your opinion on sometimes riding on "E"

[chris07]

Your opinion on letting your audi run on "E" or as i call it the red zone.

A lot of people say its bad but then some other people say its different for the newer cars such as our audi's.

Im asking for others opinions because i sometimes have no choice but to run on "E" or in the "red zone" and i hate doing it but being 17 and being broke some days and not wanting to ask pops for gas money since he bought me the car.

[Papachristou]

bad idea... you seriously bought an audi and cant afford to put fuel in it? im sure you run 87 too...

when you run on E, you are more likely to suck up the debris in the bottom of the tank, clogging filter sooner and eventually killing your fuel pump = $500 problem.

and your fuel pump is partly cooled by the fuel as well so running on E is once again not good for it

[B6JoeS4]

think its fine. Audi would never build a car that could break down just from runing it on E

[passatkid]

think its fine. Audi would never build a car that could break down just from runing it on E

Most cars use the fuel in the tank to cool the pumps, there is also the debris arguement, cars really aren't made to run on low fuel.

[Papachristou]

its not going to kill it if you do it once in awhile but i always (try) to keep mine above 1/4. if the OP has trouble keeping gas in it, i dont see how it gets oil changes or any other repair work done...

last summer i was broke and ran my on E a lot and my fuel pump went after a month, may not be related but i would try to keep it a little more than that

[[email protected]]

Good call, if you can't afford the gas, maybe you should ask pops for a cheaper car. At least that way, when the fuel pump does go out, you can replace it for cheap.

Running on 'E' puts unnecessary strain on the fuel pump. Just like redlining your motor everywhere you go, it's more likely to go out sooner. Simple cause and effect really.

[JMRQuattro]

i'd probably go with the rule that putting gas in when your car beeps at you is probably a good idea. I wouldn't run it to the very last drop, but i'm with you. Sometimes i just want to make the tank last as long as possible. Sometimes i can get away with a couple of days worth of getting to school and back

[manhertm]

Damn, I don't fill my car up until the gas symbol comes on. I'm just lazy like that though. Never had a problem with my B5 Passat, which had over 120K when someone creamed it. Sounds like Audi's fuel pump is more of a problem than letting your car run on E. Just my two, but I won't know until I know. 103K and counting.

[chris07]

I usaly can afford it just not at this time as im moving my work to a different location. I do put supreme everytime dont care if i can only afford 2 gallons of supreme il still get it. All the maintenance is done right oil changes everything is good i never cut anything short. Just wanted to know some opinions on riding on "E" i havent done it a lot but i did get caught doing it a couple of times these past two of months.

[4Rings3Liters]

You'll be fine doing it occasionally.

[Molotov]

+3? lost count for the fuel cooling your pump and debris. just don't do it, it's easy to avoid, and don't put that 87 or 89 crap in there if you already do.

[A4TUNE]

the only time i fill my car up is when the yellow gas light comes on, which is when there is about 30-40 miles left to the tank. thats a good 2 gallons left i'm sure thats not a problem at all.

[jon102034050]

just be safe and fill it up.

[MikTip]

bad idea... your fuel pump is partly cooled by the fuel as well so running on E is once again not good for it

The B6 A4 Audi fuel pump is 100% cooled by the gasoline in the tank.

[trueno429]

ive been riding in the red for over like a year now..since im only 18 and make my own money for everything like gas..and only pay gas using cash. i know its terrible for the pump/filter but ive had no problems. k.o.w

[demea]

Thats a goofy idea. Its like asking "opinions on driving into a wall??"

In an emergency, sure...but on a regular basis??

Go get a civic.

[boravr6]

2 good reasons to keep it over 3/4 since you live up north.

1. Keeping an empty tank in the winter with the fuel warming up from cooling the pumps, you cause condensation in your fuel tank. The gas filter will do its job for a while, but water is heavier than gas so if your always on empty... eventually your gonna hit the "E" but you will be sucking on water by then.

2. Say your driving in winter and a big snow or ice storm hits and they shut the roads down. You might be stuck on the side of the road for hours. And you realize your on "E" and will only get heat for the next 30 min instead of a full tank keeping you warm all day / night.

Example 2 is extreme but living in the northern states... that shit is very real. Just fill'er up every time its at 3/4. Will only cost you a few bucks at a time.... might help your budget.

[lookaught]

2 good reasons to keep it over 3/4 since you live up north.

1. Keeping an empty tank in the winter with the fuel warming up from cooling the pumps, you cause condensation in your fuel tank. The gas filter will do its job for a while, but water is heavier than gas so if your always on empty... eventually your gonna hit the "E" but you will be sucking on water by then.

2. Say your driving in winter and a big snow or ice storm hits and they shut the roads down. You might be stuck on the side of the road for hours. And you realize your on "E" and will only get heat for the next 30 min instead of a full tank keeping you warm all day / night.

Example 2 is extreme but living in the northern states... that shit is very real. Just fill'er up every time its at 3/4. Will only cost you a few bucks at a time.... might help your budget.

I've run out of gas in a snowstorm before. I actually sputtered to a station but it was closed at 7pm!! The next station was about a mile away and I ran out of gas halfway there. Luckily the person who lived in the house right where my car stopped gave me a gallon from a tank in his shed (lawnmower 87 octane lol) but it got me to the next gas station.

In fact, both times I've run out of gas the very first house I knocked on gave me gas for free and refused payment. I guess there are some nice people still out there afterall...


