DIC "Low Fuel" question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,608
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From: Long Beach California
DIC "Low Fuel" question
I've had my Corvette for a year, and a couple of times the DIC will indicate "Low Fuel". The remaining range will read 40 miles or so. Has anyone taken the range down to zero with the car still running? Have you ever had the gas needle down to the red? (I only want to know this in the event of an emergency, as I don't want to fry the fuel pump).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 974
Likes: 1
I've had my Corvette for a year, and a couple of times the DIC will indicate "Low Fuel". The remaining range will read 40 miles or so. Has anyone taken the range down to zero with the car still running? Have you ever had the gas needle down to the red? (I only want to know this in the event of an emergency, as I don't want to fry the fuel pump).
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,566
Likes: 6
From: Land of 10,000 taxes
When the DIC says fuel low, you have at least 2 1/2 gallons left. Driven sanely, you should have no problem driving 50+ miles.Actually it is more like 65-70. But you are running the risk of running out at that point.
I know this because I have driven mine down several times to near empty and once did run it dry. No, it will not fry the fuel pump.
I always do this with every car I own. For one thing, in racing I often want to have the absolute minimum necessary. Another is that I take trips out west and want to know because I don't want to run out in the middle of nowhere. You might say "well just fill it up before it gets there" yeah, try finding a gas station in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere, the alternative is to park and wait till morning. I have done that before when I didn't think I could get to another station.
The best thing to do is next time the DIC says low fuel stop right away and see how much gas it takes to fill. If it takes 16 gallons, that means you had 2 left, no?
I know this because I have driven mine down several times to near empty and once did run it dry. No, it will not fry the fuel pump.
I always do this with every car I own. For one thing, in racing I often want to have the absolute minimum necessary. Another is that I take trips out west and want to know because I don't want to run out in the middle of nowhere. You might say "well just fill it up before it gets there" yeah, try finding a gas station in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere, the alternative is to park and wait till morning. I have done that before when I didn't think I could get to another station.
The best thing to do is next time the DIC says low fuel stop right away and see how much gas it takes to fill. If it takes 16 gallons, that means you had 2 left, no?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 202
From: Long Beach California
When the DIC says fuel low, you have at least 2 1/2 gallons left. Driven sanely, you should have no problem driving 50+ miles.Actually it is more like 65-70. But you are running the risk of running out at that point.
I know this because I have driven mine down several times to near empty and once did run it dry. No, it will not fry the fuel pump.
I always do this with every car I own. For one thing, in racing I often want to have the absolute minimum necessary. Another is that I take trips out west and want to know because I don't want to run out in the middle of nowhere. You might say "well just fill it up before it gets there" yeah, try finding a gas station in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere, the alternative is to park and wait till morning. I have done that before when I didn't think I could get to another station.
The best thing to do is next time the DIC says low fuel stop right away and see how much gas it takes to fill. If it takes 16 gallons, that means you had 2 left, no?
I know this because I have driven mine down several times to near empty and once did run it dry. No, it will not fry the fuel pump.
I always do this with every car I own. For one thing, in racing I often want to have the absolute minimum necessary. Another is that I take trips out west and want to know because I don't want to run out in the middle of nowhere. You might say "well just fill it up before it gets there" yeah, try finding a gas station in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere, the alternative is to park and wait till morning. I have done that before when I didn't think I could get to another station.
The best thing to do is next time the DIC says low fuel stop right away and see how much gas it takes to fill. If it takes 16 gallons, that means you had 2 left, no?
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '11
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From: Newnan Georgia
[QUOTE=cadguymark;1582122415]When the DIC says fuel low, you have at least 2 1/2 gallons left. Driven sanely, you should have no problem driving 50+ miles.Actually it is more like 65-70. But you are running the risk of running out at that point.
I know this because I have driven mine down several times to near empty and once did run it dry. No, it will not fry the fuel pump.
