Gas Gauge Question

I know, I know, there have been many discussions about how many miles you can travel after the low fuel level light goes on. I have searched the forum and read many of them. My question is slightly different. I wondered WHERE the needle was when the light came on. On my last tank the needle made it down almost to empty, with just one little dot left showing and the light did not come on. Filling up took 17.4 gallons so it seems that I was right in the 3-4 gallon range that others have said they have left when the light comes on.

So, where does your gas gauge needle sit when the low fuel level light comes on?

 

My light comes on just as its touching the solid orange empty line, or a little before.

 

Same here. You were probably just getting there.

 

On my 2014, the light comes on when the needle is about one-and-a-half little dots above E. I personally think that's kinda dumb, because the needle is already telling me I'm low on gas. On my 2004 Dodge 1500, the low-fuel alarm came on when I had 30 miles worth of fuel left, which was below E on the gauge. That truck had real-time MPG readout (and outside temperature), which is one of the few things I miss about it.

 

My low fuel light has never come on, because the tank has never been below 1/4 since i've owned it. I typically fill up when it hits 1/2 a tank.

 

Me too

 

i fill up at 1/4 tank. light never comes on.

 

Just under 1/8

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/104832-gas-tank-completely-empty-when-e-line.html


3-4 gallons left when light comes on, can't imagine filling up at 1/2 tank????

 

Why it doesn't cost any more to keep it full than it does to keep it near empty.

Full there is less chance for water to condense.

 

about 1.5-2 "dots" above E. usually takes in the 17.3 gal range to fill up when the light comes on here.

 

not all the dashes are the same...and by that i mean the needles arent placed in the exact same location.
some are slightly higher or some are lower...
but the light comes on for all anywhere from 17-17.5 gallons consummed and when it reaches E its at 18-18.5 so yea you have around 3-4 gallons left.

 

I have no desire to stop at the gas station twice as often, especially on a road trip.

How do you figure less chance for water to condense? Gas tanks don't draw much air in as it is, but if you fill twice at 1/2 to my once at empty we have the same potential amount of condensate.

I've never had condensate problems. Water in your tank is way more likely to be from the gas station's tank, not condensation.

 

Thank you all for your responses. It appears if I had waited another 10 miles or so l would have seen the light come on.

 

The debate I have always heard for the filling up of a tank before it reaches the 1/4th (or 1/2) mark is that there is gunk at the bottom of the tank caused by low grade gas from previous fillups. I have never heard of condensate but that doesn't mean it isn't true.

 

With all the sloshing that the gas does in the tank under normal driving (not factoring in off-road), you don't need to worry about gas from previous fill ups. I'll admit there might be some sediment around the baffles and some of the nooks and gaps, but for the most part if it's there, it's going to stay there. All fuel senders pull fuel off the bottom of the tank. Water is more dense than gasoline, therefore it will sit on the bottom of the tank unless there is some serious sloshing going on. This *may* only be an issue in cold climates or winter where that condensate or water from the filling stations tank can freeze. I have no idea what the typical amount of water accumulation in a gas tank is, but if you drive your vehicle regularly, I'm sure it's a non-issue.

I'm sure a lot of people here have seen a fuel module, but I have one sitting on my desk at work right now if anyone wants a picture of one.

 

For me it's a combination of habits.

1) I drove a shitty old Nissan Hardbody in high school with a faulty fuel sender. As soon as you hit 1/2 tank the needle slapped on empty and the fuel light kicked on. So I always filled it up at 1/2 tank, and the habit has kind of stuck

2) If I drive my truck exclusively for a week, between commuting to work and errands, I generally use about 1/2 a tank. I stop at the local gas station for coffee on Fridays, so I tank up while I'm there.

3) I live in a big state, and most of my traveling is done in a fairly rural part of it, without gas stations on every corner (and most of the very rural gas stations don't have the 24 hour credit card pumps).

4) During the winter keeping the tank above 1/2 full limits condensation buildup in the tank, so I don't have to worry about icing when it's really cold out. Plus it means I don't have to be one of the mindless hordes waiting in line at the gas station when they forecast a snowstorm.


But really it all just keeps coming back to habit.

 

I think you got your answer (Between 1/4 line and E line)... here are the gallons in the tank at the various markers on your gauge:

(+/- 1/2 gallon)

FULL: 21 (0 to fill)
F LINE: 19 (2 to fill)
3/4 LINE: 16 (5 to fill)
1/2 LINE: 12 (9 to fill)
1/4 LINE: 8 (13 to fill)
LIGHT ON: 4 (17 to fill)
E LINE: 3 (18 to fill)

 

you can generally go 60 more miles when the reserve light kicks on


somewhere around 50-60-65 miles.....
when the engine starts to sputter on corners and hills, you can go 3 or 4 more flat miles then she's gonna die. don't ask how I know this but I know this

 

Same for me.