Fuel warning light, how many miles to go??

[spreadhead]

Allowing you tank to get almost empty is hard on the electric fuel pump, espicially in hot climates. The pump is cooled by the fuel it is pumping, some of which is returned to the tank, heating the fuel in the tank, thereby reducing its cooling capacity, which will cause the pump to run hotter and possibly fail over time. I've never had a fuel pump failure, but I rarely get below 1/2 tank. My wife on the other hand allows her tank to get almost empty before fueling, she has had two pump failures (approx. $400 to repair, if out of warranty). With Ford replacement fuel pumps they include a caution against going below 1/4 tank.

[Steeldog]

Anyone who knows more than I do about this, please feel free to correct me if this is not right.

From what I understand, the vapors returning up the fill tube are what lets the pump know when to shut off. If this is the case, then some pumps will be more sensitive than others and will shut off earlier. This should be especially evident when the pump is a really fast gusher, just because it's forcing the displaced air (and thereby vapors) back up the tube faster.

So, you might not be getting the same level of fill from one pump as you are from another.

My own questionable observation.

Joe

[NMG]

I'm about where everyone else is as well. My low fuel light came on yesterday at around the 480km mark. I filled up today at the 501km mark and managed to put 35.5 litres in the tank. In hindsight, I figure I could've gone an additional 75-100km past where I was today but given where the needle was sitting, I wasn't going to risk it on the first tank . . . LOL

[Dnizzle79]

My light comes on at about 280-300miles and when I fill up it holds around 8.8 gallons so about 60-to 70 miles for me. I have a nighthawk sport m/t that I shift between 2800-3500 rpm and this is all city driving with the AC on. Dam I love my Fit.

[F0NIX]

So nobody has tried to fill up a 5L reserve fuelbottle and drive until the tank is totaly empty and the engine stops? Then fill up the tank with the 5L reserve fuel, and then go to the nearest gas station and fill it up to see how much fuel there actually IS room for in the tank and filler tube.

And another related question is: has someone tried to see if the weight of extra fuel has anything to say in the matter of fuel efficiency?
With this I mean you lets say for a long period only fill the tank half way up to lighten the car. Less fuel = Lighter car = Better fuel economy?

Probably is this weightloss so small that it has little impact on the fuel usage.

[ASquared150]

Originally Posted by Karvin Karl

My MT generally announces its' thirsty at 323 miles and fills to 8.7 gallons.

yea. my MT lights up and if i fill it immediately afterwards i fill about 8.8 gallons of the 10.8 gallon tank (refer to manual.) so i always have two gallons left and (the way i drive) at least 30 miles left, but most likely more.

[storm88000]

I was able to drive 50 miles with the E light on, for a total tank of 400 miles.

[shudderbug]

"The point of this post was to share my opinion that you shouldn't get too excited about high mpg on a single tank, nor should you get bummed if it goes the other way. Keep track over time and you will be able to figure out the mileage that your Fit is actually delivering."

I can really relate to the above statement. I bought a new Fit in July and the second time I filled up, my calculations registered 46.79 MPG. Naturally, I was overjoyed, but skeptical. For the past ten years or so, I had always quit filling up the tank at the first automatic shutoff, but I suspected this fill up in my new Fit was premature. I was correct, on the next fill up, I ignored the first automatic shutoff, and waited for the 2nd one; consequently, I only got 27.77 MPG, which is my lowest so far. Oveall, my mileage is 35.71, which is great, but I learned not to place too much emphasis on just one tank.