How far can you go once your "Low Fuel" light comes on?

[BlueWeasel]

Obviously, it depends on the model and type of vehicle, but what's the "typical" distance before you run out of fuel. A guy at work tried to tell me that he go 100 miles before he ran out of fuel once the gage came on. That seemed a little on the high side.

I guess I could figure it out by seeing how big my tank is from the manual, fill up as soon as the light comes on, and determine the difference in gallons.

FYI, my ride is a 1999 Mercury Mountaineer.

 

[eLiTeGoodGuy]

40-50 miles in a 97 Ford T-bird

I don't really want to push it any further past that, or I'll be pushing the car

 

[Joemonkey]

i though it was usually between 25 and 50 miles

of course this depends on city/highway driving

 

[Heisenberg]

Drive until you run out of gas, and then subtract about 100 feet from how far it was.

 

[Eli]

It usually says in the manual how much fuel is left when the light comes on.

Then you can calculate how far you can go based on your MPG.

 

[NutBucket]

91 Accord

4 gallons left when the light comes on so about 100-120 miles.

 

[Corporate Thug]

depend on the car, i would guess there is still 2+ gallons left when the light comes on

 

[badluck]

I was bored one day and actually read the car manual. It said 2 gallons are left once the light comes on.

99 Honda CRV

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

I have no intention of ever finding out

 

[Spac3d]

Assume 2 gallons of gas are left.

 

[rgwalt]

Companies typically shoot for the warning light to come on when you have around 50 to 100 miles left.

Ryan

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: rgwalt
Companies typically shoot for the warning light to come on when you have around 50 to 100 miles left.

Ryan

Obviously, at highway speeeds. That 50 - 100 miles could turn into 25 - 50 pretty quickly in city driving.

 

[MichaelD]

2001 Trooper. 2.5 gallon reserve. 13MPG = 32.5 miles. When my idiot light comes on, I find a gas station FAST. :Q

 

[MeanMeosh]

i get 20 miles... or so they tell me.

 

[MrDingleDangle]

i can go about 60-80 miles

figured out by doing what u suggested

 

[Crimzon]

My light comes on with two gallons left, so being on the safe side that's 40 miles. If it's just highway coasting, that number will probably go up to 60. So to be totally safe, because I don't want crap getting into my engine, I try not to go over 25.

 

[Taggart]

BUT, don't do that. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe in modern cars fuel cools the fuel pump. Some sources say always refill at a 1/4 tank, some as high as 1/2. Most of the time if I'm close to a cheap station I'll try to fill up at a half tank.

If you push it to the light, you're decreasing the life of your fuel pump!

 

[conjur]

It's varied over time in my 96 Sebring JX. Used to be about 2 - 2.5 gallons (about 60 miles). Then, at one point, it was about 1/2 a gallon. Now it's about 1.5 gallons.

<shrug>

 

[kindest]

my beamer can do about 50 miles, the low fuel light comes on at exactly
when my DTE is 50 miles and then the countdown begins.

 

[Anubis]

My car doesent have a Low Fuel Lite. sh!tty 92 Tempo

 

[Salvador]

It totally depends on the car. Even then, each specific car may be different. If I don't know a car, I don't like to get the car too low. It's nice to test it though if you have a lot of gas stations nearby in case you run out. Then it gives you more confidence if you're on a trip and the low fuel light is blaring at you.

Sal

 

[bootymac]

My car runs on water and air, so what is this "Low Fuel" light you are talking about?

 

[iamme]

This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode when Jerry is buying a car at the Saab dealership, and Kramer goes for a test drive.

 

[m2kewl]

i never even get to the warning light. i refill at 1/8 empty on my car.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: iamme
This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode when Jerry is buying a car at the Saab dealership, and Kramer goes for a test drive.

LOL!! Great episode. Espcially when at the end the salesman wants to keep going when Kramer is satisfied.