Only so much gas goes in tank

Granted, but it can be done with a little effort; think, "Hold my beer and watch this!". Given that the previous owner was a young man and young men are stupid (Having been one once, I can say this with some authority), it's possible that the tank sustained damage. Based on the details, it certainly sounds like a case of "missing volume", and on balance, I have to say, I think a dented, plastic tank is more probable than a half-million dollars worth of cocaine inside the tank...

 

Is it just me or does that sound like a fuel system related problem?

 

Combustion, yes. But the gas cools the windings in the pump. When you start running low and more gas than air (read AIR, not oxygen) gets into the windings it can cause the pump to start heating up and melting the inside of the pumps. Ever ran your garbage disposal without water? Its the same principle. Your tank isn't a vacuum cylinder... so there will be some sort of air inside the tank no matter what kind of system you have. Airplanes just recently started adding a system called OBIGGS to help alleviate this which sends nitrogen into the tank to remove the vapors and the oxygen inside to keep from the exploding when the tank is shot by someone or something.

Correct, engines tend to stop when there is no fuel. BUT, thats when there is no fuel. You can still have fuel in your tank and air getting into the system causing the initial hiccups of your engine, or sputtering, before you die. This allows air into the pump, causing the windings to burn up.

 

My 91 Camaro is like this. The fuel pump is activated two ways - during crank and by an oil pressure switch.

 

Hey OP, let me inspect your truck and maybe I can give you a nice offer for it.

 

Don't feel bad. I went to HS with a guy who had a hatred of oil. Any kind. Grossed him out. Finally killed his truck.

 

It was a gauge related problem that it had when I inherited it from an old lady. I'm insure if he ever ran it out of gas, but I doubt it. It was 5 years old at the time with only 5k miles on it. From talking to other ppl with Cavaliers, they all seemed to have a weird fuel gauge.

 

Where are you going with this? Are you suggesting that your fuel tank is going to explode if you run out of gas?

 

Did I say explode? But heat + fuel = higher potential for fire. Add in the fact impurities in the fuel could get into the pump/lines you have an even higher chance with repeated abuses of your pump for things to go very wrong. That is why they created the 3-8 gallon (my tundra has 8 gallon reserve) reserve in vehicles to prevent unneeded repairs or to prevent a catastrophic failure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWDFAPXsk9s

Link for those too lazy to research. I never said explode.

 

You promised you wouldnt tell anyone! Its icky and doesnt wash off easily.

Also, Go Mustangs.

 

Keeping a bike in your truck in case you run out of gas...

 

Haha ok. You are quite paranoid about this. I'd be interested to see a documented cause of a car fire caused by the fuel pump overheating because someone ran out of gas. I'm not saying it's impossible, it just seems unlikely.

 

No Paranoia. Just explaining WHY there was a safety reserve in the tanks of vehicles. People said it was stupid for them to have it, but they serve an actual purpose.

 

The system returns about half the fuel it pumps back to the tank the fuel travels right through the pump motor and all when the truck stops from lack of fuel so does the pump. GM pumps had little issues where the plugin connector for the pump (also located in the tank) fried no fires no explosions. The tank is non vented that's why it has a screw on cap there is not enough O2 to support combustion.

 

I don't know about anyone else but when the gas pump reaches about 17 gals. on a empty tank it shuts off. After that I usually can put another 2 gallons in. You got a trip gauge fill it and reset it repeat and compute the mileage.

 

Gauge went to E at 110 miles. I’m at another 110 miles. Will fill up soon. Probably no drugs in the truck. Wa wa waaaa

 

I image your float is broken. I believe its a whole piece to change if you wanted to.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...fuel+&+air,fuel+pump+&+housing+assembly,10147

 

What percentage of drivers actually run low or out of gas on a daily basis, I would assume a good amount Yet you rarely hear of a car fire, and on top of that, if this were such a deadly hazard ( running your tank low) the media would be all over it, there would be disclaimers in your manual, etc.

Your entire premise is conjecture.

 

Thank you much! I might just deal with it. I have a clock spring to handle next, and other small things I’m too embarrassed to mention since I didn’t notice them when I bought the truck.

 

You guys really need reading comprehension. I said THE REASON THAT MANUFACTURERS PUT IN THE FUEL RESERVE AFTER "E" IS TO PREVENT OR REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.

This is nothing new. Every manufacturer of any type of mechanical equipment does it. A fail safe to reduce dummies from being dumb at least 9/10 times. This is how it has been since metal gas tanks.
Done arguing though. Enjoy what you want to think. I don't plan on changing your minds on it.