This is not quite correct. Since the filtration system is basically a canister, similar to a medium coffee can, it usually is full of fuel even when the tank gets below 1/4 full. A small portion of the pump could be exposed when the level got to a point where the intakes on the bottom of the cansiter could no longer intake fuel, but you are also minutes away from the vehicle dying due to lack of fuel.

It's a fun theory though.


And moodman...welcome to the forum!

 

I've seen the fuel filter on the delta body... it is in-line near the rear axle and loves to get clogged.

Car seem to be lacking power? Check your fuel filter... you'd be surprised.

 

Yup had a 86 Z28 305 TPI ran it close to empty on my way to the gas station. Heard a loud whine and then the engine coughed and died. That whine was the sound of fuel pump going out. I had enough momentum to manuever the car out of rush hour traffic and into a parking lot.

 

There is no in-line filter on an HHR.

 

So you're saying that the 1/4 full thing is a myth? Reason I ask is that I only fill my car once a month (whether I need it or not...).

Fred

 

Really now?

I'm gonna have to play around underneath this thing on the weekend and see exactly what's what. I had the impression that the HHR was just a Cobalt with sheet metal differences.

 

I think I said it is a theory. Everytime we pull a fuel sender out of a tank that we have drained the fuel out of, the canister still has fuel in it. Like I said you would have to get to a critical low fuel situation for fuel pump to not be submerged. A fuel pump straining to pull fuel into the canister would do the most harm to the pump.

 

Really.

 

I fill up around half a tank anyways. I can drive a little over a week on half a tank. Also I remember 9/11 and the east coast power outage.

Each time somthing big happens people line up for gas. Both times I had enough but if I was short I would have been out like many in line.

I guess I am a tank half full vs a tank half empty guy!

I always was taught the pumps needed Fuel to cool them and let them live. But things may have changed since the 80's and 90's. I did not know about no inline filter on the HHR. I too need to spend some timer under the SS.

 

Well there's your problem. You practically drove it into the ground. 100KMs... that's like 2.54 million miles or something?