How much gas is in the reserve when you hit empty?

laurenlex

Platinum Member
Feb 26, 2004
2,370
1
0
When you notice it on empty, reset the trip odometer to zero. Keep driving. When your car dies and you are stranded on the side of the road. Note the mileage on the trip odometer. Take that figure and divide by your miles per gallon. This is how many gallons of fuel you had when you were low on gas.
 

EF9

Banned
May 24, 2003
558
0
0
Originally posted by: laurenlex
When you notice it on empty, reset the trip odometer to zero. Keep driving. When your car dies and you are stranded on the side of the road. Note the mileage on the trip odometer. Take that figure and divide by your miles per gallon. This is how many gallons of fuel you had when you were low on gas.


That's the thing I dont want to do is run out of gas and have my car die in the middle of the road.
 

Mr N8

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2001
8,793
0
76
If my car hits empty, I'm screwed. I have about 2 blocks to keep running. However, the low fuel comes on with 2 gallons left.
 

KLin

Lifer
Feb 29, 2000
30,440
752
126
Originally posted by: laurenlex
When you notice it on empty, reset the trip odometer to zero. Keep driving. When your car dies and you are stranded on the side of the road. Note the mileage on the trip odometer. Take that figure and divide by your miles per gallon. This is how many gallons of fuel you had when you were low on gas.

or you find the closest gas station, fill it to the brim, take the amount that the gas dispenser shows and subtract it from the total capacity of your gas tank. I'd rather do that than run out of gas somewhere.
 

mobobuff

Lifer
Apr 5, 2004
11,099
1
81
Originally posted by: EF9
Originally posted by: laurenlex
When you notice it on empty, reset the trip odometer to zero. Keep driving. When your car dies and you are stranded on the side of the road. Note the mileage on the trip odometer. Take that figure and divide by your miles per gallon. This is how many gallons of fuel you had when you were low on gas.


That's the thing I dont want to do is run out of gas and have my car die in the middle of the road.

This is a good experiment to do with any new car. But you're supposed to have at least a 3 gallon tank of gas in your trunk with you, and a funnel.
 
Jul 1, 2000
10,274
2
0
Originally posted by: mobobuff
Originally posted by: EF9
Originally posted by: laurenlex
When you notice it on empty, reset the trip odometer to zero. Keep driving. When your car dies and you are stranded on the side of the road. Note the mileage on the trip odometer. Take that figure and divide by your miles per gallon. This is how many gallons of fuel you had when you were low on gas.


That's the thing I dont want to do is run out of gas and have my car die in the middle of the road.

This is a good experiment to do with any new car. But you're supposed to have at least a 3 gallon tank of gas in your trunk with you, and a funnel.

Running out of gas is not good for your fuel pump... so it is not really a good experiment to do with any car.
 

EF9

Banned
May 24, 2003
558
0
0
Originally posted by: mobobuff
Originally posted by: EF9
Originally posted by: laurenlex
When you notice it on empty, reset the trip odometer to zero. Keep driving. When your car dies and you are stranded on the side of the road. Note the mileage on the trip odometer. Take that figure and divide by your miles per gallon. This is how many gallons of fuel you had when you were low on gas.


That's the thing I dont want to do is run out of gas and have my car die in the middle of the road.

This is a good experiment to do with any new car. But you're supposed to have at least a 3 gallon tank of gas in your trunk with you, and a funnel.

I have an audio system in my trunk so I dont think that's a good idea.
 

mobobuff

Lifer
Apr 5, 2004
11,099
1
81
Originally posted by: EF9
Originally posted by: mobobuff
Originally posted by: EF9
Originally posted by: laurenlex
When you notice it on empty, reset the trip odometer to zero. Keep driving. When your car dies and you are stranded on the side of the road. Note the mileage on the trip odometer. Take that figure and divide by your miles per gallon. This is how many gallons of fuel you had when you were low on gas.


That's the thing I dont want to do is run out of gas and have my car die in the middle of the road.

This is a good experiment to do with any new car. But you're supposed to have at least a 3 gallon tank of gas in your trunk with you, and a funnel.

I have an audio system in my trunk so I dont think that's a good idea.

Okay okay back seat.
 

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
If I fill up right when the gas light comes up, it takes 10-11 gallons. I have a 13.2 gallon tank, so apparently there's a decent reserve. I don't really feel like testing it out, though.
 

EF9

Banned
May 24, 2003
558
0
0
Originally posted by: mobobuff
Originally posted by: EF9
Originally posted by: mobobuff
Originally posted by: EF9
Originally posted by: laurenlex
When you notice it on empty, reset the trip odometer to zero. Keep driving. When your car dies and you are stranded on the side of the road. Note the mileage on the trip odometer. Take that figure and divide by your miles per gallon. This is how many gallons of fuel you had when you were low on gas.


That's the thing I dont want to do is run out of gas and have my car die in the middle of the road.

This is a good experiment to do with any new car. But you're supposed to have at least a 3 gallon tank of gas in your trunk with you, and a funnel.

I have an audio system in my trunk so I dont think that's a good idea.

Okay okay back seat.

I dont wanna pass out from the fumes and then crash and die. lol!

I just wanted to get an estimate of how much gas I have left to find a gas station before the car dies in the middle of the road. Dont get me wrong, I usually fill up at quarter tank left but like I said, I wanted to know just in case I do hit empty.

 
Oct 9, 1999
15,216
3
81
technically i got a 3gallon reserve, but before the last fuel pump replaemnet (recall) it used to go to reserve at 10.3gallons, now it goes to reserve at 11.5 gallons.
 

mobobuff

Lifer
Apr 5, 2004
11,099
1
81
Originally posted by: EF9
Originally posted by: mobobuff
Originally posted by: EF9
Originally posted by: mobobuff
Originally posted by: EF9
Originally posted by: laurenlex
When you notice it on empty, reset the trip odometer to zero. Keep driving. When your car dies and you are stranded on the side of the road. Note the mileage on the trip odometer. Take that figure and divide by your miles per gallon. This is how many gallons of fuel you had when you were low on gas.


That's the thing I dont want to do is run out of gas and have my car die in the middle of the road.

This is a good experiment to do with any new car. But you're supposed to have at least a 3 gallon tank of gas in your trunk with you, and a funnel.

I have an audio system in my trunk so I dont think that's a good idea.

Okay okay back seat.

I dont wanna pass out from the fumes and then crash and die. lol!

I just wanted to get an estimate of how much gas I have left to find a gas station before the car dies in the middle of the road. Dont get me wrong, I usually fill up at quarter tank left but like I said, I wanted to know just in case I do hit empty.

Any decent fuel container will have a decent seal that prevents the fumes from escaping.

 

psiu

Golden Member
Oct 1, 2003
1,629
1
0
Originally posted by: EF9
Originally posted by: laurenlex
When you notice it on empty, reset the trip odometer to zero. Keep driving. When your car dies and you are stranded on the side of the road. Note the mileage on the trip odometer. Take that figure and divide by your miles per gallon. This is how many gallons of fuel you had when you were low on gas.


That's the thing I dont want to do is run out of gas and have my car die in the middle of the road.


Fill it up before it gets to empty?