Lowest MTE
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2003
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Lowest MTE
Curious to see the lowest people have gone on their "Miles to Empty" gauge. Better yet, how many miles left did it say when you ran out? Down to 45 mte today, but gauge was well above the red. However on my 99 I ran it down to 15 miles to empty feeling cocky because someone told me Ford had a built in safety margin on their gauges. WRONG!
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,127
Likes: 6
If I recall, there is a defuel program that will shut down the vehicle before the pump sucks air (so you never really go to empty).
Reason: sucking air will destroy the fuel pump and injectors.
Why not just stop playing the game and not run it below 1/8 of a tank?
Paul:
If you are watching, I am on record for strongly objecting to using the fuel gauge sensor in this fashion to prevent air in system. That gauge is far too inaccurate and also, subject to failure to be used for such a critical function.
Much better to pay the $2 to use a better sensor, possibly at the fuel pump, or better yet, just ahead of the fuel injection pump, to do this very critical job....
Reason: sucking air will destroy the fuel pump and injectors.
Why not just stop playing the game and not run it below 1/8 of a tank?
Paul:
If you are watching, I am on record for strongly objecting to using the fuel gauge sensor in this fashion to prevent air in system. That gauge is far too inaccurate and also, subject to failure to be used for such a critical function.
Much better to pay the $2 to use a better sensor, possibly at the fuel pump, or better yet, just ahead of the fuel injection pump, to do this very critical job....
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
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From: Isanti, MN
Curious to see the lowest people have gone on their "Miles to Empty" gauge. Better yet, how many miles left did it say when you ran out? Down to 45 mte today, but gauge was well above the red. However on my 99 I ran it down to 15 miles to empty feeling cocky because someone told me Ford had a built in safety margin on their gauges. WRONG!
If you are watching, I am on record for strongly objecting to using the fuel gauge sensor in this fashion to prevent air in system. That gauge is far too inaccurate and also, subject to failure to be used for such a critical function.
Much better to pay the $2 to use a better sensor, possibly at the fuel pump, or better yet, just ahead of the fuel injection pump, to do this very critical job....
Much better to pay the $2 to use a better sensor, possibly at the fuel pump, or better yet, just ahead of the fuel injection pump, to do this very critical job....
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
Ran mine down to zero today, couple miles past. I was on I-64 going East out of St. Louis and wanted to make it to I-57 where the big fuel stops are. Only took 24.2 gallons.
I also ran my DEF tank dry today. I had 302 miles to get home when the "300 miles to empty" warning came on. I figured I may as well run it dry and fill the tank in the morning. I just got home, message saying "speed limited to 55 mph upon restart" is showing. I have 5 gallons ready to go in when I get up tomorrow.
A little perspective here, I drove 2345 miles in the last 4 days. I had 697 miles to get home when I woke up this morning just East of St. Louis and I really wanted to sleep in my bed so I just stopped for fuel 3 times and pounded the pavement. Got home in just under 12 hours.
Also, my "oil change required" light came on when I was 1000 miles from home. I did not want to blow an afternoon with a Ford dealer somewhere in rural Kansas. So I have that to take care of tomorrow as well.
I also ran my DEF tank dry today. I had 302 miles to get home when the "300 miles to empty" warning came on. I figured I may as well run it dry and fill the tank in the morning. I just got home, message saying "speed limited to 55 mph upon restart" is showing. I have 5 gallons ready to go in when I get up tomorrow.
A little perspective here, I drove 2345 miles in the last 4 days. I had 697 miles to get home when I woke up this morning just East of St. Louis and I really wanted to sleep in my bed so I just stopped for fuel 3 times and pounded the pavement. Got home in just under 12 hours.
Also, my "oil change required" light came on when I was 1000 miles from home. I did not want to blow an afternoon with a Ford dealer somewhere in rural Kansas. So I have that to take care of tomorrow as well.
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2003
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Usually I don't run it that low. It's just been one of those weeks where the last thing on my mind was fuel - until I got on the highway and it went orange. And ofcourse the only station near by was the one with the hightest price around. 3.85 per gallon!
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2009
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I likely have the record for the longest drive with the low fuel light lit. I let Deb take the truck...here is the story, I have told it before:
when I first got the truck home from Nebraska I let Deb take it to go antique shopping with her friend. They were going for the day and likely were traveling to their favorite place 90 miles away. I told her to watch the fuel and do not drive too far if the low fuel light came on. When she got home she asked me if 60 miles was too far? I prayed I would get the 4 blocks to the fuel stop by my house. The stock tank took 25.5 gallons. Too close for me but I never said anything to Deb...maybe I should have...not
Regards
when I first got the truck home from Nebraska I let Deb take it to go antique shopping with her friend. They were going for the day and likely were traveling to their favorite place 90 miles away. I told her to watch the fuel and do not drive too far if the low fuel light came on. When she got home she asked me if 60 miles was too far? I prayed I would get the 4 blocks to the fuel stop by my house. The stock tank took 25.5 gallons. Too close for me but I never said anything to Deb...maybe I should have...not
Regards
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Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Panama City, FL area
I remember reading that the computer computes the MTE value based on the average milage before the last average MPG (lie-o-meter) reset (hold the OK button). The computer does not figure constant updates based on present MPG as you burn fuel.
You might have noticed that the MTE will very somewhat ever fill up, even if you let the pump click off at the same level in the tank. I notice a 200 mile swing in my MTE if I reset when towing or unloaded.
So if you had real good MPG before your last reset and are towing now getting a heck of a lot less MPG, you are setting yourself up to end up stranded on empty.
You might have noticed that the MTE will very somewhat ever fill up, even if you let the pump click off at the same level in the tank. I notice a 200 mile swing in my MTE if I reset when towing or unloaded.
So if you had real good MPG before your last reset and are towing now getting a heck of a lot less MPG, you are setting yourself up to end up stranded on empty.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,127
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There can be adequate pressure but gas bubbles in the line.
Imagine the system sucking up some gas bubbles (foamy fuel) momentarily but is not enough to drop pressure. The gas may still goes to to the pump and injectors.
I am sure there is a fuel / gas separator at the fuel return line that can deal with small amounts of gases, but what happens above a critical level?
Need some engineering data on that.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 400
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From: Orlando Florida
I have actually had the truck shut down on me after going 20 miles past the zero mark. The truck will give you a low MPH warning due and low power warning until it actually no longer goes. The reason I ran out was due to the 2 stations that I stopped at no longer sold diesel and the sirus travel link still showed them selling diesel. After I recieved fuel, it took a about 5-6 key turns to get the truck to actually turn over and I had a CIL and a lot of surging. After a couple of times turning turning the key off and running the truck the surging and CIl went away. Lesson learned. I won't ever go 10 miles past zero.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 314
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From: Winfield, WV
I always try to fill up before I am below 1/8 of a tank. With the Titan, if I fill up when the fuel light comes on I still have 5 gallons. I drove 40 minutes to work yesterday after the fuel light came on and it took 45.5 gallons.
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