Miles traveled past empty?

[Power4]

I was on a long trip home today and was running on fumes towards the end according to the on board computer. It read "0 miles to empty" as I rolled into my driveway. I'm wondering how much more gas do these cars really have when the computer is saying there's 0 miles left? I would assume there's still another gallon or so? Anyone know?

 

[V8JamesGT]

I'm not sure but I definitly would never run your gas tank that low. I drove mine until it said 15 miles until empty and it caused my Throttle Position Sensor to go out leaving my car in limp mode and a very bad idle that would cause my car to die at stop lights.

 

[mustangdave]

I don't believe it is that accurate: in other words, you might go below 0 gallons left one time and run out with 5 gallons left another time. I parked mine once with "15" miles to empty on the dash and the next day when I cranked it, it said "1" mile to empty! I'm glad the gas station is only 2/10ths. of a mile away.

 

[Owner1]

I've run mine down past zero miles many, many times, and I've gone as far as 16 miles past zero.

When I fill the tank right at zero miles I always get just over 15 gallons into the tank, which makes me believe there is a one gallon reserve after hitting zero miles.

Although I've done this at least 20 times, I've never run out, so I believe that the "miles to empty" is very consistent and accurate.

 

[myfirstii]

I have gone past zero many times and have never had a problem. I believe its some where around 15 miles that you can go. I ran out of gas at 15.5 miles past empty once. So after that i never go anything over 15 miles past empty!!

 

[DarkFireGT]

Actually, you have approximately 1.6 gallons left when you reach 0.

 

[SnakeByte]

My car said I had 4 miles to empty. I then filled it up. It took 14.5 gal.

 

[DarkFireGT]

Yep, and we have a 16 gallon tank. I've heard 1.5 and 1.6, but sounds like 1.5 is the real number. Of course, each car will differ slightly.

 

[Spdfreak]

You guys DO realize running that low means you're picking up all the sediment at the bottom of the tank, right?

 

[shooterm1]

I don't believe it is that accurate: in other words, you might go below 0 gallons left one time and run out with 5 gallons left another time. I parked mine once with "15" miles to empty on the dash and the next day when I cranked it, it said "1" mile to empty! I'm glad the gas station is only 2/10ths. of a mile away.

Good point!

I've unwillingly tested the '0' Miles to Empty limit for that very reason .......

its not something that I'd want to depend on.

 

[NotQuik]

i hit zero miles til empty once but as soon as i hit it i shut the car off and coasted into the gas station.... idon't like getting below 50 miles if i don't have too.

 

[mustangdave]

I usually try to put some in at 1/4 tank simply because the fuel is what keeps the pump cool. Replacing a pump is not easy or cheap.

 

[autumn_again]

i don't like the idea of running the tank that low, but from what i've read you've got some kind of reserve, where it says your empty, you still have a gallon or so. but when your running it that low, your going to be sucking up all the crap from the bottom of the tank, plugging the fuel filter. etc.

 

[Power4]

I've heard that running the tank low isn't such a big deal in most modern cars mostly because there is a filter between the gas tank and the gas line. Probably still not a great idea to do it frequently but I was just wondering since from time to time people may have to do it.

 

[PoopDawg]

I'm not sure but I definitly would never run your gas tank that low. I drove mine until it said 15 miles until empty and it caused my Throttle Position Sensor to go out leaving my car in limp mode and a very bad idle that would cause my car to die at stop lights.

That's completely impossible. The two systems are completely independant of one another.

You guys DO realize running that low means you're picking up all the sediment at the bottom of the tank, right?

This makes no sense either... What happens when you fill your tank and all that rushing gas hits it? Think it stays still? No... What about driving, and the gas sloshing around? The sock and the fuel filter would stop this from having any real effect.

 

[kooldawg6]

In the 64K miles of driving mine, it's gone to "0 to empty" many times and I've never run out or even had the engine stutter or stumble! I'm guessing the most I've driven after that point was another 10 miles or so and the most the tank has taken was 15.4 gallons. It's kind of cool to see the gas gauge turn from whatever "My Color" you have it set for to red! That usually happens when you get to the 10-15 miles to empty. There have been a few times where I get a little nervous about running out and am hopeful to get to the gas station, but I've always made it...so far.