My Low Fuel message came on this past weekend with the DIC indicating 40 miles remaining.

The fill up resulted in adding 15.51 gallons of gasoline.

Seems reasonable enough to me.

If it isn't broke, don't fix it...............

Regards,

HHRANDY

 

From the start of this post I have been lookig at when my low fuel comes on, 40miles, with a 2gal. can on board I went 41.3miles works ok for me

 

It is a bad idea to continually run your tank near empty. Modern vehicles have the fuel pump in the fuel tank. The fuel pump is cooled by, you guessed it, gasoline. While there is no immediate danger, repeatedly doing this can shorten the life of your fuel pump. Not to mention what happens if you get stuck in traffic or a snow bank? You've left little margin for error.

 

The low fuel warning comes on at 40 miles remaining when you have the DIC set on fuel range or any setting?

 

That's why I think the warning should/could be a little sooner. I've decided not to pay too much attention to it any more and just get gas at about 1/4 tank. But with the fluctuating gas prices I am often tempted to wait 'til the next day or check the station down the road that is usually cheaper.

 

I HAVE NEVER SEEN MINE COME ON NOR DO I INTEND TO. RUNNING YOUR VEH LOW ON FUEL IS HARD ON THE FUEL PUMP. NOT TO MENTION UNSAFE IN THE WINTER TIME. YOU MAY NEED THE FUEL TO STAY WARM IF YOU GET STUCK OR SOMETHING. ALSO THE ADDITIONAL WEIGHT HELPS WITH TRACTION. SORRY ABOUT THE CAPS.

 

Excellent logic and information, IMO.

For the people who say their DIC says 40 more miles, when warned of low fuel.....

You do understand the DIC constantly updates (although NOT instantly) itself based on your existing driving conditions?? So, if you are driving the freeway and the "Low Fuel Indicater" comes on and your DIC says 40 miles left, you might have 40 miles left IF you continue driving under the same conditions. But if you exit the freeway and begin driving in stop and go, every traffic signal kind of traffic...your "miles to go" will become lower (even though it is not indicated)...probably more like 15-20 miles.

 

That's why I think the warning should be triggered by gallons remaining in the tank not calculated miles until empty, which of course varies.

 

We certainly have become spoiled with todays modern technology. I fill mine up the old fashioned way...I look at the guage and when it gets near 1/4 tank I fill it back up, especially in the winter.

 

Yeah Beaux....you are right. It should be triggered to gallons remaining......and it probably is.....something like 1 or 1 1/2 gallons (way back, GM used to say that when the warning came on, you had 2-3 gallons remaining). But, with todays technology they are nebulous .

Anyway, you're probably getting the correct warning, at the correct time. I also, have put 15+ gallons in my HHR and the gauge read just a touch over the red empty mark. It is really dependent on how YOU FILL your vehicle. If you have the time and stand around, you probably can get 3 gallons more in the tank after the pump turns off....most people don't. If you get the chance, get under the car and look at the filler hose. It's only about 2 inches in diameter, but it's about 3-4 feet long. The hose capacity is probably at least 1 gallon. If you allow the tank to "burp" as you are filling, then you also are getting total, or close to total, capacity. As I mentioned...some people don't do this. So, it accounts for some of the variations.

When I'm on long trips, I sometimes get 26-27 gallons in a 26 gallon tank...low fuel indicator just "dinged" (owners book says 2 gallons left when this happens).
This vehicle obviously has other capacities than just the tank.

Anyway, just giving you some ideas....But, I think your warning indicator is probably working correctly. As far as I know, there is no adjustment, just replacement. If this was done already, then the sensor is probably transmitting the information correctly...it's kind of like looking at a glass of water. When the liquid level gets to a point that it exposes "air" instead of liquid to the sensor(which is a static locator), it "says" computer notify owner "Low Fuel Level" (remembering that fuel still exists in the tank, just lower than the sensor).