motor with no oil. People that whinch about the low sulphur fuel usually have been waiting for the engine to cough and sputter before changing over tanks
AnswerID: 116080

Reply By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Thursday, Jun 16, 2005 at 23:24

Thursday, Jun 16, 2005 at 23:24
It's a Petrol......what about the moment I notice that it's going to die......flick the switch to pump fuel from the sub back into the main??
AnswerID: 116090

Follow Up By: BenSpoon - Friday, Jun 17, 2005 at 12:48

Friday, Jun 17, 2005 at 12:48
I had the same idea in my petrol 80- only problem is it pumps at around a litre a minute from sub to main tank. I was cruising at 120km/h, hit the sub tank button when it started spluttering, and I eventually came to a complete stop and had to sit on the side of a country road for 5 mins for it to pump enough fuel, and then for another 30 sec or so cranking the engine to get fuel through.
if you have a solenoid that switches straight from main to sub instead of pumping, you'll be right, otherwise make sure you aren't in a rush to get somewhere.
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FollowupID: 371689

Reply By: muzzgit (WA) - Friday, Jun 17, 2005 at 01:00

Friday, Jun 17, 2005 at 01:00
Can't see a problem with what you want to do except to say it would be wise to replace the fuel filter in case you have sucked up some crap.

PS. continually cranking the engine with the starter motor can damage the starter. They are only made to crank for 2 - 3 seconds at the most. It is better to do it in shorter burts. Any fuel pumped up the lines will not drain back.
AnswerID: 116102

Reply By: Woobla (WA) - Friday, Jun 17, 2005 at 06:06

Friday, Jun 17, 2005 at 06:06
G'day Troll 81
I cant offer any explanation but find a simlar thing occurs with my unleaded work van.
Occasionally I will get an extra 40-50 km out of my tank. 95% of the time I get 350km/tank and then suddenly a bonus few kms. Same petrol station and most times same bowser...perhaps the guy mixing the fuels in Singapore adds more of the good stuff occasionally. The other side maybe that the station owner may not have watered down some batches of fuel?
Its got me? It cant be a mistake in putting Premium unleaded in because my van has such low compression that it hasnt make any difference when I have used it in the past.
All I can say is that I am glad that when it happens, the kms go up and not down!
I will be interested to hear if any one else has this occur.
Jeff

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AnswerID: 116104

Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Friday, Jun 17, 2005 at 14:24

Friday, Jun 17, 2005 at 14:24
If you are buying from an independant (gull, peak etc) you'll probally find that they have run out of their crappy imported fuel and have bought a few thousand litires from BP. Their tank farm has a direct pipe from BP's and they do this often.
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Reply By: Member - John C (QLD) - Friday, Jun 17, 2005 at 08:05

Friday, Jun 17, 2005 at 08:05
Filled up at the same place?
I find a difference between one gargae and another due to the slope of the drive way.
Leaning away from the pump gives another 10l in the Pajero long range tank :-)
AnswerID: 116108

Reply By: Troopy Travellers (NSW) - Friday, Jun 17, 2005 at 10:07

Friday, Jun 17, 2005 at 10:07
My troopy has a real accurate fuel gauge. When the needle is on empty, usually after 350Km blacktop driving, I still have 40 litres left in the tank. I've never been game to see if the empty warning light comes on!
Sparky
AnswerID: 116123

Reply By: Member - Miles (Vic) - Friday, Jun 17, 2005 at 14:43

Friday, Jun 17, 2005 at 14:43
Just fill it up, check the liters to fill vs kms travelled...keep a check of liters per 100 kms.
AnswerID: 116157

Reply By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Friday, Jun 17, 2005 at 20:35

Friday, Jun 17, 2005 at 20:35
The light finaly came on after 680kms...with still 20l left in the tank....I can only put this down to the change of temp, coz I have been doing night shift this week and I drive when it's dark and cold.....that is the only thing I can come up with
AnswerID: 116185

Follow Up By: Member - Duncs - Friday, Jun 17, 2005 at 21:59

Friday, Jun 17, 2005 at 21:59
Just when I was going to suggest that the light had probably gone. I know mine has....&*^U%!

Duncs
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