How far can I go with low gas light?

They are all certified by the state to be accurate. Their accuracy is probably +/- 3%. Fairly negligible at 20 gallons. Where they "click off" is very dependant upon each individual vehicle, placement in the hole, pump, etc.

 

On my 09, my low light comes on at 17.4 gal. I’ve stopped many times over the years right after it comes on and that’s where it’s at every time. With a 21 gal tank that leaves 3.6 gal in theory. I have pushed it several times and filled up with 20.5 gal. So on mine at least I know I can get 3 gal worth of miles after the light.

 

It wasn’t a peaceful drive by any means.

 

I had a 1984 Toyota pickup that I delivered pizzas in during college. I always pushed it way too far while almost empty. The "almost out" sign for me was dying at idle when I would come to a stop. But it would always restart and run a few more times.

 

The safe way to find out is to fill up when it comes on and see if that amount is consistent. If your mileage is also consistent you can use those data points to extrapolate best/worst case possibilities. Or carry a can of gas and find out the hard way if running out really is bad for the fuel system.

 

Oh really? You never pulled into a gas station & the pump dispensed 22-23 gallons into your 21 gallon tank & it wasn't even empty? If not, you're lucky. Because it happens all the time where I'm at. Some gas stations are worse than others. Even the time of day that you get gas is a variable. The government certification means almost nothing.

 

When they aren’t it’s the responsibility of the consumer to report it to weights and measures. It still happens but there’s a way to deal with it and if confirmed you can probably get restitution.

 

E means enough

 

lol no never

 

My light came on today, eight miles down the road, I put in 17.78 gallons.

 

It comes on sooner on grades.

 

If this was directed at me, yeah, I know. I meant 8 miles further driving after the light came on.

 

Sorry, not really directed at anyone in particular, just something that I’ve noticed to be the case. Probably because of the fore/aft tank.

 

Yes, really. State controlled and regulated Weights & Measures.

You are probably "rounding off" the $ on the pump with extra handle squeezes. This is an easy way to add a couple of gallons as the fuel begins to fill the filler neck.

 

It depends on your driving. One time coming back from New Mexico to Denver, I was in chill mode, so I cruised about 55 or so on the freeway. This kept the rpms well below 2k. The gas light came on in Colorado Springs. I made it all the way home and to my normal EtOH free gas station the next day. Roughly 75 ish miles. I averaged over 25 mpg on that tank when I filled up. It was the closest ive ever got to empty. When I filled up it was like 20.8 or so gallons, so effectively empty. I would never do that again.

 

A lot of that has to do with having a "reserve" and saving the fuel pump from running dry and burning itself up. In my old truck, I had roughly 2 gallons left in a 19 gallon tank when the light came on. Our 4Runner and Tacoma both seem to be similar with 2 or 3 gallons left. Although the light comes on with "25 miles to empty." But below a quarter tank, that measure doesn't exactly read true anymore since the computer has a hard time figuring that out and wants you to get to the gas station.

 

Also a good way to saturate the evap canister.

 

A couple of things have been brought up that are important with today’s vehicles.

Running the tank dry is very hard on the fuel system. Can ruin pumps and is hard on filters. Older vehicles with mechanical pump could handle it pump-wise but it was still hard on filters.

Topping off / overfilling older cars could get you splashed with gas. But newer cars have vapor recovery systems that can be fouled.

The ild advice to fill up no later than 1/4 tank is just as true today as it ever was.

With phones and such it’s not as big a deal with regards to being stranded. It’s more of a financial consideration.

 

In my experience if the pumps were off they were in the 10ths of gallons, not whole gallons. It's not luck.