"Erik" wrote in message
...

The trunk-mounted fuel pump, combined with the use of a regulator that
works by opening a bypass that lets fuel back to the tank, means you're
talking about a couple of seconds max if you just get in and start the
car without messing around with special procedures. You're not going to
burn out a starter motor or run down a battery.

You'd think so... but in the real world, it takes a good while. If you
just hop in and grind away, you'll grossly exceed the starters duty
cycle limits. It's rough on batteries too, and should the battery be
already partially discharged and/or it's very cold out, you may not get
it started.

Also keep in mind that system voltage is lower during starter operation,
and as a result fuel pump operation is handicapped to varying degrees...
further still slowing the fuel system bleed process.

Erik


The main problem is not the starter, but the fuel pumps. The high pressure
pump will fail shortly from running dry, and the one in the tank will fail
from being overheated.