If you run LOW (not out ) of fuel is that really bad for your electric fuel pump?

If you let them run too low there is a possibility of sucking sediment into the fuel sock that is around the inlet to the pump. But this happens at or near empty. Letting it go passed 1/4 isn't going to hurt it. Like I said it's when you let it get down to running on fumes that you start sucking gunk into you fuel sock.

Alltho a drain back situation could indicate a leak in the fuel system somewhere that should be checked. So please be careful.

Since the fuel pumps are now located in the gas tank itself, and not out in the open under the motor where they used to be, the fuel in the tank has to be used to cool the fuel pump, much like air moving past the fuel pump when it was near the motor. When the tank gets near empty, no way to keep the fuel pump cooled. This is hard on the fuel pump and causes premature wear. My '98 Toyota fuel pump rarely gets "uncovered" and is still going strong in it's 12th year. Also, the brand of gasoline has a part in the life of a fuel pump. Cheaper gas has much more sulfur compounds which is hard on the fuel pump and the fuel level sending unit.

Fuel pumps rely on the fuel in the tank to keep it cool, so it does not "over heat".When you run your tank low, the pump runs warmer than it typically should which does degrade the preformance/life of the component.Also running it low, increases the chances of the pump picking up sediment that lays on the bottom over the years which would clog the pump or fuel filter.

When your fuel gets low, your fuel pump has to work harder. When it works hard for long enough, it could damage your fuel pump. I would go with the advice your in-laws and keep your fuel level above 1/4 tank. You will have yo replace those fuel pumps, but look into other problems as well, if you take your cars off road alot, you may want to replace the fuel filter as well.

Not usually just low, however, since the fuel cools the pump motor - to run completely out can and many times, does, cause the pump to overheat and fail.

Keep the filters changed. A clogged filter will overload the pump.

you are right - running it low does not really hurt the pump- but keep in mind one thing- when it gets that low there is more of a chance to pick up all the garbage in the bottom of your tank- and there is a lot there-

. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . ,.-‘". . . . . . . . . .``~.,

. . . . . . . .. . . . . .,.-". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ."-.,

. . . . .. . . . . . ..,/. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ":,

. . . . . . . .. .,?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\,

. . . . . . . . . /. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,}

. . . . . . . . ./. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,:`^`.}

. . . . . . . ./. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,:". . . ./

. . . . . . .?. . . __. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :`. . . ./

. . . . . . . /__.(. . ."~-,_. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,:`. . . .. ./

. . . . . . /(_. . "~,_. . . .."~,_. . . . . . . . . .,:`. . . . _/

. . . .. .{.._$;_. . ."=,_. . . ."-,_. . . ,.-~-,}, .~"; /. .. .}

. . .. . .((. . .*~_. . . ."=-._. . .";,,./`. . /" . . . ./. .. ../

. . . .. . .\`~,. . .."~.,. . . . . . . . . ..`. . .}. . . . . . ../

. . . . . .(. ..`=-,,. . . .`. . . . . . . . . . . ..(. . . ;_,,-"

. . . . . ../.`~,. . ..`-.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..\. . /\

. . . . . . \`~.*-,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..|,./.....\,__

,,_. . . . . }.>-._\. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .|. . . . . . ..`=~-,

. .. `=~-,_\_. . . `\,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\

. . . . . . . . . .`=~-,,.\,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . `:,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . `\. . . . . . ..__

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .`=-,. . . . . . . . . .,%`>--==``

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _\. . . . . ._,-%. . . ..`\