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How do you know there is 1.5 gallons left? If you are basing it off the tripmeter on the overhead console, it may be wrong. The fuel guage recieves it's reading from a float in the tank, and the tripmeter "estimates" based on current driving style. If you do alot of passing on the highway (up and down low and high RPM's), there is no real way for the tripmeter to know exactly how much fuel you have left. My tripmeter has been on zero and the low fuel light not on yet.
In average, how much fuel is in the tank when the "low gas" indicator lights up???
I think it has to be about 5 galons, because when re-fueling an empty gas tank (and "low fuel" indicator is lit)" the truck will only take about 25 galons...
If I remember correctly, the gas light comes on when 1/16th of a tank is left. In the case of the 30 gallon tank, you're looking at about 1.8 gallons left.
I have the same issue, I think the light comes on way to late to be of much use. I realize the trip computer isn't the most accurate thing, but my fuel light typically comes on when it's reading 15 miles to empty.
I asked my local Ford dealer about this too. I was told that it comes on when there's approximately 5 gallons remaining in the tank so you have good warning your low.
My 250 seems to come on between 5 an 7 gallons as it takes between 22 and 24 to top off.
Funny i have never seen my low fuel light come on. then again i don't let the truck get too far below 1/8 before i am looking for trucks favorite stop.....the pump.never know what might get sucked up into the screen in the tank and plug the screen or worse suck some water that might be sitting on the bottom of the tank...I heard this used to be kinda a problem .but nowadays i don't know.better to be safe then sorry i guess
My low fuel "light" came on today when I had 50 miles left (according to computer). I drove for another 20 and then filled up. When I filled up I had 3 gallons left in my 28 gallon tank.
Just bear in mind that in-tank fuel pumps rely upon surrounding gasoline to act as a liquid heat sink, keeping the pump cool. Too many low-fuel experiences will shorten the life of the pump.
Thanks for the replies. Here's the situation. Last month I installed a Force II catback system and thought I reset the computer. Gages spiked, but I only disconnected the battery for 4 min. Before the installation the low fuel light would come on with enough warning to get to a gas station. After the install I recieved a phone call from my wife. She was at the mall and had run out of gas. She said the light came on as she was leaving the garage and went straight to the mall (5 miles). I topped of the tank to check if she actually ran out of gas or if there was another problem. The Expy took 30.1 Gallons. (It's supposed to have a 26 gallon tank). I normally top the tank to check mileage (I don't have a trip computer) and knew that was correct. Last tank it acted like it was about to run out of gas, but no low fuel light. Made it to gas station and feed her another 28.6 gallons. I reset the computer again last night. This time disconnecting the battery for 30min. It did seem to be quieter maybe that cured it.
You gotta love this site!
Well, Many of you have seen my posts and probably think I complain a lot, but the reality is my 03 expy just hasn't lived up to expectations. Here's my 2 cents on how my low fuel light is.
In my 2002 EB, the low fuel light came on with 5-6 gallons in the tank. (figured by subtracting the amount needed to fill from the total capacity of the tank).
In my 2003 XLT 4x4, the low fuel light comes on with .8 gallons left. I figured this using the exact same method as mentioned above.
I have repeated this test on multiple occasions, pulling over withing 1 mile of when the light comes on. At 14 mpg (yep, that's what I get) .8 of one gallon gives me about 11 miles before I'm dead. Since I live in a major city with big traffic issues, I won't let the tank go below 1/4. Just another wonderful feature of my new 03 expy.