Hey guys -

I have a 2007 TL Type-S. I've been having issues with my car properly displaying how much fuel I have. I know it has a 17.1 gallon tank, yet when the gas light comes on, I can only fill about 12-13 gallons for a full tank.

I took it to an Acura dealership who confirmed that I still had about 4 gallons of fuel when the gas light was one. They recommended replacing the fuel relay, which I did, however the problem still exists.

They contacted Acura's tech line who stated this is just the way the car is and they have no fix. I find this to be BS as I know plenty of people who can fill 15 gallons+ when their gas light comes on.

Has anyone experienced this and if so, what did you do fix it? Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Ashar

 

This is the way TL's are. The fact that a dealership had to call a "tech line" on this issue would keep me away from that dealer. They had no clue OR this was an act to get into your wallet for a relay. In my opinion you should go back and raise some sand.

 

Fuel relay replacement????? Stealership! Its just reserve capacity

 

we have a 17 gallon tank.
the fuel light will come on when you have 3 or 4 gallons left in the tank, a reserve if you will.

I fill up with 12 or 13 gallons all the time. you're fine and nothing to worry about

 

I just got used to it.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. Fortunately, Acura decided to pick up the bill (as a good will gesture) for the fuel relay, so I didn't have to pay anything.

It is a little annoying to see a gas light come on when you still have 3-4 gallons of fuel...do you guys go by the gas light when refilling, or do you look at the fuel range to determine when to re-fill?

 

its a reserve for the dummies!!!!
apparently, you're being a dummy!

Just know that you have 3 or 4 gallons when the light goes off.
so, you def. can stretch out the miles but its also bad on the fuel pump to be running on fumes.

its not a hard concept... its not rocket science.

 

This is nothing new and how many cars operate these days. Every car I have owned for the past 15 years has operated in a similar manner. My old Calais and Probe had a bit of wiggle room, my Z24 was spot on 2 gallons left, and my tC I think had some more wiggle room. Gas light "usually" means roughly less than 50 miles of range left....and some have even more leeway while others don't.

 

This is the first I'm hearing about a 17 gallon tank.

Whenever I fill up, it's consistently around 12-13. I had no idea the reserve was so huge. Excellent. I won't change my habits then.

 

I go by the gas light usually-- my TL low fuel light comes on when it needs 13.2 gallons to fill the tank.
BTW, the "range" is pretty conservative: even at 0 miles range left, I don't recall ever filling the tank with 15 gallons or more.

 

Shame on the dealer with replacing the fuel relay.

Doesn't matter what other cars are like - what other car have you owned that was different? is this your first car?

My 15 year old Chevy w/ an 18 gallon tank specifically states that the light comes on when 20% fuel remains, or 3.6 gallons remains, so this is hardly a *new* idea or phenomenon. To me, this is much better than the cars from 30 years ago when there was no warning light, and the gauge itself was often not accurate - much better than running out of gas, because you forgot to fill up at the last interstate offramp and the next one is 100 miles away. Guess you don't live in the western states.

And what is the size of their tank? is it larger than 17 gallons, perhaps 20 or 25? Yes, there are such vehicles, as I have owned some myself. 20% of a 20 gallon tank leaves 16 gallons to fill up.

And the RDX OM (owner manual) specifically states that if the gas tank is run close to empty, you risk damaging the fuel pump or the catalytic converters - so 1/4 tank fuel remaining is a good limit for the low-fuel light. You would do well to fill when or *before* the light comes on.
==========

4 gallons times 20mpg, for an RDX = 80 miles, not that far when in Montana,

But do as you want.

 

u do not sound too intelligent man.

 

sounds normal

 

I remember reading somewhere on here. When the car says 0 miles till empty there's actually 2 gallons still in the tank. I haven't tested that but I can tell you i've driven ~25miles after the car said 0 miles till empty. So at 0 miles till E your at 15 gallons and then completely empty is 17 gallons. And you can actually squeeze another gallon or two in after the pump shuts off if you pump slow

 

Well said. The truth of it is the healthy reserve is likely to keep warranty claims for new fuel pumps down. I like this feature of the TL. When I had the tank down on my other car, I bent the float so it would read empty when it got down to 1/4 tank. That car ran out of gas dead on the E if not before. My friend's IS350 ran out at 16 miles to empty. But most cars have a reserve. They have to if for no other reason than production variance. If it's set up to run out of fuel right on the E or at 0 miles to empty some will run out before empty or 0.

I shouldn't even say this but the TL's tank will hold 20 gallons. I ran it past empty and wanted to make it from Bakersfield Ca to Mesa Az on one tank of gas which is over 500 miles. I filled it up, and majorly topped it off where there was gas sitting in the filler neck. It's not good to do because you can hurt the evap system, not to mention the safety aspect. Plus, the gas usually comes out of the ground cool or cold and expands as it warms up in the tank. In this particular instance I knew I was going to be driving for 500 miles without shutting it off so I was hoping it would use fuel at least as quickly as the fuel expanded from heat. I did it once and got lucky, won't do it again anytime soon.