Uuuuh this is not completely accurate. you can fry your pump if driven for multiple long periods without much fuel. The pump circuit is a continuous loop
And it has to have cool fuel to keep pump motor cooler to operate
Without the cooling effect of fuel its like running a dc motor in a dry ziploc bag its gonna get hot... thats why GM says do not run motor for long periods of time low on fuel your pump relies on the cool gas to keep motor running,.
I know this because I have driven mine down several times to near empty and once did run it dry. No, it will not fry the fuel pump.
Uuuuh this is not completely accurate. you can fry your pump if driven for multiple long periods without much fuel. The pump circuit is a continuous loop
And it has to have cool fuel to keep pump motor cooler to operate
Without the cooling effect of fuel its like running a dc motor in a dry ziploc bag its gonna get hot... thats why GM says do not run motor for long periods of time low on fuel your pump relies on the cool gas to keep motor running,.
Melting Slicks
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I've had my Corvette for a year, and a couple of times the DIC will indicate "Low Fuel". The remaining range will read 40 miles or so. Has anyone taken the range down to zero with the car still running? Have you ever had the gas needle down to the red? (I only want to know this in the event of an emergency, as I don't want to fry the fuel pump).
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,566
Likes: 6
From: Land of 10,000 taxes
[QUOTE=grayline;1582122583]
that might be a consideration but my experience says otherwise, going east across northern New Mexico my gas was low, anyone familiar with the area can tell you there isn't a gas station to be found, I coasted down into Taos and got gas, temp was near 100 and I certainly didn't want to run out of gas, but what are you gonna do? I had calculated I would be fine and was. If I remember correctly the car took 17.4 gallons, IOW, it had at least 12 miles of gas left.
I have done this numerous times, except for the one time I ran out(close to home, I actually wanted to run out and had prepared for it with a can of gas) the most I was ever able to stuff in after thinking I was near empty was .4 gallon, IOW, I had about 10 miles left to bone dry.
Also have done this in racing conditions, when oil temp is in 240's and low 50's. You'd think if it needed gas to cool, mine would have burnt up by now.
When the DIC says fuel low, you have at least 2 1/2 gallons left. Driven sanely, you should have no problem driving 50+ miles.Actually it is more like 65-70. But you are running the risk of running out at that point.
I know this because I have driven mine down several times to near empty and once did run it dry. No, it will not fry the fuel pump.
Uuuuh this is not completely accurate. you can fry your pump if driven for multiple long periods without much fuel. The pump circuit is a continuous loop
And it has to have cool fuel to keep pump motor cooler to operate
Without the cooling effect of fuel its like running a dc motor in a dry ziploc bag its gonna get hot... thats why GM says do not run motor for long periods of time low on fuel your pump relies on the cool gas to keep motor running,.
I know this because I have driven mine down several times to near empty and once did run it dry. No, it will not fry the fuel pump.
Uuuuh this is not completely accurate. you can fry your pump if driven for multiple long periods without much fuel. The pump circuit is a continuous loop
And it has to have cool fuel to keep pump motor cooler to operate
Without the cooling effect of fuel its like running a dc motor in a dry ziploc bag its gonna get hot... thats why GM says do not run motor for long periods of time low on fuel your pump relies on the cool gas to keep motor running,.
I have done this numerous times, except for the one time I ran out(close to home, I actually wanted to run out and had prepared for it with a can of gas) the most I was ever able to stuff in after thinking I was near empty was .4 gallon, IOW, I had about 10 miles left to bone dry.
Also have done this in racing conditions, when oil temp is in 240's and low 50's. You'd think if it needed gas to cool, mine would have burnt up by now.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,409
Likes: 129
From: Fairview Heights IL
I used to test this limit every month on a round-trip from Panama City FL to St. Louis. The low fuel warning would appear just north of Birmingham AL. If I had a 3-gal container in the back I would have been braver. I never was able to add more than 17.1 gal when I finally wussed out. 
