Fuel light range

[pushrod]

So the fuel tank is 50L, but when I drove to the point where the needle was *exactly* at E, and the fuel light had been on for about 45km, I only put 45L in at the pump. Has anyone run their car right down to the wire, and confirmed that there's really about 50L in the tank?

I ask because the range of the car is not so great and I have some ambitious road trips I am thinking of doing. Yes, I know what a gas can is, and yes, I intend to get at least one.

[dentalprodigy]

Not sure about metric conversion but I believe the total fuel capacity is 13.2 gallons. For my first tank I tried to use every last drop of fuel to gauge the cars fuel economy and still ended up only using 11.449 gallons. My range was 315.8 miles on the first tank (95% city driving- non spirited driving) In the last 4 fill ups, the most fuel I've used on a tank has been 11.749 gallons.

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[Demandred7]

Found this, seems legit:

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2...-on-empty.html

[phobos512]

The shape of the fuel tank and location of the pickup will more than likely preclude you from ever getting every drop out of the tank.

[VacantSky]

It's really not good on the fuel pump to run the tank low. I normally fill up at the light (Which is normally 10-10.5 gallons -US), or the soonest gas station after the light comes on if I'm on a trip and I know the route. You're just encouraging premature wear/failure of components running it so low.

Just fill her up! You're going to have to anyways right? Just my opinion/advice.

Ken

[kbye]

Originally Posted by VacantSky

It's really not good on the fuel pump to run the tank low. I normally fill up at the light (Which is normally 10-10.5 gallons -US), or the soonest gas station after the light comes on if I'm on a trip and I know the route. You're just encouraging premature wear/failure of components running it so low.

Just fill her up! You're going to have to anyways right? Just my opinion/advice.

Ken

This. The "E" doesn't stand for "enough".
There are plenty of gas stations positioned across highways. Just start hunting when you're a quarter full and you'll be fine. No need to carry a gas can.

[Cope52]

I run down to the light on every tank of every car I've owned and have never had a failed or whiney pump. No harm.

I went 30-40 miles after the light came on and pumped in 12.3 gal.

When the light comes on I'm able to pump in about 11.4.

[jvincent]

Originally Posted by pushrod

So the fuel tank is 50L, but when I drove to the point where the needle was *exactly* at E, and the fuel light had been on for about 45km, I only put 45L in at the pump. Has anyone run their car right down to the wire, and confirmed that there's really about 50L in the tank?

I think either @Slick or @Pbrown documented his adventure with the fuel gauge last year.

I don't remember how low he got, but it was a lot lower than I would have been comfortable with.

[Dake]

Originally Posted by VacantSky

It's really not good on the fuel pump to run the tank low. I normally fill up at the light (Which is normally 10-10.5 gallons -US), or the soonest gas station after the light comes on if I'm on a trip and I know the route. You're just encouraging premature wear/failure of components running it so low.

Just fill her up! You're going to have to anyways right? Just my opinion/advice.

Ken

I really can't wait for this particular automotive myth to die - unfortunately I fear it never will.

We aren't knocking around in the old family Duesenberg or even something from the eighties. Modern car tanks are designed that the fuel pump will not cavitate unless you run the tank completely empty. The only exception might be if you are running at near empty on the track and the Gs slosh the tiny amount of gas out of the pocket.

Filling up when the light comes on will still have 2 to 2.5 gallons of gas left in the tank.

[VuDism]

one time when i was forced to, i took the car to a little bit below the E line...
Still had more than 1 gallon in the tank when i filled up

[jvincent]

Found the thread/post. My memory isn't that bad.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...71#post1305071

[civicdrivr]

Filled up yesterday, 31 miles after the light came on. 12.04 gallons.

The most I've ever filled up was 12.97 gallons. I don't know how far I went on the light, unfortunately.

[VacantSky]

Originally Posted by Dake

Modern car tanks are designed that the fuel pump will not cavitate unless you run the tank completely empty.

It's not cavitation. The fuel cools, and in some cases lubricates the pump.

[TM]

I ran 60 miles on the highway after the light turned on averaging an estimate of 30mpg. Switched to and filled up 12.65 gallons of E85.

When I switched back to 93, ran 35 miles after the light turned on average an estimate of 23mpg. Filled up 12.77 gallons of 93. It took another 5-10 miles before my fuel trims settled on my 93 tune, which aligns with the 13.2 gallon capacity pretty well.