I don't know if it's me or I can't do math, but everytime the information center beeps reminding me I'm running low on fuel, it will say 50 miles before reaching empty. Here's the problem, if I travel for less than one mile after receiving the warning, the number seems to drop drastically from 50 to about 45. In other words, my truck will reach empty way before even traveling the 50 miles. Is this not accurate or where am I confused? I figure that for every mile you travel, the number should drop by one accordingly. I hope I didn't confuse anyone.

 

Depends on how you're driving.

That initial number is based off its MPG calculations prior. If you start driving harder then the number (DTE) will go down faster.

 

I am guessing you have never actually run out of gas. Have you ever driven it to zero? If you had driven it to 0 miles to empy you would realize that you actually are not out of gas, there seems to be a reserve that the computer doesnt incorporate into the mileage indicator. I have run it down to zero miles and then gone to fill up, and I still had approximately 2-3 gallons in the tank.

 

Trust me guys, I got rid of my heavy led foot ever since gas prices started to rise. I drive my truck like I was an old lady. But the numbers just don't seem to match up no matter how easy I am on the throttle.

 

I also ran it down to 0 miles and then filled the tank, it took 25.871 Gal's and the tank on mine is 28 Gal.

 

Seriously guys, do you want the engine to sputter and shut off when it hits zero? I would only assume that there is lots of reserve in there..

 

I have never let it run on empty, but I just don't get why it drops so drastically if I haven't even traveled 1 complete mile when the message center suddenly reads, "45 miles till empy"? What happened to those 5 miles?

 

I think this is a common problem. All of the fords with the message center I have owned did this or something similar. I would be driving with 30 miles to empty. Park, get back in and after a bit would have 19 miles to empty. Can't say why.

 

Is this normal though? I can understand if the computer is a little off, but when you haven't even traveled that one mile from the time you get the warning, when all of a sudden the message thing says, "45 till empty", you wonder if the computer is screwed up or something.

 

Does the computer do this at all fuel levels or just when getting down to the last 50 miles or so?

 

Well, sort of. I found out recently when I pressed the info button that the thing read 60 miles till empty and it seemed to be doing the same thing. It went from 60 to 55, and I only traveled for about 2 miles.