approx fuel left when light comes on???

[clotus]

Hey guys I got a 2017 Winnebago Minnie Winnie 31K. The specs say it has a 55 gallon fuel tank. My fuel light came on while headed home. I drove about 15 miles to the gas station near home. I filled up a lil over 48 gallons and averaged 8.4 mpg.

Anyone know the aprox gallons left when the light come on?

My math shows it came on right around 9 gallons left, assuming a true 55-gallon fill.

Anyone know what Ford sets it at?

[fireflock]

There is a difference between how much fuel is left in the tank and how much usable fuel is left in the tank.

I changed the fuel pump in my '03 E-450. I ran the tank down as low as I dared - the light was on for a long time. I was sure it was very close to empty.

I dropped the fuel tank and siphoned another 6 gallons out.

I put the empty tank back in place (new fuel pump) and poured 5+ gallons in before anything registered on the fuel gauge.

I still have no idea how much usable fuel was in the tank.

[ScottG]

Keep in mind the remaining fuel in the tank also cools in-tank fuel pumps and in diesel engines, it cools the high pressure pump.
So you don't want to run it down to nothing on a regular basis.

[tenbear]

I tow a car so I start looking for a gas station that is easy to get in and out of and not too expensive at about the half full mark. That way I am not in a rush to get gas.

[Sam_Spade]

WILDEBILL308 wrote:
To many variables. I fill up at or before 1/4 tank.If you start looking at 1/2 you won't be in a rush to find "someplace" before it runs out.
Bill

THIS. Really. Running it down to E will bite you in the butt at the worst possible time.

And if you have an onboard Gen, it won't run if the tank is below a certain point. Usually advertised as a quarter but some have found it's more like half.

AND running the tank dry can kill a fuel pump.

[gbopp]

romore wrote:
I don't like to push my luck so make every attempt to stay out of that zone. It has come on a few times but I haven't been bitten..... yet.

x2. While it is nice to know how much fuel is left when the light comes on, I think it can be a bad habit to start relying on the 'low fuel light' to start looking for fuel.
I also start looking for fuel at 1/2 tank. Why gamble on running out of fuel?
I've filled up when my tank was at 3/4 because I found a good price along my route.

[time2roll]

I use same method and my truck is a 6 gallon reserve and I have pushed it to the fumes. I would go with 9 or just 8 as correct. Easier to count miles so maybe 60 miles unless going up a significant hill.

You really want to know you could carry a 5 gallon can or two and run it fully out. See if you get 60 miles or more. Although not sure it is a great idea to run out of fuel that way.

[pianotuna]

I would not count on 9 gallons when the low fuel light comes on.

[DrewE]

Maybe the chassis owner's manual will list that information? My motorhome is old enough that it doesn't have a low fuel light, just the usual gauge.

My car owner's manual states that the light comes on when there is "approximately 1.62 gallons left" in the tank, which always struck me as a rather oddly precise approximation. Perhaps it varies by a few tablespoons or something. I should perhaps note that the tank holds a total of about 10-11 gallons, and the car gets nearly 40 miles per gallon, so 1.62 gallons is a reasonable amount of warning before running out on that vehicle.

[MitchF150]

What I would do is just go with what you figured out already... Your low fuel light comes on when you have ~ 9 gallons of gas left... Done deal. 🙂

When my low fuel light comes on, I have about 5 gallons left, but that's with an F150 with the 36 gallon tank.

However, if I have 1/4 tank left (~9 gallons) and I park on any kind of slope with the nose of the truck down, it'll throw the low fuel light.

I now don't let it get past 1/4 tank if I can help it. If I have to go more, I know that I've got at least that ~ 5 gallons once the light comes on and I'm looking for gas ASAP..

Good luck!

Mitch

[romore]

I don't like to push my luck so make every attempt to stay out of that zone. It has come on a few times but I haven't been bitten..... yet.

[WILDEBILL308]

To many variables. I fill up at or before 1/4 tank.If you start looking at 1/2 you won't be in a rush to find "someplace" before it runs out.
Bill

[dave17352]

I think a lot of people would like to know that magic number. Sounds to me you go it about right. With a 55 gallon tank you can be a couple gallons either way depending which way your truck is leaning front to back or side to side when you fill up. But I bet you are close. JMHO