Remaining Fuel when your vehicle shows “E”

[The Critic]

It was pretty close to “E” - 8 miles remaining. Tank capacity is 17.1 gal so the rumored 4 gal reserve is accurate. The Grand Highlander Hybrid folks have the option of getting a software update for a revised logic, but no such option exists for the TX500h folks.

How much fuel does your vehicle have remaining when the gauge is at Empty?

 

[tbm5690]

I can't remember the last time I've driven below a 1/4 tank. Not even sure what my fuel light looks like.

 

[Highboy]

I can't remember the last time I've driven below a 1/4 tank.

You must not have kids!!!

 

[Hall]

We've ran our Grand Highlander down to ~15 miles to empty and could only fill it up with 12 gallons (in the time we've owned it, we've never gotten more than 12.x gallons in). The manual refers to 2.6 gallon reserve but reality is, the meter is calibrated way off. We had the s/w update applied, though there's no real way for owners to confirm it happened. The range when we dropped it off was the same as when it got picked up. It's going in on Thursday for the 12.1" infotainment screen recall and I spoke to the service advisor about re-applying it. I think we'll put a post-it not with the remaining range before on the dashboard.... That's odd that the same update isn't available for the Lexus version.

 

[MNgopher]

2016 F150 with a 36 Gallon tank. Usually when the low fuel light comes on (50 miles range remaining) I can shove about 32 gallons in the tank... Last night I had 7 miles remaining and put just under 34 gallons in...

 

[The Critic]

I can't remember the last time I've driven below a 1/4 tank. Not even sure what my fuel light looks like.

Used fuel system cleaner for the first time - wanted to use up as much of the mix as possible before refilling.

 

[IndyIan]

I think about 2 gal, ~8L on Impreza, 56L tank. I figure I've got about 50km left of safe hwy range when the light goes on. Not that I want to use that, but the odd time I haven't looked at the gauge in a while and the gentle bing and yellow light is a surprise! Often I can save $5 filling up at the right station, so I might as well go there, if I still have a safe gallon to burn.
The one time I had to hyper-mile for real(shut car off going down hills, etc...), to get to the next little town with a station open on a Sunday night, so I try not to do that again!

 

[Chris142]

Somewhere just west of phx in the FJ. 12 miles from the time the light came on until I had to walk to the next exit and bring back gas in a can.

Wife was not amused.

 

[I<3oil]

CR-V usually stops at 11gals when on E (supposedly 14gal tank)
Ody usually 14-15gals (19.5 gal tank)

 

[SevenBizzos]

"Get gas light" usually means I go another 20-40 miles before filling. I figure I have 2-3 gallons left.
I've made it to 0 miles remaining before.

 

[spasm3]

Reminds me of a Seinfeld episode with Kramer!

 

[BurrWinder]

This is going to be judgemental, but I have never understood this ?! Esp. from a group like this. This is coming from a technician and consumer standpoint. I can understand VERY OCCASIONALLY running your road vehicle very low, but as a rule for the health of your fuel pump, safety of running out on the road, etc it should NOT typically get that low. I can also sort of understand if you are time or cash strapped to be running low, but if you do that all the time - it will be more costly with the issues it can cause. You are going to need fuel ANYWAY why always wait until this is an issue ? Doesn't even have to be a full fill... But topping up to prevent this ! Just my .02 $

 

[The Critic]

This is going to be judgemental, but I have never understood this ?! Esp. from a group like this. This is coming from a technician and consumer standpoint. I can understand VERY OCCASIONALLY running your road vehicle very low, but as a rule for the health of your fuel pump, safety of running out on the road, etc it should NOT typically get that low. I can also sort of understand if you are time or cash strapped to be running low, but if you do that all the time - it will be more costly with the issues it can cause. You are going to need fuel ANYWAY why always wait until this is an issue ? Doesn't even have to be a full fill... But topping up to prevent this ! Just my .02 $

Refer to post #4 in this thread. This is a unique application.

 

[BurrWinder]

,

 

[Quattro Pete]

The Crosstrek has a 16.6 gal tank. Gas light comes on when MTE shows about 50, but after it goes down to 20, it stops showing a number and just displays "---". I went about 15 more miles after that "---" came on, but was only able to put in 15.5 gal at that point.

 

[KrisZ]

My Grand Caravan is pretty accurate, but not very conservative.
It has a two stage low fuel indicators it seems. First is the low fuel message on the LCD display, that usually pops up around 45-50 miles left according to the display. Then around 20 miles left, a red low fuel symbol is displayed and the distance to empty is replaced by Low Fuel message. At this point it takes about 18.5 gallons to fill it up, out of a 20 gallon tank. But I have had few instances where I filled up just shy over 20 gallons

The CHR is overly conservative and usually takes 9-10 gallons out of a 13.2 gallon tank.

 

[JeffKeryk]

In the old days my car was generally on "E" and I drove all over. 1/4 tank meant full baby! My trunk's 2 gallon gas can got a lotta use.

 

[MNgopher]

This is going to be judgemental, but I have never understood this ?! Esp. from a group like this. This is coming from a technician and consumer standpoint. I can understand VERY OCCASIONALLY running your road vehicle very low, but as a rule for the health of your fuel pump, safety of running out on the road, etc it should NOT typically get that low. I can also sort of understand if you are time or cash strapped to be running low, but if you do that all the time - it will be more costly with the issues it can cause. You are going to need fuel ANYWAY why always wait until this is an issue ? Doesn't even have to be a full fill... But topping up to prevent this ! Just my .02 $

Is it so odd to have driven a vehicle for almost 150,000 miles at this point and to have at least once drained the tank to this point?

One thing I like with the large tank on my truck is I can essentially tanker fuel in and out of places with expensive fuel and then fill up when fuel is cheap again... (Example: fishing in Ontario- most people fuel up at the border before entering to save money on gas. I can fill up, then drive back out all while taking advantage of less expensive fuel in the US.

I'll also note I only ever drag it down to the low fuel light when I'm in an area with plenty of stations around (ie: not far to fillup). When I'm in the boonies, the math changes...

 

[Pterostylis]

My car doesn’t have a low fuel light.
The tank is about 10.5 gallon and the only time the needle got near empty it took about 8.5 gallon.

 

[barryh]

As has been said it's not a good idea to run a tank empty so I suspect the manufacturers build in some safety margin such that there is more fuel even when the gauge reads empty. I routinely fill up as soon the low fuel light comes on which is supposed to be at 5 litres but the amount I'm able to get in the tank suggest there is more like 8 litres litres in there when the light comes on.