This is not something I attempt very often (or at all, actually) because it's not good to expose the fuel pump as the gasoline actually lubricates it and keeps it cool. However tonight I was channeling memories of Kramer's test drive in a Saab 900 that seemed to never reach an empty tank so I set off to find out where I'd be when the tank ran dry.

To keep a long story short, I never got there. I always thought my Elantra had a small fuel tank as the low fuel light always comes on at 250-275 miles after filling up in city traffic. Well as it happens, the fuel gauge is just VERY conservative and cautious and I'm left wondering if Hyundai engineers really wanted to keep people from running out.

My fuel gauge is digital and consists of 12 bars and when the tank is full, all of the bars light up. As the fuel level drops, they go out one by one until the bottom bar is left at which point the gas pump light comes on. I went thirty miles on the low fuel light until the bar began to blink, something people had told me was a true 'Danger Will Robinson!' moment but I reset Trip B and continued driving in circles, staying close to gas stations I knew were open.

50 miles after the low fuel light came on and 20 miles after the bar started to blink, my car was still running and showed no signs of giving up. I pulled into a 76 and filled up where the car took 11.667 gallons out of a 12.86 gallon tank. This tells me that if I were to continue driving, I could have gone another 30 miles or a total of 80 miles on E given my then-average of 27.4 MPG.

I have to wonder if this is a Hyundai thing or are newer cars this way?

 

I think most cars have a very conservative low fuel warning.

My '06 TSX has a VERY high tank "reserve".
It has 17.1 gallon tank and if I were to fill up as soon as the low fuel light comes on I'd only put in ~13.5 gallons.

In addition to a typical needle gas gauge, the TSX has an estimated range. The low fuel light typically comes on at 35 miles fuel range. I have driven for ~20 miles past 0 miles and still barely put 15 gallons in.

Don't blame the engineers, blame the lawyers.

 

I've driven 60miles past the "0 miles" estimate on a chevy cruze rental.

 

Most cars are good for about 30 miles after the light comes on but anything after that is a risk but there are a lot of cars that can go a decent amount over that.

I ran out of fuel once and i never want to go through that again.

 

On my way to the New York Auto Show this past weekend, I pulled into NYC and put 17.9+ gallons into the 18.5 gallon tank of my TSX. The low fuel light had been on for at least an hour and the range counter in the MID showed "-----" for at least the last half hour.

 

No; I think it's common on the Honda line.
I've driven my 2005 TL a number of miles past "0" range with the gas light on several times, and have never put in more than 15.5 gallons into the 17.1 gallon tank. A couple of weeks ago, I ran it to "0" miles (forgot to get gas the night before, and had to rush out that day ) and put in 14.4 gallons.
Our Odyssey has a really conservative low fuel light too, compared to the gauge needle.

 

I usually have about a gallon or so left after the gauge reads zero and miles to empty reads zero. So that translates to about 30 miles or so.

It's definitely a buffer built in from the manufacturers. I experienced the same thing in my TSX. One time I thought I was going to run out of gas in central Florida but I had 30-40 miles left and made it to the next gas station several miles down without a problem.

 

I got my TL to 0 miles range, filled it up with 14 gallons and it holds 17 so I could have gotten at least 60 more miles.

 

I regularly drive my TL after the low fuel warning and light are on. I have found that it comes on when there is still about 3 gallons of fuel left. I typically fill up when I reach about 400 miles on that tank.

 

My wife loves to "test" this all the time....drives me fucking nuts.

 

My gas gauge goes to 11

 

S2000 has a 13.2 gallon tank .. the most I've filled is just over 12.

I could have theoretically gone another 30 - 35 miles ... but why push it?

 

Nothing like sucking up rust/debris into the fuel delivery system....good times!

 

I wouldn't recommend letting your fuel getting that low. That is great way to kill your fuel pump and get crap into the fuel system.

 

I think my Accord had 3 gallons left when the low fuel light came on. I never flinched when that happened. Just got gas when I had time.

My Jetta had one or 2 gallons left when the light came on. Still didn't flinch, but it was accompanied by a very loud beep that let all my passengers know I was a cheapass.

 

As mentioned, I rather fill up before E. Usually at 1/4 tank, to keep the fuel pump cooled and happy.

I need to stop driving like a dickwad though, I'm barely scraping 24 mpg

 

I know that on the 4G the gauge estimates low fuel levels based on that tanks MPG. I've gone 80 miles in the 09' after the the estimated range read 0. I don't remember exactly how much, but when I felled up I think I still had just under a gallon left, like .7-.9.

Edit: those 80 miles were done on the hwy hypermiling.

 

I agree with what's said above about not running the tank low, even if you could you probably shouldn't unless it's for a track day or something. Fuel cools the pump and helps extend its life, also if it's low you're gonna suck up debris in the tank and could clog your fuel filter prematurely. I rarely go below a 1/4 tank, I try to fill up between 1/4 and 1/2 tank when convenient.

 

i see the light, I take my TSX straight to the gas station!

 

I mean... do people do this stuff just out of curiosity? I don't like to run it super low. What if something unexpected happens at a station when you need to fill up? Pumps are broken or whatever so you go to the next one... too crowded, go to the next one.... they're out of premium, next one... etc? Sure it's a stretch but I do remember once having to pass 3 stations for various reasons when I need to fill up.

 

My wife had an Impreza years ago that was bucking/sputtering maybe 5 miles after the low gas light came on..

I otherwise don't wish to find out..