First off, let me appologize. I know there is a thread already about this but had difficulty using the search function.
It didn't work.

The question:

The light went on this morning but the monitor said I had 42 miles left till empty.
Is this right?

Thanks for your help.

It seems that there are about 3 gallons left when the light goes on. If you are doing city driving with MPG under 15, then 42 miles is in the ballpark.

Stay within thirty miles, is a safe bet!

I checked this closely. When the gas light came on the computer said I had 34 miles to empty. I let it run down to 10 miles and went to get gas. At this point the gas needle was exactly on the E. When I filled it up the tank took exactly 14 gallons. Looks to me that the light leaves you a little more than a 3 gallon reserve.
I believe that is what most other owners have experienced.

Michaelvg1,

Here's a few things to keep in mind:

1. The mileage monitor only approximates how much distance you have left, based upon an unknown equation - but probably related to the average MPG since the trip computer was last reset. Depending on your driving habits, this value may change from time to time.

2. Acura will always guess low on this value. If the trip computer said that you had 10 miles left, and then you ran out of gas - that's lawsuit material in the U.S. (stoopid litigious Americans). Be thankful we don't have to press an "OK" button on the trip computer as well as the Navi screen.

3. After you fill your tank, you'll know how many gallons are truly left in the tank. The TL has a 17 gallon tank (possibly a little more). You can then calculate how many miles you really had left once the Low Fuel warning went on. Keep track of this figure for the first few fill-ups, and then you'll really know how many miles are left when the warning comes on.

Just an anecdote from my own experience...I let the light go on, the DTE meter go to zero, drove another 40 miles and still filled up less than 16 gal.

What the well-said document here! I should make this copied and send it to everyone driving 04TL...

How do you get the computer to show how many mile left till empty? I ask this question to a saleman and he said this car does not show this info! (He seems to have no idea about this)

Do You Guys Not like Your Fuel Pumps? They Survive By Being Cooled By The Fuel Around Them. Running Them Bone Dry Will Will Accelerate Their Demise. It's A Good Rule To Keep At Least A Half A Tank Of gas At All Times. Plus Replaced Pumps Never Last As Long As The Original. Tim

Scroll to "Trip ....." on MID using Select button behind steering on your right. Press "Select" and then press ">" till you get to "<nn> miles to empty".

Also, this is calculated on the basis of the speed and rev. To experiment, set your MID to "<nn> miles to empty" and then try to vary your speed. Go on highway and it will start increasing (counting up) for some miles before it starts counting down again.

A half tank of gas? I'd be filling up every trip! I agree that you shouldn't let you gas go completly empty, but I think you can go maybe a little pass half. Maybe even to a quarter tank.

you dont need to keep that much in ther. i run mine empty all the time and i have 136k on mine

you must be like a friend of mine. put in $1.30 cuz that's all the gas he needs. i think it's funny as hell.

no i never put that little in. its always atleast 13gal

Same here, except I've never gone empty ... just close (less than 1 gallon left a few times). I'm also around 135,000 miles on the same fuel pump. Ford must just make them sturdier.