Low fuel light question?

[vision1994]

Does anyone know how much fuel is left in the tank when the fuel light comes on? Couldn't find it in the manual.

thanks,
vision1994

[Lindyrect]

Not a 100% sure, but the light does go on if you are below 1/4 tank. By the calculations 1/4 of a tank is 20.1gal/4 = 5.025gal. Let me know what you guys think.

[tachicardia]

My light comes on when I'm down to about 1/8 of a tank, as per the guage. Whether or not the guage refelects some sort of 'reserve' I do not know. With the way I can get my 9 to drink gas under heavy acceleration, I try to get some gas in her as soon as I see that light, if I'm down that far.

I have put in 18-19 gallons filling up right after the light has turned on, this would be only ~2 gallons left until empty (assuming our tanks are 20.1gallons).

-- Eric

[Lindyrect]

I'll buy that. 1/8 of a tank sounds like a more accurate level for the light to turn on.

[l-miwa]

According to my ScanGuage, mine comes on with about 2.5 gallons left.

[mixmasterlove]

I hope no one is waiting for the light to come on before refueling.

[100$ GUY]

I hope no one is waiting for the light to come on before refueling.

Why not?? (pullup)

And yes, its about 2 , 2.5 gallons left when the light comes on.

[fourthmeal]

I hope no one is waiting for the light to come on before refueling.

Please don't say that with a low fuel level you'll suck up things in the fuel tank. I've heard this from others before, and proved to them that since a pump sucks things up from the bottom anyway, it doesn't matter how much fuel is in there.

[ryguy]

Hmm. I usually fill up right after the light comes on and I'm usually only putting 16.5 gallons in.

[mixmasterlove]

Please don't say that with a low fuel level you'll suck up things in the fuel tank. I've heard this from others before, and proved to them that since a pump sucks things up from the bottom anyway, it doesn't matter how much fuel is in there.

That is what I was gonna say, AND how can you prove it ???

[fourthmeal]

Proof is that fuel has a very lightweight mass in the realm of specific gravity. It floats on top of most other liquids, and tends to have particulate matter fall in it rather then float on top of it. Given this, fuel (gasoline) doesn't allow much particulates or other liquids to stay floating at the top, thus when the tank starts to run low, it doesn't change exactly what is being sucked into the fuel pump. If there is debris in the tank, it will get sucked up if the tank is full or empty exactly the same. Well, the filter will get it first, but you know what I mean.

The only real threat of a low fuel tank is a starving fuel pump. You've got to be running pretty hard on a nearly completely empty tank for this to be an issue, though.

[Born2Drive]

2.5 -3 gallons according to my tests....

[nguvanh]

I filled 18gal when the light just turns on.

[cariengon]

Anyway to make the car ding when the light comes on? Sometimes if I'm not paying attention, I'm afraid that I'll run out of gas. Scary if theres under 5 gallons in the tank....

[Craig-CX9]

I bought Scangauge and mounted it on the steering column so that the DTE (distance to empty) is also available for us to see. The light comes on with roughtly 50 miles remaining.
Craig

[ceric]

CX9 has 20.1 gallon gas capacity. I usually can put in 17.5 gallon after light turns on. 2.5-2.6 gallon left in the tank is a good estimate, which is about 50 miles in distance assuming 20mpg.

[not_too_shabby]

Is there a screen to access to get miles to empty on the mazda, or a trip computer that gives you your mileage? I'm missing some of the features my VW passat had 7 years ago.....

[squidly]

There isn't on the 2007, 2008 models. It comes standard on the 2009's.

[not_too_shabby]

There isn't on the 2007, 2008 models. It comes standard on the 2009's.

of course...thanks....My dealer didn't have a 2009's. They were still trying to clear out a bunch of 2008's with Aug 2007 build dates. I should have done some more research.

[TRXSandRacer02]

wow, lets see, dump 30k into a car and then run it empty all the time, maybe when making a serious investment into a vehicle it should be taken care of and not run empty, would you run your engine till its almost out of oil? no, you just keep fluids and gas in it and dont take the chance on buring up the fuel pump, the filter is in the tank on the end of the pump, when it gets low it sucks that dirt and whatever else in there and clogs it and beleive me that there is more dirt and stuff in your tank than you think, when you pay for gas you also pay for the crap in their tanks also just everyone take care of your car, take it to the dealer when problems arise and dotn even worry about how many miles or gallons are left on your tank, its low, fill it