Low Fuel Light.

[Draco-REX]

The low fuel light turned on when the fuel gauge showed almost empty (about 1/8-1/10). I hit a gas station within a mile. Letting the pump shut itself off, it had pumped 9.96 gal. So it's safe to say that the light turns on after 10 gallons, or 3.2 gallons remaining.

Another good thing is that means the tank still has about 1/4 left when the light comes on, even though it's below 1/4 on the gauge. So if you drive until the light turns on you won't risk the issues that come from running a fuel tank low between fill-ups.

For those interested, I had 260miles on my ODO and Trips. It was real nice filling up for less than $50.

[dsgerbc]

Yeah, mine came on for the first time also at about 3.? gallons. Per manual it should be at 1.8 gallons.

[Mr.Jay]

new manual or old tho?

[grst1]

I had the same experience today. Light came up - I drove 8 miles and pumped 10.9 gal. That's after 277 miles on ODO and ~$41 fill up!

Originally Posted by Draco-REX

The low fuel light turned on when the fuel gauge showed almost empty (about 1/8-1/10). I hit a gas station within a mile. Letting the pump shut itself off, it had pumped 9.96 gal. So it's safe to say that the light turns on after 10 gallons, or 3.2 gallons remaining.

Another good thing is that means the tank still has about 1/4 left when the light comes on, even though it's below 1/4 on the gauge. So if you drive until the light turns on you won't risk the issues that come from running a fuel tank low between fill-ups.

For those interested, I had 260miles on my ODO and Trips. It was real nice filling up for less than $50.

[Draco-REX]

Originally Posted by dsgerbc

Yeah, mine came on for the first time also at about 3.? gallons. Per manual it should be at 1.8 gallons.

Because of the long distances in the US, especially out west, they probably upped the point the light turns on so we'll have enough to reach the next gas station.

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by grst1

I had the same experience today. Light came up - I drove 8 miles and pumped 10.9 gal. That's after 277 miles on ODO and ~$41 fill up!

wow ive gone 320 miles without the light coming on yet im on my 3rd tank of gas and get the tail out quite often, i guess the auto is THAT much better on gas lol

[TPO]

Originally Posted by carbonBLUE

wow ive gone 320 miles without the light coming on yet im on my 3rd tank of gas and get the tail out quite often, i guess the auto is THAT much better on gas lol

Really not your friend anymore.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by carbonBLUE

wow ive gone 320 miles without the light coming on yet im on my 3rd tank of gas and get the tail out quite often, i guess the auto is THAT much better on gas lol

Grandma.

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by Toyotapartsoutlet

Really not your friend anymore.

Ahahaha

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Grandma.

Yeah 95 on the free way is grandma speeds lol

[AzFranz]

Originally Posted by Draco-REX

Because of the long distances in the US, especially out west, they probably upped the point the light turns on so we'll have enough to reach the next gas station.

In Arizona mine comes on when I fill up...lol

[Daemione]

If there's one thing I had to pick about what I hate the most about modern cars, it's the vagaries in the fuel gauge and low fuel light. Being able to drive 90+ miles on an "empty" tank? stupid.

When a gauge reads empty, it should be just that. EMPTY. As in, there isn't anything in it. No fuel. Dead on the side of the road.

Another reason I love my old Datsun. Fuel light turns on at an 1/8 of a tank, and when the needle reaches the bottom, the engine stumbles for 2 or 3 miles . . . then all done.

the issues that come from running a fuel tank low between fill-ups.

myth.

[eriktherod]

Being a fill-up procrastinator, I like the warning light when it's still within 50 miles of range left!

[86design]

327 miles doing 30.6 MPG MT $51 to fill up

[Staticfrost]

Do the cars have a range left on the ODO? (like the VW Golf's and most modern cars)

[blalor]

Originally Posted by Staticfrost

Do the cars have a range left on the ODO? (like the VW Golf's and most modern cars)

No. I really miss that. My wife hates that I play chicken with that countdown in my MINI. I love that after "0" it just goes to "--". Like it's saying "Ok, pal, I did everything I could; you're on your own, now."

[Zach]

Originally Posted by blalor

No. I really miss that. My wife hates that I play chicken with that countdown in my MINI. I love that after "0" it just goes to "--". Like it's saying "Ok, pal, I did everything I could; you're on your own, now."

Having just left my r56 for my fr-s I can relate. Just recently put almost 3k on a road trip and played that chicken game more than once. I felt like the "--" was a look of disapproval.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Daemione

If there's one thing I had to pick about what I hate the most about modern cars, it's the vagaries in the fuel gauge and low fuel light. Being able to drive 90+ miles on an "empty" tank? stupid.
....

I agree. Empty should be empty (or at least at the end of "usable fuel"). Some of it may be staged, but I just don't get the episodes of Top Gear UK where they will do a challenge, run the car "dry" but the gauge and then continue on sometimes for what seems like a hundred miles or more.

I understand why it's possible to fill a tank past "full", but the other end should be very easy to set correctly in the calibration.

[vividracing]

The reason the car shows empty but isn't, is to combat the wave of stupid people that run their cars empty and then wonder why it stalls in an intersection.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by vividracing

The reason the car shows empty but isn't, is to combat the wave of stupid people that run their cars empty and then wonder why it stalls in an intersection.

Yea, I realize that, but doesn't mean I like it. It should be labeled Empty (Sorta).

[vividracing]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Yea, I realize that, but doesn't mean I like it. It should be labeled Empty (Sorta).

I totally agree. However, majority rules... And the majority of people would be mad if their cars ran out of gas when the gauge showed empty. Sad, but true.

[HunterGreene]

Surprisingly, I am enjoying this thread. On my tC, the light comes on at about the same as the OPs (about 3.x gallons).

As far as calibrating it differently for different parts of the country, I doubt it. Its alot easier to just refill after the low fuel light comes on.

[Draco-REX]

Originally Posted by HunterGreene

As far as calibrating it differently for different parts of the country, I doubt it. Its alot easier to just refill after the low fuel light comes on.

My statement about calibration was about regions, not states. You're always closer to a gas station in Europe and Japan than you would be in some areas in the midwest.

So, second fill-up and I managed to time the light down to a 1/4 mile without trying. But this time I pumped 10.1 gal. So there is some variance, which may be in the pump shut-off (though I used the same pump at the same gas station). But 10gal is the safe bet.

This will be good to know when I attempt my usual run from OH to MA. I had it down to just two fill-ups (not counting the night before), but one stretch is pretty long. I'm hoping I can do it in just 10 gal but it's good to know I'll have 2 more to safely use if not.