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From: Houston TX
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Meridian ID
Well, I am a believer...
We had a Yukon that we had run very low on fuel and about a half mile from the gas station after filling it up it died... yep, dead fuel pump...
I think this issue is more likely to happen on higher mileage vehicles but I make sure and keep at least a quarter tank in my vehicles now... not fun sitting on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck...
Gary
We had a Yukon that we had run very low on fuel and about a half mile from the gas station after filling it up it died... yep, dead fuel pump...
I think this issue is more likely to happen on higher mileage vehicles but I make sure and keep at least a quarter tank in my vehicles now... not fun sitting on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck...
Gary
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From: God's Country, ID
The C6 fuel assembly has a fuel sensor reservoir, aka bucket, surrounding the turbine pump to keep the pump emersed in fuel at all times. Your car will run out of gas before it kills the pump.
By running the fuel low consitantly you are more likely to suck crap into the filter over time rather than kill the pump.
By running the fuel low consitantly you are more likely to suck crap into the filter over time rather than kill the pump.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 940
Likes: 1
From: Long Island NY
The C6 fuel assembly has a fuel sensor reservoir, aka bucket, surrounding the turbine pump to keep the pump emersed in fuel at all times. Your car will run out of gas before it kills the pump.
By running the fuel low consitantly you are more likely to suck crap into the filter over time rather than kill the pump.
By running the fuel low consitantly you are more likely to suck crap into the filter over time rather than kill the pump.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 80
Likes: 18
From: New Hampshire
At 40 miles to empty the DIC displays Low Fuel is the result of a Law suit.
At 40 miles to empty the DIC displays Low Fuel is the result of a Law suit.
A class action law suit (settled now) went thru the courts Chrysler had a recall as part of the action. Now all manufactures no longer display miles to empty after 40 miles remaining.
Some drivers did not get 40 miles and ran out of gas several accidents occurred and Lawsuits were filed forcing manufactures to change the DIC's to read LOW Fuel
A class action law suit (settled now) went thru the courts Chrysler had a recall as part of the action. Now all manufactures no longer display miles to empty after 40 miles remaining.
Some drivers did not get 40 miles and ran out of gas several accidents occurred and Lawsuits were filed forcing manufactures to change the DIC's to read LOW Fuel
Last edited by Ford John; Oct 20, 2012 at 06:24 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
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From: San Clemente CA
[QUOTE=grayline;1582122583]
I've seen it.
When the DIC says fuel low, you have at least 2 1/2 gallons left. Driven sanely, you should have no problem driving 50+ miles.Actually it is more like 65-70. But you are running the risk of running out at that point.
I know this because I have driven mine down several times to near empty and once did run it dry. No, it will not fry the fuel pump.
Uuuuh this is not completely accurate. you can fry your pump if driven for multiple long periods without much fuel. The pump circuit is a continuous loop
And it has to have cool fuel to keep pump motor cooler to operate
Without the cooling effect of fuel its like running a dc motor in a dry ziploc bag its gonna get hot... thats why GM says do not run motor for long periods of time low on fuel your pump relies on the cool gas to keep motor running,.
I know this because I have driven mine down several times to near empty and once did run it dry. No, it will not fry the fuel pump.
Uuuuh this is not completely accurate. you can fry your pump if driven for multiple long periods without much fuel. The pump circuit is a continuous loop
And it has to have cool fuel to keep pump motor cooler to operate
Without the cooling effect of fuel its like running a dc motor in a dry ziploc bag its gonna get hot... thats why GM says do not run motor for long periods of time low on fuel your pump relies on the cool gas to keep motor running,.
I've seen it.
Racer
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 407
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From: Newnan Georgia
TSB#334-128 Fuel systems ending in ESFO are Electronic Solenoid Free Operated with TLG systems free floating pump with inner screen, use Pt#01667th-45 for replacement.(Do not Run Long Periods W/O Fuel) Fuel is used for cooling
