Low Fuel Light.

[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" by 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.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by vividracing

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.

Yea, but they'd only do it once most lkely. In the end, I'm not sure how that is different then just showing it as "E" all the time (or at half tank). Anyways, its a pet peeve, nothing I can do about it, and I don't think about ever, except when I get into a conversation like this. I just have this thing about "iffy" measurements.

It probably also has to do with my aviation hobby. There, a tank is required to read E at the end of its usable fuel.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Draco-REX

....
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.

Hmmm, interesting since every one of my five fillups to date have ranged from 10.0 to 11.1 gallons and I've never had the low fuel light come on.

[Daemione]

If the low fuel light turns on with 3+ gallons left, awesome . . . In 99% of the developed world, that's MORE than enough driving range to get to a gas station. But the needle shoudn't read Empty when this happens. It should read 1/5 of a tank on this car.

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.

A wave of stupid people . . . that have been empowered by a wave of stupid gauges for the last quarter century. It's like setting your clocks 5 minutes fast so you'll be on time. Does that actually work for anyone?

Like Dadhawk mentioned, if all gauges were instantly and irrevocably reliable and accurate, it'd only take 1 instance of "oh shit whoops" and the problem would solve itself for the entire generation. And if it didn't work for some individuals . . . well, they lose (and deservedly so).


Ah, if I were supreme ruler.

[markmatley]

Originally Posted by 86design

327 miles doing 30.6 MPG MT $51 to fill up

Ditto here in HI. 324 mi, refueled 12 gallons, $50.50 at Costco gas. Yay!

[Laika]

The only time I ever got the fuel light to go on was also the cheapest fill up (perhaps of my life? damn cars with huge tanks) at $38


Something really fun about not spending $60 to go ~300 miles anymore

[TPO]

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.

Or fry the fuel pump.