chubbys2k

Wow I fill up with shell and the first bar disappears after 30-35 miles everytime. I dont beat on it and its all highway. I always reset my trip when i fill up too. A full tank usually last me about 280ish miles and thats bringing it to no bars (yes I know its bad). Hmmmm I hope im normal haha

windhund116

Fuel pump is on the bottom of the gas tank, correct? Does one need to worry about cavitation causing damage to the pump --- when the fuel level is too low?

Just curious. Thanks!

solitarycheese

Fuel pump assembly installs in the top of the tank but reaches to the bottom. I'd like to hear from someone who knows better. I see there is a fuel return line on the pump assembly, which makes me think the pump still has fuel helping to cool it even when the tank is low.

yamahaSHO

Running low fuel won't hurt the fuel pump, but running it dry can and will. You can run these pumps outside of a tank without burning it up from not being submerged, as long as fuel is going through it. Between pumping the fuel and the fuel coming back from the engine bay (return systems), the fuel in the tank can get quite warm.


I can spend 15 or so minutes on track and the LED's on my fuel gauge don't move... I just know I'm at 3/4 of a tank when I fuel starve. Sometimes the gauge will go down if I cycle the key at that point.

Car Analogy

I've also gone 20 miles after reaching no bars.

I find the gauge is non-linear, but reasonably consistent. The number of bars does correspond to amount of fuel, just non-linear. Half bars is not half tank, etc.

Since the gauge resolution is limited by how many bars from empty to full (as opposed to a infinite resolution of an analog gauge), its understandable you might have bars go then come back when you are near the edge of the range for that ar and go up/down some hills.

So when it ticks from two bars to just one, the amount of fuel in the tank is close to the same as last time it did that. Consistent.

I can easily get 300 miles out of a tank (meaning before I run out of gas, not when the light comes on or bars are gone), so I usually just go by trip odo to know when I MUST get gas.

TeslaChicken

I appreciate the replies everyone

I'm still used to my old BMW's fuel gauge so I was sort of expecting the same with the S - I just wanted some advice on it so I don't run too dry or fuel up too early!

DARK_S2000

I got 267 on a full tank. When I got my car I used to put way too much thought into it till i stopped caring about it. Now i just worry about having fun driving the car. Once you got 2-3 bars left, get gas, since those last bars tend to go down quick.

ALaS

Anyone know the reserve on our car? Is it approx. 2 gal senses when the fuel light comes on? I think I've driven about 35 miles conservatively on 0bars before refueling.