Low Fuel indicator

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Old Jul 18, 2014 | 12:14 PM
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Low Fuel indicator

Is there a way to change the parameters for this? Every time i fill up I feel like there's way too much margin left...today I only added 15 gallons. I realize I could just hit the select button but this is a minor annoyance for me. Personally I take mostly short trips so a 30mile warning would be adequate, so at 1.5 gallons left.

I remember reading on a bmw forum that a guy was mad it actually ran out at 0...even when I filled up with estimated 30miles left it actually was closer to 60 (based on fillup vs computer).
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Old Jul 18, 2014 | 12:26 PM
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you have a 17 gallon tank.
when the gas light goes off, there will be about 3 gallons left.

you cannot change the parameters
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Old Jul 18, 2014 | 12:35 PM
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it's not a changeable parameter and although I don't have a 4G, my experience with Honda/Acura vehicles is that the light come on with about 4 gallons left. YMMV.
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Old Jul 18, 2014 | 12:38 PM
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Originally Posted by justnspace
you have a 17 gallon tank.
The tank is actually 18.5 gallons.
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Old Jul 18, 2014 | 12:39 PM
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thanks for the correction.

it still leaves about 3 gallons left
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Old Jul 18, 2014 | 01:58 PM
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Originally Posted by ucf_bronco
The tank is actually 18.5 gallons.
How dare you correct the 3G guy that has no experience with a 4G? Yet comments about them more than the members that own them.
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Old Jul 18, 2014 | 02:01 PM
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Originally Posted by ucf_bronco
The tank is actually 18.5 gallons.
Great to know! Thanks! I rarely run my tank down to the red.
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Old Jul 18, 2014 | 02:43 PM
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regardless of tank capacity, the dummy light comes on when there's about 3 gallons left.

and Broccoli, i do love your tattoos.
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Old Jul 18, 2014 | 02:55 PM
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also, does this mean the 4G uses more fuel than the 3G?

the 3G comes equipped with a 17 gallon tank.
why the move to 1.5 more gallons?
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Old Jul 18, 2014 | 03:13 PM
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You never want to run your gas tank all the way to 1 gallon, it can cause fuel pump damage down the road.

But mine also goes off 2-3 gallons left in the tank, just took getting used to
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Old Jul 18, 2014 | 03:42 PM
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When the indicator comes on, there are about 2.5 U.S. gal (9.6 L) on SH-AWD models, and 2.8 U.S. gal (10.5 L) on 2WD models of fuel remaining in the tank.
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Old Jul 18, 2014 | 04:12 PM
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I've noticed twice now that when the DTE gets down to 10 miles it only takes about 3 miles for that to go down to 0. I have tested this twice now. I don't really understand that logic.
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Old Jul 18, 2014 | 04:18 PM
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The top half is always bigger than the bottom half in non digital readouts.
Mine is normally above full until 130-165km. the second it drops, it's a free fall.
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Old Jul 18, 2014 | 05:20 PM
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Originally Posted by jterp7
Is there a way to change the parameters for this? Every time i fill up I feel like there's way too much margin left...today I only added 15 gallons. I realize I could just hit the select button but this is a minor annoyance for me. Personally I take mostly short trips so a 30mile warning would be adequate, so at 1.5 gallons left.
Originally Posted by madrussian190
You never want to run your gas tank all the way to 1 gallon, it can cause fuel pump damage down the road.

But mine also goes off 2-3 gallons left in the tank, just took getting used to
If hitting the select button is to much of an annoyance for you, just fill up the tank when you get the low fuel warning. As MADRUSSIAN said, you don't want the tank to go down too low.
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Old Jul 19, 2014 | 02:45 PM
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So you want to run the car almost completely empty before the light comes on. Definitely bad for the pump. Fuel actually keeps the pump cool during operation. Take it out of fuel and it gets hot pretty quick. I can see shortening the life span of the pump rather quickly. Finally who wants to run the car down that low. With my luck once on E everything I need seems uphill
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Old Jul 19, 2014 | 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by RenoTL
If hitting the select button is to much of an annoyance for you, just fill up the tank when you get the low fuel warning. As MADRUSSIAN said, you don't want the tank to go down too low.
i don't like the idea of pretending i have a 15 gallon tank thanks

Originally Posted by dirtyo2000
So you want to run the car almost completely empty before the light comes on. Definitely bad for the pump. Fuel actually keeps the pump cool during operation. Take it out of fuel and it gets hot pretty quick. I can see shortening the life span of the pump rather quickly. Finally who wants to run the car down that low. With my luck once on E everything I need seems uphill
the gauge should represent actual fuel imo. As it stands the last tick = 3.5 gallons which makes no sense.

