02 Forster sluggish at low fuel levels

[Sparky]

Noticing that my Forester can get really sluggish when the tank gets
near the "low fuel light" warning. After stopping and then
accelerating again, the car will balk, acting as if its out of gas,
(it will finally get going okay) when in fact according to the manual
there is still ike 2.6 gallons left.

 

[Edward Hayes]

Maybe you are running out of gas. How much are you able to put in your
15.6 gallon tank when the low light comes on? I only run my tank to
about 1/4 tank for safety reasons.

 

[Henry Paul]

From what I understand the inlet for the fuel pump does not go all the way
to the bottom of the tank. This might be to allow for dirt and water in the
fuel to settle and not get sucked into the fuel pump. So it is possible to
be out of gas and yet not be out of gas in the tank.

It is definitely possible during stop and go situations for the fuel to
slosh around in the tank, and at low fuel levels allows the possibility of
no fuel being present at the pump when accelerating or braking. It also
depends upon the location of the pump in the tank. It sounds to me like it
is near the front of the tank. So when you accelerate the fuel moves to the
rear of the tank leaving the pump to suck air. When acceleration levels off,
the fuel returns to the pump. This condition should become worse as the
level of fuel drops.

This is also very bad for the health of a fuel pump. Running a pump with no
fuel to it will burn it up pretty quick. My advice would be to find a
comfortable minimum level where you refuel regularly.

 

[AB7RU]

Thanks for the replies - I try to keep the tank full but my commute is
a bit long and sometimes I just get low - thanks for the help