How much gas left after the gauge says 0 miles??

[MagneticCharm]

Today I went 19.6 miles after 0 miles till empty

And... did it finally sputter to a halt or were you able to pull into a gas station?

 

[Halford1]

I once almost ran out of gas on my 1984 Escort. My engine died just a few feet from the pump! I just coasted a few feet then stopped. Never did that again.

 

[MarioMatos]

I hate when DTE Say 0 And 2 o 3 gals left in tank
I prefer manual reading using the trip in city 300 a 320 average tank with 17 gal I prefer to be guided by that

 

[peterk9]

I hate when DTE Say 0 And 2 o 3 gals left in tank ..........................

That's just the way it is calibrated for those that like to test the limits. To my knowledge, all manufacturers do that. It's not wise to always run it that low.

Peter

 

[steelers06steelers]

Who started this thread, my wife or my daughter???? Damn you girl I keep telling you not to run it that low, you'll burn up the fuel pump.

 

[Halford1]

The lowest I went was 6 when I stop by Costco gas station.

 

[peterk9]

Found this chart but I'm not going to vouch for its accuracy.

This Chart Reveals How Far You Can Drive Your Car on Empty

For when the dreaded gas light turns on.

www.thrillist.com

Peter

 

[shucker1]

I'll push the edge sometimes but I would rather not run out and "Push The Truck!"

 

[Stephen Cannon]

That chart could be off, and I personally wouldn't risk it. If you get the low fuel message that's Exactly what it means. Stop and fill up.

Another danger of running fuel down too much is this. The fuel pump works harder and although a extreme case could overheat since the fuel supply helps cool the pump . The fuel in the tank helps prevent pump overheat and at minimum shortened pump life span and maximum of again extreme case pump over heats and COULD cause a fire... One more time....EXTREME CASE with the pump exploding but why risk it?

 

[JAPeterson]

I have never figured out why someone will purchase a $30K+ vehicle and then run it until they pray that they make it to a gas station.

Even on long trips of 900 miles I find a station to fill up at well before the light even comes on. My dad always said it is better to run off of the top half of a tank than the bottom half, and with these vehicles not having a replaceable fuel filter that saying rings home even more.

 

[Stephen Cannon]

I have been in aviation pretty much all of my adult life so I might be a little more biased towards being conservative on the fuel but same concept. If your out of fuel on a sun baked Interstate in the middle of summer does it really matter whether you thought you had 4 gallons or 2 gallons?

Good scenario with the non replaceable fuel filters and something to think about.

Aside from the Ego hit of the "Low Fuel" warning light winning the battle. There is the safety factor. Sun Baked Interstate and engine fails due to fuel starvation. No Engine No A/C, which means to screaming passengers and even more screaming front seat passenger...Hear that voice...."I told you so....I told you so.....should have stopped last exit....etc...

Sun baked interstate, lets say rural area...lets face it the engine is not going to stop 500 feet BEFORE THE exit with fuel it will most likely be about 1000 feet AFTER...

You can see where this could go, sun baked interstate, screaming family, no A/C, yes most likely someone will come by eventually but how long could that be? Figure of a family of four probably at least ONE possibly more cell phones will have the battery dead. Bottled water from the cooler will eventually at minimum get warm maximum run out. Cell Signal? yes probably good reception but even that is not guaranteed if the cell towers are not close by.

In addition to all the other things to think about one more item and could be the most important.

Traffic, your stranded vehicle is a sitting duck for other motorists. I am not saying intentional but we all know how people drive these days, distracted, cell phone, movies, totally oblivious and it could be your vehicle they hit. Occupied or not, the vehicle is a four wheeled danger area if someone hits it., Why take the risk. Keep fuel in the tank.

For all the scenarios presented as a danger of running out of fuel I have not seen one advantage....

If you think you will find it cheaper a few miles down the road? Maybe but a big gamble and also remember every mile is that much more that you eventually have to refill.

My general rule is 50 miles DTE, usually more in the winter. 50 miles DTE is about when my low fuel light comes on so about perfect timing. 50 Miles is approximately 3 gallons plus whatever reserve factor they built into the programming of the low fuel light so fairly safe bet. Have I gone below 50 Yes but evaluating the conditions, traffic, fuel availability etc... With todays modern fuel apps and social media there should be no reason to risk it. Fords Travel Link even makes some of the work easier by telling you where fuel is and how much it is.

