Low fuel light?
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 908
Likes: 59
From: Lincon, CA
Hello everyone,
No one has said anything about USEABLE fuel. If the tank capacity is 19 gallons, and the yellow light comes on after 15 gallons of use, you do NOT have 4 gallons in useable reserve. I believe there are 1 - 2 gallons of unusable fuel below the pick-up tube to allow for dirt, water and pump cooling in the bottom of the tank. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I've gone 30 miles with the yellow light on in my Highlander. Wouldn't chance it with the RX. As was said previously, "wife would kill me".
Ray A.
No one has said anything about USEABLE fuel. If the tank capacity is 19 gallons, and the yellow light comes on after 15 gallons of use, you do NOT have 4 gallons in useable reserve. I believe there are 1 - 2 gallons of unusable fuel below the pick-up tube to allow for dirt, water and pump cooling in the bottom of the tank. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I've gone 30 miles with the yellow light on in my Highlander. Wouldn't chance it with the RX. As was said previously, "wife would kill me".
Ray A.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 857
Likes: 47
From: Oregon
Just to add another data point I drove around the past few days with a gallon gas can in case I totally ran out.
The low fuel indication came on at about the 1/10th mark on the gauge (2010 450h) and the "range remaining" number went to 0 just as the analog needle centered on the E mark. Upon refueling I found there was a bit over 2 gallons left in the tank, or roughly another 50 miles of travel. Good to know just in case.
The low fuel indication came on at about the 1/10th mark on the gauge (2010 450h) and the "range remaining" number went to 0 just as the analog needle centered on the E mark. Upon refueling I found there was a bit over 2 gallons left in the tank, or roughly another 50 miles of travel. Good to know just in case.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 938
Likes: 71
From: California
Hello everyone,
No one has said anything about USEABLE fuel. If the tank capacity is 19 gallons, and the yellow light comes on after 15 gallons of use, you do NOT have 4 gallons in useable reserve. I believe there are 1 - 2 gallons of unusable fuel below the pick-up tube to allow for dirt, water and pump cooling in the bottom of the tank. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I've gone 30 miles with the yellow light on in my Highlander. Wouldn't chance it with the RX. As was said previously, "wife would kill me".
Ray A.
No one has said anything about USEABLE fuel. If the tank capacity is 19 gallons, and the yellow light comes on after 15 gallons of use, you do NOT have 4 gallons in useable reserve. I believe there are 1 - 2 gallons of unusable fuel below the pick-up tube to allow for dirt, water and pump cooling in the bottom of the tank. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I've gone 30 miles with the yellow light on in my Highlander. Wouldn't chance it with the RX. As was said previously, "wife would kill me".
Ray A.
On the other hand, my current 450H has the warning light coming on too soon. Even where there is 0 mile range showing up on the instrument panel, I can only fill up 14.4 gallons which is like 3 gallons short of the whole capacity.
CL Community Team
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,222
Likes: 1,746
From: VA
On a hybrid vehicle Toyota does not want you to ever run out of gas, because I recall reading that if it happens, you have to then be towed to a dealer to restart the car. There is some safety interlock to protect the hybrid drive does not let it run without gas. Thus empty with no miles in reserve actually means you have a few gallons left. I have noticed this on my HS250h and know to not panic when it happens.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,973
Likes: 55
From: Ohio
On a hybrid vehicle Toyota does not want you to ever run out of gas, because I recall reading that if it happens, you have to then be towed to a dealer to restart the car. There is some safety interlock to protect the hybrid drive does not let it run without gas. Thus empty with no miles in reserve actually means you have a few gallons left. I have noticed this on my HS250h and know to not panic when it happens.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,973
Likes: 55
From: Ohio
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Advanced
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 719
Likes: 360
From: Vermont
a more accurate gauge like I had in my Volvo XC70...
p.s. it's pretty easy to do the math...just wait for the computer to tell you you have 20 miles left, then fill the tank and see how many gallons it took. In theory, it should be
the capacity of the tank (19 gallons?) minus one gallon for the 20 miles left, = 18 gallons....but in fact it doesn't even take 16 gallons, so I've concluded I have at least two spare gallons to work with in an extreme pinch, i.e. brain cramp.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: CA
Low Fuel Warning Light Not Working?
In my 2015 RX 350, forgot to fill up and noticed my tank was on empty with only 1 mile cruising range...no warning light or anything appeared. How do I get this to warn me?
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