Low gas light on, noticed engine cuts out at full throttle

D

dre99gsx

Member
Car
FX50
Anyone experience this? Not sure if this is a safety feature, but I had the low fuel light on, and attempted to gas it for kicks. At around 5000rpm or so, the engine just cut out completely, but after letting off, was back to normal. This happened everytime I tried to go full throttle.

Filled up the tank almost immediately afterwards, and problem was gone.
 
That's awkward, unless the newer generations come from the factory this way to limit rpm/throttle response, i think it might be a bad/contaminated gas, and you running empty sucked all of the bottom contamination hence why your engine stuttered
 
It's probably water which settles to the bottom of the tank. The fuel filter should have taken care of any contaminants. Pour a can or bottle of marine gas conditioner in with the next full tank of gas! I was going to say gas line de icer but I dont think that there is a lot of that available in FL (LOL)
 
Could be fuel sloshing back causing the pump to take in air. I did that in my STI at the track. Wideband reading went lean and car started detonating. Had to limp it to the pit, refueled and problem gone.
 
How low was it? It sounds like you were just running out of gas. Gas moves around and if it's low enough, flooring it may move it away from the fuel pickup. I think the fuel pickup is in the front. IIRC, when I idle on an uphill and gas is low, sometimes the fuel light comes on. Move to a flat area and it goes away.

I've seen it happen at the track as well. Everyone tries to go with 1/4 tank to reduce weight. A few runs in, some people run out of gas.
 
It would make sense that your engine would cut out with the low gas light on if you hit the throttle hard because modern fuel delivery is a closed system (unlike gravity fed in a carburated system). The computer should shut the engine down any time it detects a lack of fuel in the lines to protect the injectors from burning out.
 
When I filled it up, it took 21.5 gallons. I assume I was close to empty, but probably had 20 miles left. This wasn't a "rough stutter" or "low power" action, it was just like hitting the rev limiter: Instant loss of power even while gas pedal is down, only regaining power when I let off the gas. The car would barely start pulling before it happens. I could cruise around fine whilst getting to the gas station, but repeated attempts caused the same behavior.

If the system was low on fuel pressure, I would expect different behavior. It almost seems to be linked to the fact the low-fuel warning was on. Only thing I would ask if is anyone gets to the same point, give it a try... I have a 2009 FX50, about 36k miles.
 
That does sound like the rev limiter (which cuts fuel). Weird that it hits it at lower rpm when fuel is low. It may be a line pressure issue as someone else said. There may be a safeguard built in for when fuel pressure gets too low. It would make sense as you can damage your engine if you run low on gas near redline at full throttle. It would be the same situation as if you modified your engine and the fuel system can't keep up, basically running lean. At least with the total fuel cut it results in no combustion versus a lean situation due to inadequate fuel pressure.
 
I've also experienced this, only happens when the fuel indicator light goes on when low on fuel. I'd imagine its a smart system to do that, had a 1996 Cadillac DeVille that behaved the same way!
 
You floored it and the gas went to back of tank, and the fuel cut out. The intake for pump it towards front, if you go uphill on low gas it WILL cut out and you will get stuck. (happened to me) as soon as you get at 20 miles or less left in tank, get gas.

I am certain it is that, or maybe there is programming to not let you redline. Either way, get some gas.
 
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