fuel light... WHY SO LATE?
#1
I'm just curious as to why the low-fuel light comes on SO late in these great cars. Wouldn't it make more sense for them to come on, maybe at 1/4 tank and beep every 1/16 after that? I mean come on.. my dad's '91 Grand Caravan does that!!
#2
Originally posted by Speebs
I'm just curious as to why the low-fuel light comes on SO late in these great cars. Wouldn't it make more sense for them to come on, maybe at 1/4 tank and beep every 1/16 after that? I mean come on.. my dad's '91 Grand Caravan does that!!
I'm just curious as to why the low-fuel light comes on SO late in these great cars. Wouldn't it make more sense for them to come on, maybe at 1/4 tank and beep every 1/16 after that? I mean come on.. my dad's '91 Grand Caravan does that!!
#5
The beeping doesn't get annoying, as it only happens 4 times before the tank is empty. It's hard to ignore.
Here's what I don't understand. Supposedly the light comes on when there's 2 gallons left in the tank. Since the tank holds 16 gallons, that would be at about the 1/8 marker, right? But the light comes on when the needle is below Empty (not just on my '95 GXE, on my friend's '94 SE as well). I do not understand how there could possibly be 2 gallons left in the tank. I pay close attention to my gas consumption anyway, but I'm afraid to keep close tabs on the guage in case it tells me when it's too late to get more gas.
Here's what I don't understand. Supposedly the light comes on when there's 2 gallons left in the tank. Since the tank holds 16 gallons, that would be at about the 1/8 marker, right? But the light comes on when the needle is below Empty (not just on my '95 GXE, on my friend's '94 SE as well). I do not understand how there could possibly be 2 gallons left in the tank. I pay close attention to my gas consumption anyway, but I'm afraid to keep close tabs on the guage in case it tells me when it's too late to get more gas.
#6
The tank actually holds 18.5 gallons, not 16. You probably notice the light come on, fill up, and only add 16 gallons. That's because the light comes on with about 2.5 gallons left in the tank (or 16 gallons consumed). Don't pay attention to where the E is on the gauge in relation to the tank being completely empty. The gauge will read E when you still have some gas in the tank. Almost all new (<5 years old) cars are like this, the manufacturer doesn't want you running out of gas. My light comes on with around 2.5 gallons left and the needle is practically on the E mark. My gauge will read "E" with about 2 gallons of gas left in the tank.
Originally posted by Speebs
The beeping doesn't get annoying, as it only happens 4 times before the tank is empty. It's hard to ignore.
Here's what I don't understand. Supposedly the light comes on when there's 2 gallons left in the tank. Since the tank holds 16 gallons, that would be at about the 1/8 marker, right? But the light comes on when the needle is below Empty (not just on my '95 GXE, on my friend's '94 SE as well). I do not understand how there could possibly be 2 gallons left in the tank. I pay close attention to my gas consumption anyway, but I'm afraid to keep close tabs on the guage in case it tells me when it's too late to get more gas.
The beeping doesn't get annoying, as it only happens 4 times before the tank is empty. It's hard to ignore.
Here's what I don't understand. Supposedly the light comes on when there's 2 gallons left in the tank. Since the tank holds 16 gallons, that would be at about the 1/8 marker, right? But the light comes on when the needle is below Empty (not just on my '95 GXE, on my friend's '94 SE as well). I do not understand how there could possibly be 2 gallons left in the tank. I pay close attention to my gas consumption anyway, but I'm afraid to keep close tabs on the guage in case it tells me when it's too late to get more gas.
#7
I believe Dodge made the fuel guage accurate about 3 years ago, and people kept complaining that they were getting 'horrible' gas mileage after that (the needle would come off of F rather quickly), so they went back to the tested and true inaccurate fuel guage. Most are designed to stay at F for about 100 miles.
#8
Originally posted by medicsonic
I believe Dodge made the duel guage accurate about 3 years ago, and people kept complaining that they were getting 'horrible' gas milage after that (the needle would come off of F rather quickly), so they went back to the tested and true inaccurate fuel guage. Most are designed to stay at F for about 100 miles.
I believe Dodge made the duel guage accurate about 3 years ago, and people kept complaining that they were getting 'horrible' gas milage after that (the needle would come off of F rather quickly), so they went back to the tested and true inaccurate fuel guage. Most are designed to stay at F for about 100 miles.
BTW, does anyone have any experience with trip computers on cars? When they tell you how much gas you have left, or how many miles you can go until empty, do they give you info based on real values or "gauge" values? It would be pretty funny to check your trip computer, see that you have 2.5 gallons and 60 miles to go on a tank. And still show your fuel gauge reading empty and the fuel light on.
#9
when my fuel light comes on, it means i'm about to get out and push the car. good thing i have a fuel pressure gauge. when i see the needle start to quiver, i know i gotta get gas in the next few min, lol. the light comes on after the needle passes E.
#13
Originally posted by gabuchu
I heard it's best to have at least 1/4 tank of gas, because it is also used to cool down the fuel pump.
I heard it's best to have at least 1/4 tank of gas, because it is also used to cool down the fuel pump.
Yes, the fuel does cool the fuel pump.
No, you don't need 1/4 of a tank.
No, you won't pick up crap from the fuel tank when the tank is low.
As long as there is "some" fuel in the tank, the fuel pump is cooled.
In other words, it is bad to completely run out of gas but it won't hurt to be low on gas. I'm sure that as long as you have at least 1/2 of a gallon in the tank, you are not hurting anything. Of course if you are that low, you are risking running out of gas, and that can cause problems. Not to mention the pain of walking to a gas station
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