jonathancl

How accurate is your fuel gauge?

My yellow light comes on when the gauge reads 1/8 tank, but there's always 4-5 gallons left.

Today I let it go as long as I dared. The gauge needle was sitting on the empty peg, and I still only took on 18.1 gallons when I filled up.

My 2001 GS430 has 70000 miles, and it's done this since I bought it with 30000 miles. It hasn't gotten worse or better.

Am I alone?
Can I fix it?
Do you care?

Tranman

iTrader: (1)

I thought the fuel tank had around 20 gallons capacity?

BTW: I have nearly 87k on my 2003 GS430

GSquicksilver

the fuel light will come up around that point. there is always a reserve capacity in the tank just in case people run all the way down. think about it, what's the point on having the light come on when you have only like half a gallon left? this way, it notifies you earlier so that you can refuel at a reasonable time. my fuel light always comes on when i have around 4-5 gallons left.

jonathancl

When the light comes on at 1/8 tank, I should have 1/8 of a tank left.
When my gauge reads 1/8, I actually have 1/4.
When it reads empty, I still have more than 1.5 gallons. I can drive another half hour on that...safely.

Shouldn't empty really mean empty?

By your logic, my speedometer should overstate my speed so I'm less likely to actually speed.

Are you telling me that your GS has a similarly inaccurate fuel gauge?

Kharizma

iTrader: (6)

i'm just confused... lol mine seems so accurate, i haven't had any problems

gserep1

I have the SAME problem with my car. It drives me crazy. I have a feeling that if I change the float, it will do the same thing. So I just live with it.

BLK98GS3

i think mine usually comes on at a little over 1/8th of a tank but when i go to fill up its usually around 14 gallons...so i think thats about right. I just always wondered why it came on so early, but doesnt really matter because i know its working correctly.

kpuri

Same here, mine kicks on when I am down to 4.5 gal.

The car manufactures call this White Lies so you don't get your self stranded.

A car magazine a few years back had a 2 page article on this very subject titled “White Lies” some car manufactures lie sooner then others; it's only for your own good

LXBOY

I wouldn't have tried it on my Lex, if I didn't had the nav. since it calculates how many many u can drive the car wit hte fuel in ur tank. I went as low as 5 miles. I was hoping it was accurate, otherwise, very embarrasing to see a Lex pulled over for no gas.... shyatttttt.

gawd

iTrader: (1)

On my HD based Nav, a "LOW FUEL" is displayed on the mileage left and comes on a little after the dash light. I've driven it a little ways past the E mark, but I haven't been any braver than that. The GS is a heavy car to push

lyonkster

Mine does the same thing - shows Empty when there are still 5 gallons in there (assuming the 20 gal capacity can be trusted). But, since I hate to run out of gas, I do end up filling up when the light comes on, squeezing in only 14-15 gallons. It's annoying because I have to keep stopping for gas 25% more frequently than I want to, but I am too chicken to let it run out of gas .

aliti19

I think they do that on purpose to keep you from running out of gas. Now, most Benzes & BMW's that i know of are legitimately empty when they hit the "E". I never let my car go below 1/4 tank just in case something happens on the road.

Rexdr

I thought ALL cars were like that? Well, at least all cars I've owned.

Stage3

iTrader: (3)

I thought the GS4's had only a 16 gallon tank??? I could have sworn I read that somewhere...

Spyder78

iTrader: (7)

19 gallons for sure refer to your owners manual.