whitels

What was the most number of gallons that you have pumped in your tank to fill it up? I'm trying to gauge how much fuel is left in the tank when the needle is right smack on the "E" line. Just curious. Mine was 16.1

Edit: Question rephrased: what is the maximum gallons have you ever pumped in the car? And where was the needle at that point?

tfischer

Since each car is calibrated a little differently, why don't you wait until your gauge needle is right on the "E" line and fill it up. Then subtract the gallons shown on the pump from 19.8 (the stated capacity of the tank), and the result is the amount of fuel stll in your tank (not mine and not the tanks of other readers) when the needle is right smack on the "E" line.

I do this for all my cars, as it is helpful to know what the reserve is that is not shown on the gauge. It's also good to to this at the 1/2 mark and the 3/4 mark, just so you will know how much gas you car will take when you fill it up at these points.

What I am saying is that you don't really care how much gas is in my tank when my needle is on "E," you want to know how much gas is in your car when your needle is on "E." You are the only one who can make an accurate determination of that.

For what it's worth, my guess is that when on "E," your car will take about 17.5 gals.

Also note that there are several low fuel warnings in this car. The "Range" indicator on the center "trip info" will come on by itself, and then start to flash as you get low. When you get even lower, the red light in the instrument cluster will light up. If you want, you could drive until these warnings come on, then fill up and see what your margin of safety is with respect to the calibration of these warnings. I have not done that. I think back in 2001 when I got my car, I might have let it run way down just to test that the red light was working, but I can't recall how much gas it took to fill it back up. I don't drive my SC a lot, so I seldom let it get below 1/4.

Let us know what you find is your reserve at the "E" point.

whitels

I put something like 16.1- therefore reserve is around 3 gals. But let me rephrase the question, I should have asked: what is the maximum gallons have you ever pumped in the car? And where was the needle at that point?

rominl

iTrader: (4)

the max i had was 15. dont' try to go too low, if it's really empty you can damage the fuel pump, i did that on my gs400, it's no fun changing the fuel pump on the car.

technically when the light is on and the needle at E, the car still has reserve, around 3 gallons i believe, so it will "save" you, however again, don't try your luck. you can be on a bit incline and that can kill you

whitels

On a side note, the fuel pump on my GS400 also died at somewhere around 75k miles. I had the GS "flat-bedded" to Longo where the replacement was made. I never had run out of fuel on the GS. Wonder if it is a GS issue that's just not too widespread - sort of just under the radar.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

that's a first i have heard with bad fuel pump on the car. i think i read somewhere that the fuel pump (together with fuel filter) should last for a long long time. i know people with over 100k miles and things are still fine

maybe occasionally use of techron helps?

tonydt1g3r

I have pumped 18.2 gallons before

whitels

Do you remember if the needle was way below the E line or still touching it?