Real world test: miles remaining after the low fuel light is illuminated and FUEL VEHICLE message

[ROBERT18452]

Today on the way home to Pennsyltuckey from the Nation Fire Academy in Emmiitsburg, MD.?, I obtained a somewhat definitive mileage amount after the low fuel light is illuminated and FUEL VEHICLE message. I was hammer down for 90% of the time doing 80 mph or > because I was late for an appointment. I was able to travel 34 miles and then I stopped and filled the tank 18.167 gallons. I could have kept going but I didn’t want to run out of go juice.

The system purportedly reserves approximately 2.8 gallons to 3.5 gallons of gas, giving you roughly 35 to 50 miles of emergency driving distance, depending on how your driving & the MPG you are getting

For example, if your 4Runner is averaging 16 MPG in highway driving, calculating your maximum reserve distance is:
3.5 gallons × 16 MPG = 56 miles.

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[get.outside.75]

It's not purportedly, it's right in the manual that it's 2.8gal (or less) when the light comes on. If you are calculating mileage for 3.5g, you are going to get in trouble.

 

[127.0.0.1]

what did the miles to empty (DTE) number show on the dash ?

 

[mfoga]

what did the miles to empty (DTE) number show on the dash ?

The only time it came on for me it was like less than 25 miles.

 

[ROBERT18452]

what did the miles to empty (DTE) number show on the dash ?

It showed zero and a message popped to refuel vehicle...at that time I started a trip odo and surrendered at 34

 

[HVLA]

Ok to do in an emergency, but not good to do regularly. Will burn up your fuel pump.

 

[MikeD]

The only time it came on for me it was like less than 25 miles.

The DTE is always there - until it changes to "Refuel" when it gets to zero.
The Fuel Low banner comes on and fuel icon changes from white to amber with 2.8 Gallons left in tank (somewhere between 17 and 23 miles DTE in my experience).
The DTE changes to "Refuel" when it hits zero.

And here is what the dash looks like in those cases.... (Another "Real World Test" to add info to the OPs example):

Trip start: 79 miles to destination. 65 miles DTE on dash

I have previously done enough measurements to know I could make it to a gas station 79 miles away when my DTE was 65 (on my way to an off-roading excursion where I always want to start with a close to full tank).
Note that I'm running my 285/75R18s so that 16.2 MPG on the dash is closer to 17.3.
The big tires do fine MPGs-wise on the highway - 21 MPG typical. but stop and go short trips really suck as getting those 65# tires rolling from a stop takes a lot of energy.


Fuel Low banner/amber icon at 17 miles DTE:

Zero miles DTE: "Refuel" (note that GPS says I've gone 79-17=62 miles; odo says I've gone 17297-17239 = 58 miles (58 * 1.0675 = 62! My correction factor for tire size is spot on)

Stopped for fuel: DTE: -15 odo miles (17312-17297). Took 17.366 Gallons using my one extra click on the pump method. I wish I knew exactly how much fuel was in that 19 Gal tank using that method but if it IS 19.000 gallons then I had about 28-30 miles left before truly empty. MPG for that tank: 17.33 MPG - not the worst ever but the worst in the summertime: >200 of the 301 (adjusted) miles on that tank were short "city" trips.

New DTE after fill: 292 (311.7 adjusted)

 

[mfoga]

Yes the distance is always there but the ambler light has only ever come on once at 25 miles.

How pretty sure it's not right. Computer said 17.4mpg on last fill up(reset) and math based on miles and gallons was 19.7ish. my computer sucks at math it seems

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