I say don't risk it but that's me. If I find you stranded along the side of the road will I offer help? Most likely YES. Will I give you a 10 minutes lecture about the perils of risking the dangers of running the fuel level that low.....MOST DEFINITELY!! Will I allow you access to my bottled water and A/C seats...…..Water YES....A/C seats.....extra charge.........….LOL!!

 

[Napalm]

OK so few things - occasionally you should run a tank down near the bottom. Incidentally where E is on the gage related to E level in the tank has to do with fuel to cover the pump inlet at max incline, decline, or side slope. SO aside from the extreme vehicles like the ford raptor DOT minimum requirements cover nominal max grades allowed on US pavement. Which is similar to what's required in other countries and you get about the same basic set of standards.

So vehicle with 15 degrees (27% grade) on the rise, and 18 degrees (32.5 %grade) decline and 9 degrees side slope is often a target. WIth some variance. At this point if you had fuel in the tank to the E level in under 30 seconds it would starve for fuel. Now I don't know if you've ever been that low or below but you might have noticed once or twice that slamming on brakes or real hard acceleration caused is to sputter.

Beyond that point - there is still room in the tank and space for the pump to sit or whatever voids to make a smooth shape ect to the point where there is extra fuel and if you aren't at those maximum points of angle it is accessible to the pump on level or near level group. This is where your excess fuel comes from and with ethanol in the gas these days there is now more chance to have water in the fuel tank - if you get down towards this level you can pull some of that water out with the fuel and it will go through the engine. Safely. I do however recommend products like sea foam to help with reducing water content. doesn't do much for a direct injection engine but it can help some.

I normally run a can though the car just before the oil change and while the car is in normal Daily Driver duty - not on long road trips.

With modern polymer gas tanks there is little to no sediment in the tank - there is no flaking off coatings, or corrosion. Fuel is filtered a few times by the time it comes out of that pump nozzle - which is why more modern cars are not coming with a in line fuel filter like the old days. If it makes it though the pump it will be fine - there is a sock filter on the pump FYI so there is a filter in the system but you do have to drop the tank to fix it.

 

[gary94080]

I usually pay more attention to the gauge than miles left.

the most I have gone below E is the red line is fully below E but still touching E. that fill up was 17 gallons so there should have been 1.6 gallons left.

a fill up with the red line centered on E the fill up is 16.2 gallons.

 

[orionx163]

Actually I hit 0 and I drove another ONE MILE to my Chevron station

So we all know now it's got at least another mile.

Who's gonna push it to TWO?

i forgot my wallet at home and hit 0 with 15 miles to get home. luckily i made it home so i assume it has maybe a gallon in reserve but i wouldn’t risk it. but it DID have 15 miles in reserve for sure. not sure how much more

 

[peterk9]

i forgot my wallet at home and hit 0 with 15 miles to get home. luckily i made it home so i assume it has maybe a gallon in reserve but i wouldn’t risk it. but it DID have 15 miles in reserve for sure. not sure how much more

Welcome to the Forum.
It's never a good idea to let the fuel level get that low since it is also used to cool the fuel pump itself.

Peter

 

[texsn95]

I just did a road trip from Louisiana to Houston and averaged 20 mpg, right by my house the miles to empty flipped to 0. Filled up with 16.7 gallons. So there's some wiggle room if you're at 0.

 

[peterk9]

I just did a road trip from Louisiana to Houston and averaged 20 mpg, right by my house the miles to empty flipped to 0. Filled up with 16.7 gallons. So there's some wiggle room if you're at 0.

This is what the manual says under Fuel Gauge;
"There is a small reserve left in the tank
when the fuel gauge reaches empty."

Peter

 

[Doug57]

This is what the manual says under Fuel Gauge;
"There is a small reserve left in the tank
when the fuel gauge reaches empty."

Peter

I was down to 35 DTE I filled up with 17gal that left 1.6gal in my tank I was getting 20.4 mpg ( 20.4 X1.6 - 32.64 miles) so there is a reserve after you hit 0?

 

[TwoEcho27]

I was down to 35 DTE I filled up with 17gal that left 1.6gal in my tank I was getting 20.4 mpg ( 20.4 X1.6 - 32.64 miles) so there is a reserve after you hit 0?

Yes. Not much of one, but yes.