Idiot lights not for idiots warning

[Kaiserseal]

Thirty years of driving I have never run out of gas. Every car I have owned easily runs 30-60 miles when the low fuel light goes on. Decided to save a buck and drive 20 miles to Costco to fill up when my low fuel light went on. One block short she stopped a little less than 20 miles after the warning. Lesson learned.

 

[snork]

I don't wanna "pile on", but I don't get the logic of driving 20 miles out of the way to save literally a buck or 2. With gas being $3.50-$4.00+ depending on where you live, you'll burn 1.5-2 gallons just getting there and back to save $0.10/gallon

And I dunno about your light. Mine comes on when the trip computer reads 50 miles which most cars are programmed to do. I pushed mine once, and when it got below 30 mile range it goes to "--". I went 3 more miles to get gas since I was on the highway, took 18.5 gallons, so still 1.8 gallons left in the tank.

 

[Mark_888]

About 25 years ago I was driving a Chrysler K car (rental) and ran out of gas about 10 miles after the warning light came on. No cell phones in those days, and I had to walk about a mile both ways.

 

[Potty_Pants]

Just heads up letting tank go past 1/4 or lower will cause sediment in bottom of tank to enter fuel lines and filters, plus you dont want to starve the pumps

Ppp

 

[brfatal]

I never let my tank go below 1/4. For peace of mind and for the reason listed above. There is no reason at all to let it get to the light.

 

[CC4.6]

As I understand it, cars are designed so you cannot drain the tank entirely. There is always some gas in the tank when you run out.

 

[Aquineas]

Not sure if things are different on the 3.8, but my low-fuel light turns on at ~50 miles range.

 

[SmoovC]

I don't wanna "pile on", but I don't get the logic of driving 20 miles out of the way to save literally a buck or 2. With gas being $3.50-$4.00+ depending on where you live, you'll burn 1.5-2 gallons just getting there and back to save $0.10/gallon

And I dunno about your light. Mine comes on when the trip computer reads 50 miles which most cars are programmed to do. I pushed mine once, and when it got below 30 mile range it goes to "--". I went 3 more miles to get gas since I was on the highway, took 18.5 gallons, so still 1.8 gallons left in the tank.

My EXACT experience yesterday; drove 4.6 miles after range went to "--", car took 18.305 gallons.

 

[mcginnpm]

Just heads up letting tank go past 1/4 or lower will cause sediment in bottom of tank to enter fuel lines and filters

A common "wive's tale". If you have sediment in your tank, it will always be in the bottom of the tank, whether you have it full of gas or are on your last gallon of gas. The fuel pick-up is (by design) in the bottom of the tank so, if you have sediment in the bottom of your tank, it will get sucked in...but that's why you have a fuel filter...and a fuel filter change schedule. If you have enough sediment to clog a fuel filter and starve your engine (even after changing the fuel filter), then you'll probably need to have your tank purged.

 

[mcginnpm]

I don't wanna "pile on", but I don't get the logic of driving 20 miles out of the way to save literally a buck or 2.

I agree. If the OP "saved a buck" by driving 20 miles to COTSCO, he actually lost about $2.80 in extra gas burned.

At typical local driving MPG and at today's gas prices, if you find gas that is a nickle cheaper and drive more than 5 miles out of your way to buy it, you are actually losing money, and that's if you fill up a full tank. If you are only filling up a half or three quarters tank, then you are losing even more money.

A good rull of thumb is that if you drive more miles out of the way than the cost difference in cents, you are losing money (i.e., if the gas is 5 cents cheaper and you drive more than 5 miles out of your way to get it, you are losing money).

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[Ruissimo]

I have found with the Genesis that I actually miss my obnoxious low fuel warning chime from the old Vee Dub.