I still let it get to E before I fill up. That way I make less stops at the pump. I've never had and issue with the pump in this car or my previous S4. I probably average 15.5 gallons per fill.

[davidlizard]

Poor guy!!! Do the math!! Fill up your tank once, when you hit the 3/4, you refill it, it cost you a cheap 10$. and do it every time you hit the 3/4. Just asume the 3/4 of your tank is saving, somekind of bank account.
By the math you should also know, that the real cost of fuel consumption is the mileage and not the quantity you carry in your tank...
You could also put a "E" sticker on the 3/4 line....

[[email protected]]

I like the sticker idea...ha!

My thoughts are this: With a lighter tank of gas, you can reach higher levels of fuel efficiency (i.e. less weight). That's why I only kept 1/4 in my 93 celica GTS, it was always the most fuel efficient. In my Audi though, I always keep 1/2 tank and then I'll put more in once it reaches 1/4. That why I am maximizing efficiency and not risking the life of my fuel pump. It's a sound theory, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

It's always a good idea to 'act' as if the tank is empty, when it's not even close. Just spend the money once to fill it up, then you'll never worry about it again cause you'll only need $10 to keep it filled. There's my $0.02.

[akaEsCo01]

Poor guy!!! Do the math!! Fill up your tank once, when you hit the 3/4, you refill it, it cost you a cheap 10$. and do it every time you hit the 3/4. Just asume the 3/4 of your tank is saving, somekind of bank account.
By the math you should also know, that the real cost of fuel consumption is the mileage and not the quantity you carry in your tank...
You could also put a "E" sticker on the 3/4 line....

That's not feasible for people that actually drive their cars. I drive about 65 miles a day to and form work, filling up every time i Hit 3/4 would be almost every other day and that is absurd. I fill up twice a week, at the beginning of the week and whenever it hits 1/4 tank or almost always before the gas light comes on.

[dewey527]

i just got back from a business trip on monday from Dallas and left my car at wallypark... when i picked it up it was on the E-last line i thought they did a ferris bueller's day off trip! i asked for the receipt and it was still on the same mileage when i dropped it off. i barely made it the three blocks to shell. ran fine on the way home, just hope nothing happens in the near future.

[davidlizard]

That's not feasible for people that actually drive their cars. I drive about 65 miles a day to and form work, filling up every time i Hit 3/4 would be almost every other day and that is absurd. I fill up twice a week, at the beginning of the week and whenever it hits 1/4 tank or almost always before the gas light comes on.

I agree with you! I say that for people who dont want to spend more than 10$ at the pump...cause they are 17 or 18....

[akaEsCo01]

I agree with you! I say that for people who dont want to spend more than 10$ at the pump...cause they are 17 or 18....

lmao, in that case I definitely agree with you. You gotta pay to play, I think fill up 90% of the time I stop for gas

[Papachristou]

Poor guy!!! Do the math!! Fill up your tank once, when you hit the 3/4, you refill it, it cost you a cheap 10$. and do it every time you hit the 3/4. Just asume the 3/4 of your tank is saving, somekind of bank account.
By the math you should also know, that the real cost of fuel consumption is the mileage and not the quantity you carry in your tank...
You could also put a "E" sticker on the 3/4 line....

lol, nice idea..... its funny how its easy to ride around on E but impossible to ride around on 3/4

[EUROaleksey]

im on... sort of a company gas.. I use company's credit card every time i fill up.. but more often i do it - more chances ill get caught and have an unpleasant conversation so since i bought my car, in 2006, ive ridden it to below E every time before i go to gas station.. Im talking a millmiter below the very first white mark line.. Tens of miles after 0 till empty shows on my dash...

i've heard that its bad for the car, but never gave it a thought... 40 bucks a week for 3 years is quite a buck.. and if i loose that privilidge i'd be much more upset than if my fuel pump went bad

if i didnt have this situation - then definately, 1/4 left - i'd go fill it up... and i recommend u do the same..... but just throwing it out there, been driving it to the last drop past 3 years and never had an issue...... Besides this one occasion, recently, but thats just cause i was way too hungover to check the guages before i started driving result:

[04_A4_1.8T]

i now fill it up when the gas light comes on and says 50 or so miles left... i have gone to e now 3 times and my car has died because of it... and i also had to get a new fuel pump... i learned my lesson the hard way... just fill it up when the light comes on and you should be fine...

[ProJect_*A4*]

^ same goes for me. I never really thought about it, in fact this is my first time hearing that keeping your tank at 3/4 is a good idea, especially about the heating factor. But i live in washington, it doesnt get horrible but it is cold in the winter, and i ride my car till about 20 mi. ive been at 0 several times and i always fill up after the fill up light shows up. Hopefully i wont have any problems in the future.. but look at that, learn something new everyday.

[Charles]

I had a Passat for 7 years prior to my A4 and almost every tank I drove it to til the needle was under the "E"..hell, I ran out of gas at least 3 times in that thing and my fuel pump never gave out.

It wasn't that I couldn't afford the gas, I just hate filling up.

[EYE4SPEED]

Saw that you were in NY... so it gets cold there right? In MI, I don't let the gas get below 1/4 tank for fear of it freezing. That combined with the "suck up all the sediments" in the bottom... These might be myths, but if you keep filling up at 1/2 tank, it is "cheaper" so maybe you can afford 1/2 tanks at a time.

Also, I only use Shell gas. Read it was supposed to run cleaner than other brands. Not sure if it is true...