It's not that I'm trying to push my luck.  I'd just like to know the "true"
meaning of the red area, and also what I can expect to be a reasonable range
on a tank.  Each time I've gotten a "new" used car, I've allowed myself to
run out of gas just to find out.  I'm getting older now, and besides, when I
did that, the internet and message boards weren't what they are today!
Thanks again.
Patti
****************************
On 5/21/07, joel walker <jwalker17@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> >I know this has a lot of variables, but in a 90 automatic, or
> >similar,
> > non-freeway driving, the only "extra" would be running the stereo
> > while
> > driving (No AC, fridge, heat, driver only, no passengers, no heavy
> > load,
> > etc,) about how far should you be able to go on a full tank of gas?
> > How far
> > into the red do you have to be to run out of gas?  Does a 90 Westy
> > automatic
> > have fuel injection, making it a bad thing to run out of gas?
>
> sadly, it all depends on your driving habits (jabbing the gas pedal or
> smooooothly easing it down) and the traffic (having to
> stop/go/stop/go) and the traffic lights (stop/go) and so forth.
>
> however, on a long trip, where you only stop to get more gas, i have
> made it 266 miles before i chickened out and filled up. that fillup
> took only 13.4 gallons ... so i COULD have made it farther, likely
> another 35-40 miles. so i MIGHT have been able to go 300 miles, but i
> would REALLY have been sweating, i think. ;) that was in a 91 carat
> non-camper automatic bus. and i usually try to fill up as soon as it
> gets below 1/4 tank, but that time i kinda pushed it and it was
> getting close to the red mark when i found a gas station. on that bus,
> when the needle hits the red, you've got only right at two gallons
> left and you'd better hope something is close.
>
> so i'd figure 19 mpg, conservative (likely to be slightly
> higher,depending on the wind and terrain), and that gives you a
> maximum-miles-before-choking-on-fumes distance of 304 miles. the
> conservative factor would likely get you another 15 miles or so, but
> to me that's pushing it too far. :(
> well, i don't like doing that ... did it once in a 4-speed 86 vanagon
> non-camper through Kansas ... did you know that there aren't that many
> gas stations on the interstates in Kansas!!??? i do NOW! :( ... and
> when i coasted into the gas station, i put 16.1 gallons in on the pump
> dial!!! (the tank ain't supposed to hold but 15.9 gallons!). i was
> REALLY sweating on that one. but i was still "young" and did many
> stupid things back then. ;)
>
> anyway, let's assume that we are intelligent folks ... and when the
> gas needle gets to 1/4 on the dial, we start seriously looking for a
> gas station ... that's 12 gallons (roughly) gone, at 19mpg, and is
> 228-230 miles or there abouts. at 60mph, that's four hours ... time
> for a break. :) even at 70mph, that's a little over three hours. time
> for a break. :)
>
> the question is:
> do you really want to push it another 30 minutes and 35 miles?
> is it worth the risk?
>
> my answer, fraught with hard-won wisdom of the ages, is no ... fill up
> now and be safe for the next three to four hours.
>
> but i'm still young enough to do stupid things every now and then. ;)
>
> good luck!
> unca joel
>