Premature low fuel light

[ntron1]

Mine consistently comes on when I have used 11.2 gallons. Like clockwork.

[Sarlacc]

Originally Posted by dtrop

It's generally not good to let your tank run close to empty....

Superstition or is there a good reason for this?

Anyway, the manual says
Low fuel level warning light
Remaining fuel
(Approximately 1.8 gal.
[7.0 L, 1.5 Imp. gal.] or less)

And 7 liters seems about right to me. I almost never fill up before the light comes on.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Sarlacc

Superstition or is there a good reason for this?

Petrol/gasoline keeps the fuel pump cool as the pump is actually bathed in fuel. Pump can run hot and eventually die when there's no fuel in the tank to cool it down during operation.

[DeeezNuuuts83]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

Petrol/gasoline keeps the fuel pump cool as the pump is actually bathed in fuel. Pump can run hot and eventually die when there's no fuel in the tank to cool it down during operation.

Also, when there is a lot less fuel in the tank, the fuel pump sometimes has to work harder, so it may wear out prematurely. Not anytime soon, but having a habit of driving with the low fuel indicator on for a while before filling up will take its toll eventually.

[Chauntalei]

Originally Posted by reeves

Get the torque app + elm 327 bluethooth OBD II reader (~$25), then you'll never have to guess ever again. http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...300#post588300

The fuel light comes on at exactly 2.4 gallons left every time for me.. that means you can go for another 70-80 miles if you cruise lightly.

I am totally doing this as soon as I get paid. I needed a good excuse for a Nexus 7!

[DoomsdayJesus]

Originally Posted by qoncept

I'm trying to hit 400 miles on a tank but I just can't keep going once that light comes on. The most I've put in is 11.2 gallons.

You could never tell by your Fuelly average

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

Petrol/gasoline keeps the fuel pump cool as the pump is actually bathed in fuel. Pump can run hot and eventually die when there's no fuel in the tank to cool it down during operation.

The fuel pump isn't in the tank, but yeah, that's pretty much how it works. Especially in high heat/high performance combos.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by DoomsdayJesus

...Like a pilot does, trust your gauges..

Just as an aside, the one gauge a pilot NEVER trusts is the fuel gauge. Legally (per FAA regulations) the only time the gauge has to be accurate is when the tank is empty. So, in theory, it can show full until the second the tank is drained and the engine cuts off.

[King Tut]

The fuel pump is located in a bucket that is full of fuel probably right up until the point you run out, so I wouldn't worry about running it down to the low fuel light or past. I put just over 12 gallons in mine on my way home yesterday. I hit the first gas station I found.

[Sarlacc]

Originally Posted by King Tut

The fuel pump is located in a bucket that is full of fuel probably right up until the point you run out, so I wouldn't worry about running it down to the low fuel light or past. I put just over 12 gallons in mine on my way home yesterday. I hit the first gas station I found.

Yup, so it's all just superstition. We've got modern cars, new cars, there's no reason why Toyota and Subaru would design a fuel pump that breaks if you run low on gas.

[qoncept]

Originally Posted by DoomsdayJesus

You could never tell by your Fuelly average

That one autox I did is killing me. 8mpg.

[DeeezNuuuts83]

Originally Posted by Sarlacc

Yup, so it's all just superstition. We've got modern cars, new cars, there's no reason why Toyota and Subaru would design a fuel pump that breaks if you run low on gas.

If you feel that way, then maybe you should never ever check your oil levels either, since by your reasoning there's no reason why Toyota and Subaru would design an engine that breaks if you run low on oil, should that ever happen.

[Sarlacc]

LOL That's funny :-)
Thanks for the giggle :-)

[Freetime]

Originally Posted by Sarlacc

Yup, so it's all just superstition. We've got modern cars, new cars, there's no reason why Toyota and Subaru would design a fuel pump that breaks if you run low on gas.

Especially since the owner's manual, which was written by Toyota and Subaru, specifically says NOT to run the gas tank low as it can cause engine damage.

[Sarlacc]

Originally Posted by Freetime

Especially since the owner's manual, which was written by Toyota and Subaru, specifically says NOT to run the gas tank low as it can cause engine damage.

No, it doesn't. Let me quote your manual for you.
"Engine misfires as a result of an empty tank could cause damage to the engine."
Note the word "empty". It has a different meaning than the word "low".

I never said that running the tank empty is a good thing, I say that it's perfectly safe to keep driving with the low fuel warning light on, as long as you fill up before you run out of gas.