Consequences of running out of gas?

[jtexas]

I don't disconnect my fuel line at the end of the day because I don't want to run my motor without oil (premix). <br /><br />But I usually run it until tank 1 is empty before switching to tank 2. It coughs a couple times I shut it down, don't actually run til it stops. Am I doing any harm to my motor?<br /><br />thanks,<br />john<br /><br />p.s. in case it matters, it's an old 3-cyl OMC.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Consequences of running out of gas?

JT, Those motors are designed for that, and no harm will occur. Motors that have oil injection do not like to be run out of gas, since that ruins the gas-oil mix ratio.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Consequences of running out of gas?

Running that motor out of gas means youre out of oil too. At an idle it'll be somewhat forgiving but under a load the pistons really dont like that.<br /><br />A modern oil injected motor will sense the lack of fuel pressure and pump more oil. Specificaly to save the pistons.

 

[Ben Konopacky]

Re: Consequences of running out of gas?

jtexas; I hate running out of gas while fishing(always happens at an enoppertune time)not that it hurts the eng."I dont think so".But what I did was hooked two tanks in series ,one siphons into the other and no switching of tanks.no gas oder on hands,eliminates switching tanks...

 

[timfromfc]

Re: Consequences of running out of gas?

Ben, how did you hook the tanks up? It sounds like a great idea and would make my life easier!

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Consequences of running out of gas?

I added an in-line fuel flow meter a couple of years ago. I have two built-in 24 gallon tanks and now I know what I have left in the tank so I can switch before it actually runs out, but when there is very little fuel left. The gauge I have had 5% accuracty out of the box (I measured it), and I re-calibrated so it's probably even closer now. I switch at about 23.5 gallons<br /><br />Just another gadget to spend your boating dollar on, but I really like the one I have. It's a Standard Horizon, but is virtually identical to the Navman unit, as far as I can tell. I've written a review of this, which you can probably find with a search.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Consequences of running out of gas?

Ben, those aren't metal tanks, are they? If so I hope you have a ground wire connecting them to avoid any sparks from static electricity.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Consequences of running out of gas?

you have to ROW back home