Low fuel indicator

[basegreen]

I'm trying very hard not to refuel the loan car I have... as I am getting my replacement tomorrow.

Any idea how reliable the low fuel "miles left" counter is? It's saying 29 miles, and I reckon I need to do another 12 to get the car back.

Any thoughts, experience?

[TheRef]

On my 2.2. iCTDi I seem to have about 5 litres left when the miles to go counter reaches zero. Last 2 times I filled up at the next garage after it hit zero and I could only get about 45 litres in.

[basegreen]

I think I will be okay then -- based on that. You do start to worry whne the big petrol pump icon comes on.

Thanks for the reply

[TheRef]

Yes you can't miss that big orange light. Its quite aggressive lol

[warriorpete]

I've managed upto 10 miles after being told by display 0 miles left - not to be recommended though especially with dodgy fuel filler cap [now been fixed and working well, by the way]

[paulosilva76]

After the orange light lights up you have 8 liters left (source: users manual).

[Meino]

Originally Posted by paulosilva76

After the orange light lights up you have 8 liters left (source: users manual).

Then it's probably 3 liters to go to zero and another 5 liters to get the filler cap opened...

[generationgav]

5 Litres is just over 1 UK gallon (4.5/gallon)
At a conservative 38mpg you're looking about 40miles once the fuel tank is empty!! That's actually quite impressive and could even get me home from work, but I'd NEVER risk it!

[knightrider]

I can report from experience that there is over 30 miles left after the trip says 0 on the 1.8.

I often play 'petrol station roulette' and last week ran of fuel out 500yds from a garage. It took two jerry cans of unleaded and an AA patrol man to get me going again!!! Will i ever learn.

[basegreen]

Going back to my original post, I took my loaner in the time after that and did 14 miles on a 0 miles left indicator.

[MC Hammer]

I have done over 30 miles with zero remaining once in my diesel, (no petrol stations open ) I did slow down to about 60 though.
Even then only got 46.2Litres in.

[TTDegs]

my light came on today, at an all time low trip distance of just 375 miles
and saying that I had just 35miles left in the tank.

As it happens, it was Tesco shopping night tonight, so, after fighting the (previously busted, not got round to getting it fixed yet) cap release, I filled up.

43.5 ltrs.

I'm becoming less than impressed with my trip computer - think the service in 1500 miles could see my Civ off the road for a few days...

[Kremmen]

I think all manufacturers are wary of the 'miles to go' facilty and err on the cautious.

They dare not get it wrong the other way round otherwise you could end up stranded and as a result the car would get a lower reliability rating.

As has been said, the best way is to try and attack a garage forecourt just as the light has popped up and see how much you get in.

[Honda100]

I have always been led to believe that it is not good to 'run on empty' as this means that you are picking up all the crud that lies in the bottom of the tank, blocking filters and worse. For that reason I rarely go below 1/4 tank.
However this might just relate to cars I had in my youth (some years ago now) and/or be an urban myth.

[okehciv]

No sorry no idea,but do let me know how you get on !

[GlenMH]

I did about 40 miles with the indicator on (mine is a diesel) and then got over 52l in to the tank.... oops!

Glen

[MrEd]

Originally Posted by Honda100

I have always been led to believe that it is not good to 'run on empty' as this means that you are picking up all the crud that lies in the bottom of the tank, blocking filters and worse. For that reason I rarely go below 1/4 tank.
However this might just relate to cars I had in my youth (some years ago now) and/or be an urban myth.

this isnt so much problem in modern cars cos the tanks are plastic. alos i had a 17yr old golf that i dropped the tank from and flushed out and it had sediment type stuff in the bottom but a tiny tiny amount and that had never been dropped as the underseal was in place still. really really wouldnt worry on our new cars tbh aint gonna be any crap to suck up. unless u stuff leaves in everytime u refuel......

*honda may have done that at the factory tho lol

[paulosilva76]

Originally Posted by GlenMH

I did about 40 miles with the indicator on (mine is a diesel) and then got over 52l in to the tank.... oops!

Glen

Interesting, so the tank at least have 52l capacity. My last car had a tank of 50l to, but more than one time i was able to put 55l in. I wonder if there is any marketing behind that, "1000 Km" with one 50l tank... but the tank has 55l capacity...

[IWANTACIVIC]

yer i usually put high 40's L in, Ive been down to -5 miles i think, i thought it would be 4-5L after 0 miles because most cars warm you at 70-80 miles left but mine usually is down to 40 -45 miles before i get the pump . if you add the amount of fuel you can get in the pipe that leads to the tank and the neck its possible to get 2-3 l i bet, must be big long pipe to go to the drivers seat area.

[TTDegs]

Originally Posted by IWANTACIVIC

... . if you add the amount of fuel you can get in the pipe that leads to the tank and the neck its possible to get 2-3 l i bet, must be big long pipe to go to the drivers seat area.

that's a good point - hadn't thought about it being an overly long pipe...