My low gas light came on and my gauge is only slightly below 1/4 tank. I've never seen this before. Should I be concerned something is wrong? Usually the light doesn't come on until I am down to the last 1/4 of a 1/4 tank.

 

You should always keep a close watch whenever something in the car starts to behave differently. Personally I wouldn't take action until I've seen it repeat a couple of times, but meanwhile fill up if the light comes on.

 

My light comes on when I am in the middle of the the last 1/4 tank zone.

 

Has it always come on that early?

 

I think it has. Though the bong seems like it could be intermittent.

 

mine comes on a lot earlier than my integra's did, but since its always been that way i havent been worried. like nabeshin said, mine also comes on in the middle of the last 1/4 tank. i'd fill up and see if it happens again.

 

+1...or slightly sooner
Just fill up at a 1/4 tank and let your fuel pump live on easy street, lol. Sorry, I don't have any real answers for you.

 

I feel like thats about when my gas light would come on. About 10 miles after hitting the 1/4 mark on the gauge.

 

I'd still run it down to past the red mark. I'd swear sometimes that the fuel needle goes below it's rest point when I start the car, instead of rising. You can go over 40 more easy miles when the range first shows (- - -). I've been doing this for 7 years and everything in the fuel system still works. Never ran the car out, though. I should push and find the absolute maximum range of the reserve.

 

Yeah, my range shows 60 miles left. I've had it down to about 5.

I'll fill it soon, but I wait because gas is usually 20 cents/gal cheaper across the state border, so I wait until I have to make a trip across.

 

Mine has always come on when the needle touches 1/4. Then I flip my readout to Range to keep an eye on miles left. It's been pretty accurate so far.

 

Oh MY!! People still believing the gas gauge. That's gotta be the least accurate gauge in the car. After I first got my Mini, the gas light came on with 1/4 tank showing. I filled up PDQ, and took nearly 12gallons. With a 13+ gallon tank, that's not a lot of breathing space. I, personally, do not trust the computer telling me how many miles I have left. Better to fill early, and not be stranded. And, what does running out of gas do the pump? I'll let other deal with that issue....

 

You ever drink a soda? Then when it gets near empty its alot harder to get the soda is it not, tip the bottle, twisting the straw, more effort etc? Same thing applies to a fuel pump. Low fuel levels put stress on the pump.

 

Ya min comes on just below a quarter tank too..and when it does I have just over 1 gallon left.

 

These aren't precision instruments and there is likely some car-to-car variance when the light comes on - mine does it when it is slightly below 1/4 tank.

IOW, normal.

My gas gauge is fairly non-linear - it shows between full and 3/4 for nearly half the tank, but otherwise it is consistent and seems to track the last 1/4 pretty accurately, with a very small amount remaining when it finally bottoms out. That it behaves consistently and shows empty when it truly is empty is what is really important.

- Mark

 

Modern fuel systems do a pretty good job of keeping the fuel input from unporting, even at very low fuel. So as long as the fuel pump is sucking fuel and not air, you're not doing your system any harm. You can run them low if you like, but you do want enough margin to be sure you don't run them dry.

- Mark

 

I have an 05 MCS with the chrono extra gauge package. When my gas gauge goes 1 notch below 1/2 I can put in 12 gallons. I don't trust the computer when it tells me I have x miles left.

 

Just developed a problem then found this old thread.

I was driving on the highway and looked at my gas gauge. It was just below a 1/4 tank. On the way to my destination was a gas station I was sure I had enough fuel to make it to the station. Wrong!!! I ran out of gas at just under a 1/4 tank and no indicator light. That is friggin embarrassing!

Is there a solution to this problem? Reason/new insight?

 

Hmm, after reading this thread I'll surely be more careful.

 

Got a quick and inexpensive solution: Never go below a quarter tank.

 

Wow a classic Captain obvious answer. Thx Buzz

 

Having an astute command of the obvious has always been quite helpful. But on a more serious note, I never trust a fuel gauge and chasing a fix for fuel level accuracy even on the airlpanes I flew let alone automobiles never rendered a remedy that could be trusted hence I always pay attention to my fuel state on or off the ground. So,when the fuel gauge goes a notch below half on Our R53 I'm a looking to refuel. I have employed this practice for over fifty years and sofar so good. Just another obvious answer with footnotes.

 

When you fill up, reset your trip odometers....
Each time you fill up...you can note how many gallons of fuel you add, then compare it with what it holds..one warning...mpg varies... So don't get too confident...
Always fuel when you "think" you should have 50-100 miles left....
You should know your car enough to have an idea of city vs highway vs aggressive vs laid back driving to guess your mpg....
Fuel gauges have NEVER been very perfect....especially on a car that is about 10 years old....since repairs can get $$, simply changing you habits for free is a simple option.

 

I don't think anyone mentioned this yet...

The fuel pump is submerged in gas - which keeps it cool. When the fuel level drops below a certain point, the pump is exposed and heats up easily, which will kill it prematurely. To avoid this, you should always keep at least 1/4 tank of fuel in the car.

 

This. I try never to go below 1/4 tank for this reason.

Another thing to think about is things gumming up in the gas tank. I had an issue with the gas gauge in my M Coupe. I added a can or two of sea foam to the tank and it must have removed some residue and the gas gauge has worked fine ever since. Others have had the same issue with the car and the fix was the same for most of them. Just food for thought.