A Question I Hope I Never Need To Ask...

[Ross]

...but I'm asking anyway, just in case.
I'm not in the habit of running out of gas. In fact, I don't think I ever have. But, I have helped some folks who have.
Now in the old days, when a car ran out of gas and you added fuel to the tank, you saved a little bit to pour into the carb to kind of "prime" it.
On modern, injected engines, what do you do, if anything besides just adding gas to the tank?
Hope I never need to really know this, but as I often drive some long stretches in the country where gas stations aren't on each corner, it's something good to keep in the back of my head, just in case.

[Cheeseheadbob]

Put in gas, turn key and drive away. My car ran out of gas idling in the driveway. I put a couple gallons of 93 in the tank, turned the key and everything was back to normal.

[STLR FN]

I had it happen to me a few months ago. I put 93 in the tank, cycled the fuel pump 4X and then started her up on the 5th time. Fired right up.

[SID210SA]

What about air in the system?

[SergntMac]

What about air in the system?It's not a problem. The fuel system powers up with the turn of the key to the "on position" The starting ritual delays ignition a few seconds before allowing the engine to fire up.

[grampaws]

The electric fuel pump primes the system, in the run key position..
without cranking the engine over..
fuel still remains in the lines even when you run out, just no pressure
from the pump..As soon as you add gas it should start right up..
caution running ouy of fuel can damage the pump..fuel cools and lubes
the pump..do not leave key in run position without fuel in the tank..
Running out of fuel some diesel engines can be even more devastating..

Old mechanical pumps required the engine turn over..if it did not
turn fast enough or the pump was weak the fuel would not reach the
Carb before your battery would die cranking..priming the intake allowed
the engine to fire and turn fast enough to get the pump moving fuel..
and reduced excessive cranking,dead batteries and burned up starter motors..
Deisels would require you remove all the fuel filters refill and install them prime
the fuel system manually before even attempting a restart..

[Ross]

I figured that I'd get a lot of info on this pretty quick. Thanks as usual. :beer:

[Bigdogjim]

I figured that I'd get a lot of info on this pretty quick. Thanks as usual. :beer:

I really, really hope you never ever let it go the low!

[Ross]

I really, really hope you never ever let it go the low!

BDJ, after the "low fuel" thread awhile back, I've been a little more careful about how low I let it go! I learned a few things there.

[whoskal]

"The top half of the tank costs just as much as the bottom half to fill."

Quote: Grandpa whoskal