"Miles to Empty"
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 2
I agree it is a good habit to give yourself wide margin and not intentionally run low on fuel, though. 
Senior User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 318
Likes: 2
From: Hanford, Cali
He's actually right, to a point. It won't really do it at 1/4 tank, but much below that there WILL be times when the pump WILL suck air, which IS NOT conducive to long pump life. The times when it will do it is during bumpy driving, steep hills(up AND down), and, of course, when you are just about out. So, no, he is NOT making stuff up. You just wish he was.....
Senior User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 318
Likes: 2
From: Hanford, Cali
Yup, thought about that AFTER I made the post. Must be getting old..... or it's getting late (10:12PM).... or (gulp) BOTH......
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 2
I understand the problems when pump pulls air and I'm not debating that's a bad thing. Choosing to say it happens at 1/4 tank is the made up part. You just wish it wasn't..... 
On that same thought, it would be neat info if somebody could show a cross-section of the various fuel tanks and how the pump is located and level of fuel at various fills. What fuel level is "too low" will always be a guessing game until useful data is put on the table. And I think most everybody here is genuinely interested to know the correct answer to avoid problems.
On that same thought, it would be neat info if somebody could show a cross-section of the various fuel tanks and how the pump is located and level of fuel at various fills. What fuel level is "too low" will always be a guessing game until useful data is put on the table. And I think most everybody here is genuinely interested to know the correct answer to avoid problems.
Senior User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 318
Likes: 2
From: Hanford, Cali
But we did have a little fun with it...
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
funny story
The day I picked my 2010 up at dealer the saleman told me to go out and drive it while he got the paperwork set up with closer. It was sitting on level ground and I noticed it said "0" miles remaining and the gauge was on "low empty". I went back in and told him and he got in with me and went and filled it up and the station was 3 miles away- anyway we did not run out of gas.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,088
Likes: 1
Yeah, you don't want to let the fuel pump suck air too often, but I think a quarter tank is way overkill.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,088
Likes: 1
LOL, of course it is running off of how much fuel it thinks is still in the tank. That's just not enough information to be able to calculate DTE, the system also needs some sort of consumption value to use. And that's from the average consumption during the last 500 miles - according to Ford.
Freshman User
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Lenexa, KS
I've done about that a few times in my 07 Expy. I fill up on the MO side of the state line when I am downtown at work. Sometimes I miscalculate and end up close to 0 miles on my trip to work. Pretty sure my Expy has 2 gallons left in the tank when it hits zero.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,088
Likes: 1
I think filling up or not based on gas prices is like betting on the stock market - which in fact is like gambling.
So I never really look how much it is - I will buy the gas anyway. I drive until the light comes on - then I fill her up. Most of the time in two transactions as the pump shuts off at $100, and that won't fill up my 36 gal tank!
So I never really look how much it is - I will buy the gas anyway. I drive until the light comes on - then I fill her up. Most of the time in two transactions as the pump shuts off at $100, and that won't fill up my 36 gal tank!
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 2
Huh??? Price is posted and he knows exactly what he's paying. It might seem inconvenient to a lot of people but it is as much gambling as buying a quart of milk at the grocery. Or does the dairy aisle make you nervous, too? 
By the way, just owning a stock isn't gambling either. Companies issue stocks to raise money needed to sustain and grow the business. When you own a share of stock, you are part owner of the company and have a claim on every asset and earnings. The value of your share of stock is tied to the value of the company. Your behavior and attitude is what determines if you're a gambler or not and people can turn almost anything into gambling if they want. Some people do gamble on stocks trying to turn a profit, but most people in the stock market are investors.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,088
Likes: 1
Huh??? Price is posted and he knows exactly what he's paying. It might seem inconvenient to a lot of people but it is as much gambling as buying a quart of milk at the grocery. Or does the dairy aisle make you nervous, too? By the way, owning a stock isn't gambling either. Companies issue stocks to raise money needed to sustain and grow the business. When you own a share of stock, you are part owner of the company and have a claim on every asset and earnings. The value of your share of stock is tied to the value of the company. Of course, just like anything in life, you can turn it into gambling by misusing it. But that doesn't make everybody in the stock market a gambler.