Originally Posted by LNJ
When the indicator comes on, there are about 2.5 U.S. gal (9.6 L) on SH-AWD models, and 2.8 U.S. gal (10.5 L) on 2WD models of fuel remaining in the tank.
mine seems come on at 3.5-4 over the first 4 fillups. I have yet to fill more than 15.5 and according to the computer i had like 16 miles left, the average shown was 20...do the math. That's a bit too conservative, my accord was never that far off with the same tank (dunno if the trip distance meter is the same)
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Old Jul 19, 2014 | 07:49 PM
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The fuel filler neck is not accounted for. That possibly a couple of litres or more there.
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Old Jul 19, 2014 | 09:32 PM
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Originally Posted by dirtyo2000
So you want to run the car almost completely empty before the light comes on. Definitely bad for the pump. Fuel actually keeps the pump cool during operation. Take it out of fuel and it gets hot pretty quick. I can see shortening the life span of the pump rather quickly. Finally who wants to run the car down that low. With my luck once on E everything I need seems uphill
Totally agree. In addition to overheating, running near empty could suck up the sediment at the bottom of the tank. The junk could clog the fuel line.

More at Consumer Reports:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/n...stly/index.htm
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Old Jul 19, 2014 | 10:36 PM
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Originally Posted by justnspace
regardless of tank capacity, the dummy light comes on when there's about 3 gallons left.

and Broccoli, i do love your tattoos.
I don't speak retard, so you will have to explain the tattoo.
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Old Jul 24, 2014 | 12:12 PM
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Ok, i have a question? Why does it say not top off if you can fit more fuel in?
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Old Jul 24, 2014 | 12:27 PM
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You need extra room in your gas tank to allow the gasoline to expand. If you top off your tank, the extra gas may evaporate into your vehicle’s vapor collection system. That system may become fouled and will not work properly causing your vehicle to run poorly and have high gas emissions.
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Old Jul 24, 2014 | 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by justnspace
also, does this mean the 4G uses more fuel than the 3G?

the 3G comes equipped with a 17 gallon tank.
why the move to 1.5 more gallons?
I have always wondered about this. We had an 07 MDX with a 3.7L 6 cylinder and currently have an 09 Accord with a 2.4L 4 cylinder. Range in the Accord is more than double the MDX. Don't loose any sleep over it but never understood the reasoning..........

Originally Posted by LNJ
The top half is always bigger than the bottom half in non digital readouts.
Mine is normally above full until 130-165km. the second it drops, it's a free fall.
Any and all cars I have owned (or been in for that matter) do this. Needle will stay on "F" for quite some time and then will start moving. Once below half tank - goes into free fall.

Originally Posted by Cruelty82
Ok, i have a question? Why does it say not top off if you can fit more fuel in?
You don't want fuel in the filler hose and/or all the way up to the gas cap. You need to leave room for expansion of the fuel.
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Old Jul 24, 2014 | 12:51 PM
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Originally Posted by justnspace
also, does this mean the 4G uses more fuel than the 3G?

the 3G comes equipped with a 17 gallon tank.
why the move to 1.5 more gallons?

i would think so.. it is overall a bigger and heavier car.
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Old Jul 24, 2014 | 01:42 PM
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The "Range" calculation has always driven me nuts in this car. If I leave my house and it says 25 miles left, within 10 miles it's down to zero. This happens while driving conservatively and ensuring that my average mpg is the same as or better than what I've been getting on the tank up to that point. This happens on the highway too, not during city driving.

I rarely let it get low like that but I'm strict with the type of gas I put in it so if I'm low I'll keep driving until I get to a tier 1 station.
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Old Jul 24, 2014 | 03:06 PM
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Originally Posted by ucf_bronco
The "Range" calculation has always driven me nuts in this car. If I leave my house and it says 25 miles left, within 10 miles it's down to zero. This happens while driving conservatively and ensuring that my average mpg is the same as or better than what I've been getting on the tank up to that point. This happens on the highway too, not during city driving.

I rarely let it get low like that but I'm strict with the type of gas I put in it so if I'm low I'll keep driving until I get to a tier 1 station.
I agree... it's as if when the tank is full, the range is based on all 18.5 gallons in the tank, but as it approaches empty, the range is based on 15 gallons (or about).

I typically average 25MPG on the MID commuting to work. After about 15 miles of driving after a fill-up, the range is predicted to be nearly 500 miles (Trip A plus DTE). But as the tank empties, the total range drops, even though the MPG stays the same. Such that by the time the light comes on (45 miles to empty), I've only driven ~325 miles on Trip A.

I'd love to see the algorithm for the range calculation.
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Old Jul 24, 2014 | 07:23 PM
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There's nothing like seeing your fuel gauge at 1/2 tank 160miles into your tank... then 75 miles later, it's empty.
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