Fellow TLers....

How many miles are really left when the display indicates "0 miles to empty?"
I filled up after the indicator said "0 miles" and the tank took 14.75 gallons.

As I understand, the TL holds 17 or so gallons, so assuming 20 mpg, did I really have around 45 miles left?

I just want to know how far I can push it......

 

All of these things are estimates based on the last few miles driven. I've gotten 0 miles to empty when the tank took 13.5 gallons.

 

At 0, you still have 2 1/2 gallons left. I wouldn't suggest doing this often though. Not good for the fuel injectors.

 

Thank you for confirming what I suspected.

 

Wow I had no clue our gas tank was that big, I havnt filled up anything over really 13.5 gallons yet heh.

 

I drive about 50-60 miles after hitting zero...I like gambling, and I think this is just an extension....I'll advise when I finally run out of gas (bound to happen one of these days)...by the way, I am at 5 miles til empty right now with a 25 mile drive home from the office!

 

For a better calculation, fill up at 1,2,3 miles to empty. Because once you hit zero is stays there. It doesn't go negative. I have filled up at 0 miles to empty many times and it has taken 14.1 gals, 14.4 gals and 14.7 gals among other amounts (never 15 tho). So, the 0 miles to empty is useless information from the MID other than the exact moment you hit 0. I would suspect that if you filled up at 1 miles to empty the car would accept almost exactly 14 gals (maybe 13.99999). Thus confirming that when you hit 0, not just at 0, you have 3 gals left. Which should take you anywhere from 60 to 75 miles (20 to 25mpg). But, that doesn't mean that you have 60-75 miles to go just because it reads 0 miles to empty because it may have been that way for 20-30 miles and you just didn't notice. I usually fill up at 5-10 miles to empty.

0 miles to empty = 3 gals left.

 

This info is excerpted from a very long thread I started about fuel tank capacities, etc. and is based on actual and precise testing

a. When the low fuel warning light comes on, if you are getting 25 mpg you can go 94 miles, but if you are only getting 20 mpg, you can only go 74 miles. Of course, other miles per gallon figures will result in different results.

b. When miles to empty reads zero, that is time to fill up, but you can still go 57 miles at 25mpg, but only 45 miles at 20mpg.

c. When filling the tank, if you stop at the first shutoff, you will have about 17 gallons in the tank.

d. The tank will actually hold about 19 gallons, but it is not recommended to fill the tank to capacity, so stop at the first shutoff.

If you want to read the whole thread, go here http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showt...threadid=71425

 

19 gals? are you sh ting me?

 

I have heard its bad for the fuel pump as well to run your tank down to empty, as it uses the fuel to lube and keep the pump cool. maybe thats why the extra 3 gals or so after empty. That and I think its pretty cool you will most likely never run out of gas. Unless you push it

 

All modern cars these days need the fuel in the tank to lubricate the fuel pump. Acura built the fuel gauge this way to not damage the fuel pump (as they are very expensive to repair), in most cars, they say to fill up at a quarter tank. Don't push the gas, I get 21 mpg which roughly is 300+ miles on 13.5 gallons of gas which is really good when I'm at 0 miles left, i used to get the same miles on a full tank of gas (17 gal) on my 2000 accord.

 

This is right on the money - never let the car get much below 1/4 is my mantra - Dgunsuh is right - gasoline is used to cool the fuel pump, and even though there is enough "ballast" in the fuel delivery system to avoid a hiccup, that does not mean that regularly letting the in-tank pump suck air will not cause it to fail prematurely - it will. I have done them, and the windings look like someone took a propane torch to them - delaminated varnish. The injectprs are likely safe due to the buffering, but of course sucking debris from the bottom of the tank is not good, nor is the water that floats on top of the gasoline. There is not in line fuiel filter other than the tank filter, and if it clogs, you have an expensive repair for no good reason.

I recommend a fuel system cleaner before an oil change to help disperse and burn the water in the tank before it builds up too high to the point where the "how many miles to REALLY empty?" live dangerously crowd gets its answer when the car backfires, sputters, and dies.

 

Excellent advice, RR. When I had my Saab, I changed synoil every 5000 miles, and before each change, I would add a bottle of Chevron Techron to the fuel tank. Fuel lines and injectors are happiest when clean.