When Fuel Light Comes On - How Much Left in Tank?

[Kigiin]

Drove the son and friends to Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio Friday and returned on Saturday night. I got 16.09 mpg round trip. However, the fuel light came on at 314 miles into the return trip and I went another 27 miles before filing up at 341 miles. At the gas station, I put in 21.193 gallons.

According to my math, the light came on with approx 5.89 gallons left:

Tank Capacity 25.4 gallons
Fill up Amount -21.193 gallons
Amount used after light came on +1.684 gallons (based on 16.09mpg)

Does this seem right - just would like to know if I ever need to stretch things when in remote country. Almost 6 gallons left seems to be quite a bit for the fuel light to come on?

 

[1loudLX]

thats usually about when my light comes on, fill up with 20-21 gallons. Thing is, I dont get 340 miles, damn clear down near 260 for me.

 

[Kigiin]

thats usually about when my light comes on, fill up with 20-21 gallons. Thing is, I dont get 340 miles, damn clear down near 260 for me.

Me too, but this was virtually all highway driving. I usually get around 13.5 mpg in town.

 

[i4c4lo]

According to the manual - 5 gallons.

 

[spressomon]

According to the manual - 5 gallons.

Ditto. And that has born out on my '99.

 

[Kigiin]

Jeez, I guess I should read the manual! You guys amaze me

Thanks

 

[1loudLX]

I didnt know they still put useful information in manuals these days.

 

[yoter100]

I can usually go around 40 miles when the light comes on...

 

[LX470Pilot]

I've thought about this everytime I see the light - usually around 310-320miles - if I really pushed my luck, I could potentially squeeze nearly 400miles from the tank.

Closes I've come was when I went camping in Big Sur a few years ago - started from Pasadena with a full tank around 5pm - got to the campground around 12am, having had the light on for at least 30mi.

For everyone else's edification - on CA SR1, once you're north of San Simeon, there're no gas stations until you get to Big Sur, and those are closed after 9pm. Plan more carefully than I did. I made it, but I wasn't sure I would at the time.