Fuel Warning Light, D-max/colorado

[micksterbs]

Just wondered:

Does anyone know how much you have in the tank when the warning light comes on? I don't really relish finding-out the hard way. Mine doesn't seem to be that trustworthy. It'll come on and then if you stop and then come back to the car and drive away, sometimes it won't come back on for another 5 or 6kms. I always try and keep the tank about quarter-full at least but sometimes it does get a bit low on a run and, sod's law being what it is, the light always seems to pop up when you're in a strange area without a clue about the nearest fuel station. Any ideas?

[Crossy]

There's usually 5-6 litres in the tank when the light comes on, but try this.

Run until the light appears then fill the tank to the brim. Subract the amount of fuel you get in from the tank capacity in the manual, presto amount in the tank when the light comes on, assume 10km/L and you know how far you can go with the light on

QED

[micksterbs]

Ok, Crossy; thanks for that. I'll work on 5-6 litres. Your method for determining the exact amount would work apart from the fact that if one brims the tank, the amount will be the tank capacity plus what will fit in the filler neck and that has to be at least another 5 litres. Good idea on paper though.

Cheers!

[culicine]

Check your user manaul. My honda civic says that when the light comes on you have less than (if I recall) 7.8 litres in the take left. You would be good for 50 kms I reckon even if the light has come on. Contrast that with my mini. Whn the gauge hit empty it really did mean empty! Found that one out the hard way too!

[Crossy]

Ok, Crossy; thanks for that. I'll work on 5-6 litres. Your method for determining the exact amount would work apart from the fact that if one brims the tank, the amount will be the tank capacity plus what will fit in the filler neck and that has to be at least another 5 litres. Good idea on paper though.

Hey, nobody said it was exact. If you're that paranoid about it then it's a pretty good guestimate, there's certainly not 5 litres in the filler tube on my car, even if there was it would give an under estimate (safe) value for the fuel remaining in the tank

I simply start looking for a fuel station at about 1/4 tank, that gives me at least 150km before desperation will set in

[ignis]

Same here normally refill when it read ¼ , but last year there was a problem the only petrol station had no diesel so ended up driving the 48km home with the light on + the following day another 11 km to my nearest petrol station …..

Asked at Isuzu when I had a service they said when the light 1^st starts to come on this engine 2.5 Ddi i-Teq will run for around 100km

[micksterbs]

Yeah, me too. It's just that a few times I've been out in the ulu and the needle's going down and you start looking for somewhere and it's getting lower and lower, you know the situation. Round here, you're spoilt for choice for somewhere to fill-up but it can be a different story elsewhere.

Thanks for the input!

[torrenova]

I never forgo the opportunity to fill up if I'm over 1/4 down and in the boonies. In town, I'll drive till 1/4 full.

[oxymoron]

I never forgo the opportunity to fill up if I'm over 1/4 down and in the boonies. In town, I'll drive till 1/4 full.

I have not really used a fuel guage for nearly 50 years and neither do any of my family. Every vehicle has a log so after a month or two we know how many litres per 100 km it uses ( plenty of other threads on the methods of obtaining this ). WE know the fuel tank capacity so we know the range.

So we refuel in accord with the TRIP meter.

eg my old Mercedes 500km with 50 km safety

wifes new Holden Vectra V6 450 Km (always has climate control a/c on. etc

Must admit they do help in telling you you have "holed your tank" which I have done more than once in the bush.

[torrenova]

50 years ago they didn't have electronic gizmos which are supposed to tell you your MPG and I think the argument is really whether they can be trusted and are accurate enough to be relied upon. According to mine I get about 8kn/L driving around town.