We rarely drive with less than 1/4 tank of gas. Usually we are much better about this. In fact, since we owned this vehicle (2 months now), we've only done it once...just to see when the warnings and stuff come on. Basically yesterday, when the gas light came on, we checked the cruising range and it said 16 miles..... 16 miles !!!! Is 16 miles really enough of a warning? Or does the cruising range error more on the side of caution? When we filled up, we still had 2 gallons left, which should have gotten us closer to about 40 miles.

Just curious if that's normal or not. When we travel, we plan on always having at least half a tank because we never know how far the next town may be and so forth and wouldn't want to risk that.

 

The low fuel light comes on very early. Even if you run the DTE on the display down to single digits you will have plenty of fuel in the tank to get you another 20 miles. BTW, I have never put in more than 16 gallons in my 2004 RX330 after all these years. I have taken the DTE down as low as 4 miles, was trying to see how low I could get it, and it clicked full just shy of 16 gallons. Also, in my travels up and down the east coast I have had the cruising range value as high as 409 miles after a refill.

It is just a matter of getting to know your RX and what MPG you are getting by doing regular hand calculations each time you fill up. After you do that for awhile you will have an idea on how far you can push things should the need arise.

 

That's kind of what I was doing, trying to see how far I could push it. Just figured the miles to empty were off a bit and sounds like it is...I normally would fill much earlier. Thanks

 

No lie: I drove 32 miles AFTER THE DTE reading said ZERO. I was going to run out of gas any second, and luckily found a station. I-10 is a long long road at times.

I promise you that you have AT LEAST 15 miles after you reach 0. At least.

 

i agree with above....it's just an estimate

 

This thread is interesting because I always wanted to try this myself. But just to hesitant to do it because of sucking up any dirt that may be at the bottom of the tank when it gets that low. Then again my wife always runs hers till the light comes on.

 

Way back when as a kid in PA dad would get mad at us if we ever ran the gas tank below 1/4 tank on the gauge. Even after we had left the house and were on our own. I understand why now knowing the quality of what may have been in some of those ground tanks at the stations especially during the winters. Using dry gas was a regular purchase.

Today, the tanks at the stations are better sealed and the gas they contain is better filtered before it ever gets into your gas tank. Personally, I would not worry about running the tank down below 1/4 tank today even to the point where the gas light comes on. However, I would not make a habit of running it too low in order to keep the system primed as the gas acts as a coolant for the electric fuel pump. Run it dry too much and you will burn up that pump.

 

The lowest value I saw was 1 KM (0.6 mile) during a long trip. Luckily, I found gas station then...

 

One time I drove more than 60 miles after light came on,I will not do that again now