PSA: Why You Shouldn't Drive Around On Empty

[deserteagle56]

Here are several reasons I don't let my vehicles get below 1/4 of a tank here in northern Nevada:

It's not just that it is so far between gas stations...when you get to that next station it may be out of gas or otherwise out of commission. You'll not have a choice of gas stations to choose from, and the next station is also a long ways away. So if you are going to drive rural Nevada, keep that gas tank full!

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[NewbJLUOwner]

Because of this thread, I filled up today
Im usually diligent, but she was getting down to 1/4.
Plus I'm an Eco-Diesel owner. Added Hot Shots every fill up
40,000 awesome miles @ 25mpg's ish so far love it

 

[Left Field]

Has anyone happened to lay eyes on one of our JL fuel pumps or maybe have some good pictures?

Don't know if its the same concept, but my ZJ fuel pump assembly consisted of an open top reservoir with the fuel pump inside the reservoir.

The pump had two stages; the first was to draw (and scavenge) fuel from the bottom of the tank to fill the reservoir. Excess fuel collected would just spill over the top back into the tank. The second stage pumped fuel to the engine from the reservoir. The pump was always submerged in fuel within the reservoir, even with minimal fuel levels. The intent of the design was to reduce the chances of fuel starvation while on steep terrain.

No idea if this is what the JL does, but I'd be interested to know how it works with our long narrow fuel tanks.

LF

 

[Ratbert]

Here are several reasons I don't let my vehicles get below 1/4 of a tank here in northern Nevada:

It's not just that it is so far between gas stations...when you get to that next station it may be out of gas or otherwise out of commission. You'll not have a choice of gas stations to choose from, and the next station is also a long ways away. So if you are going to drive rural Nevada, keep that gas tank full!

It's even more anxiety-inducing when you drive a diesel.

 

[Zandcwhite]

Here are several reasons I don't let my vehicles get below 1/4 of a tank here in northern Nevada:

It's not just that it is so far between gas stations...when you get to that next station it may be out of gas or otherwise out of commission. You'll not have a choice of gas stations to choose from, and the next station is also a long ways away. So if you are going to drive rural Nevada, keep that gas tank full!

The Jeep has a ~240 range on 39s. 179 miles between stations I'm getting gas at both and still well below 1/4 tank for part of the trip. It's not like we don't all have smart phones in our pocket that will not only tell you exactly how far the nearest stations are but it will even list price on Google maps. If you drive past one of those "next gas x miles" signs on a 1/4 tank than you deserve to run out

 

[Deleted User 38384]

yeah but, but, how will I look cool if I don't stop my jeep at the pump, and lean back on it with the boot on the tire?

Even Kid Rock knows how it is, pulling up to the gas station not even a minute into the song...

 

[Deleted User 38384]

It's even more anxiety-inducing when you drive a diesel.

I just like the fact that they have diesel but not gasoline. I can look the other way for the $100 authentification charge. They'll reimbursed at least $50 of that in my EcoDiesel. I'd be laughing at all the broke down gassers all the way to the next fuel pump!

 

[SWFL-JL]

Thank you for this thread. I had many laughs reading through it this morning!

 

[Ratbert]

The Jeep has a ~240 range on 39s. 179 miles between stations I'm getting gas at both and still well below 1/4 tank for part of the trip. It's not like we don't all have smart phones in our pocket that will not only tell you exactly how far the nearest stations are but it will even list price on Google maps. If you drive past one of those "next gas x miles" signs on a 1/4 tank than you deserve to run out

It's pretty fucked up that on interstates they tend to put those signs after the exit with gas.

 

[deserteagle56]

It's not like we don't all have smart phones in our pocket that will not only tell you exactly how far the nearest stations are but it will even list price on Google maps.

That may work for an area where there is a lot of traffic so people leave reviews. Doesn't work worth a darn in these one-pump towns in the middle of nowhere. That first pic I posted of the pump out of gas - I had checked that morning and the app showed the station open and the price also. WRONG! Luckily I was carrying a couple cans of extra gas and was able to get to the next town. Pump in that next town looked just as beat up as the pump in the pic but it did have gas. What the guy who ran the place didn't have was a way to use a credit card. I had to pay cash.

 

[deserteagle56]

It's even more anxiety-inducing when you drive a diesel.

Around here diesel is generally easier to find than gas. This is ranching/farming/mining communities and everyone drives a turbodiesel pickup.

 

[Ratbert]

The Jeep has a ~240 range on 39s. 179 miles between stations I'm getting gas at both and still well below 1/4 tank for part of the trip. It's not like we don't all have smart phones in our pocket that will not only tell you exactly how far the nearest stations are but it will even list price on Google maps. If you drive past one of those "next gas x miles" signs on a 1/4 tank than you deserve to run out

We've had those discussions when we're in those parts of the country. We eventually agreed that we'll not let it go below half when our there, even with our diesel. Otherwise you'll give yourself an ulcer.

 

[Trails]

Here are several reasons I don't let my vehicles get below 1/4 of a tank here in northern Nevada:

It's not just that it is so far between gas stations...when you get to that next station it may be out of gas or otherwise out of commission. You'll not have a choice of gas stations to choose from, and the next station is also a long ways away. So if you are going to drive rural Nevada, keep that gas tank full!

Can you indicate the exact locations of some of these signs, especially the one that says Next gas 179 miles? We love driving out in those remote areas (As long as we have enough fuel!). But have never seen a sign with "next gas" signs that are quite that far away. I think about 110 miles is the farthest we have seen. It would be fun to find a few like the ones you posted. Thanks!

 

[Zandcwhite]

It's pretty fucked up that on interstates they tend to put those signs after the exit with gas.

Well if you're too dumb to make a uturn... you still get what you deserve. We all have a miles to empty guage that's accurate enough that you should know your 1/4 tank won't get you 179 miles.

 

[Heimkehr]

Filling up at every reasonable opportunity saved our bacon whilst on a moto-camping tour in Nova Scotia. The interior of that province is considerably more rural/isolated than the brochures suggest, and the road signage is hit-or-miss throughout.

We had just topped off the bikes' tanks at a literal "Last Gas for 67 kms" station when, minutes later, we missed an important turn that wasn't sufficiently marked. It took a bit of time before we realized our fumble, but backtracking was no factor because of our habit of keeping as much Go Juice on board as practical.

For anyone interested, that was on a portion of the Fleur-de-lis Trail.

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