gas light

[Hop]

I've been reading about fuel consumption and the gas light. I've never let my car get to the empty mark and I've never seen the low level light come on. So, I've been riding low just to see it. I've driven about 100 miles below 'e' and still no light. Just when does this freakin' light come on? I went out yesterday and got a gas can filled - just in case I run out of gas. The way that my luck has been going, my light is probably out.

[WestCoastSVX]

Have you ever kept track of your mileage per tank?

If you do, and then fill the tank to the top, you'd have a good idea of when the light SHOULD be coming on, and then when you are in danger of running empty.

I think the gas low light is supposed to come on with 2-3 gallons left, I forget the exact figure. My gas guage is completely out of whack and I think it's a common problem, it jumps around frequently and often reads empty even on half a tank (sounds like your problem right now). But the low fuel light is consistent on mine and combined with reseting the trip counter on each fill up, I always have a good idea of when I need to fill up.

[Crazy_pilot]

I go by my gauge. I watch the mileage as well, and it seems in the ballpark of where it should be. At fill-ups I put in nearly a full tank, so it must be close to correct. I think one of these days I'll put a can of gas in the trunk and drive the car till it runs dry, just to see how far it really does go.

[dcarrb]

Originally Posted by Hop

I went out yesterday and got a gas can filled - just in case I run out of gas. The way that my luck has been going, my light is probably out.

Fill-up the car's tank and subtract how much you pump from the capacity (18.5 gallons, I believe), then drive 'til the light comes on and refill, and you'll know precisely at what level the light is coming on. It's foolish to run the thing out of gas.

dcb

[LetItSnow]

The Impreza and friends have a 15.9 gallon tank, with a low fuel lamp that shows itself when there is ~2.4 gallons to go.

My SVX's low fuel lamp lights when I've got about 6 gallons left in the tank!

Naturally, it's much better to have a conservative gauge than one that says, "Whoopsie - you've got 3 miles to find a gas station!" This is pretty crazy, though!

[Hop]

Thanks for the replys. They all make sense. When I gas up, usually just a little above the empty mark, the car takes about 10 gallens. So it looks like I've got about a half of a tank to go before my light comes on or I run out. I just don't like running below E. My Dad always told me that 'You're never lost if you have at least a half of a tank of gas.' The wife doesn't think too much of this philosophy though.

[WestCoastSVX]

No such thing as "getting lost".

It's "alternate route research".

[Hop]

I like the "alternate route research". Well, my gas light finally came on. It was about 115 miles after the needle passed the line for empty. The needle was sitting about in the middle of the 'E'. When I gassed up, she took 15.71 gal - $47.89.