Low gas indicator lights up too early?
10-17-15, 12:34 AM
#1
Pit Crew
Thread Starter
Low gas indicator lights up too early?
I have lived with this minor nuisance ever since i owned this car. 2007 ES350 now with over 150k miles on the odometer. I noticed that the low gas indicator would come on too early (along with the gas range indicator showing 0 too early). There is usually about 3 gallons of gas left in the tank when it first appears (on flat surfaced street).
So for this example, the low gas indicator came on after driving for 330 miles from a full tank of gas. By 350 miles the gas range showed 0. i did a total of 369 miles before pulling into the gas station so i know i should have a good amount of range left since i average around 23-24mpg.
After filling it up in the same gas station/pump around my house, i was only able to squeeze in 16 gallons which means there are about 2.5 gallons in the tank. So technically, i could go on for at least another 44 miles before running out of gas.
Not a big deal, but do you guys experience the same thing in this car? Or is there a way to recalibrate so the low gas indicator = low gas in tank? I don't want to run it down less than 1 gallon but i really only want to know when i am really low in gas. At times, I find myself ignoring the indicators all together which puts me in a situation where i might run out of gas if i push it too long.
So for this example, the low gas indicator came on after driving for 330 miles from a full tank of gas. By 350 miles the gas range showed 0. i did a total of 369 miles before pulling into the gas station so i know i should have a good amount of range left since i average around 23-24mpg.
After filling it up in the same gas station/pump around my house, i was only able to squeeze in 16 gallons which means there are about 2.5 gallons in the tank. So technically, i could go on for at least another 44 miles before running out of gas.
Not a big deal, but do you guys experience the same thing in this car? Or is there a way to recalibrate so the low gas indicator = low gas in tank? I don't want to run it down less than 1 gallon but i really only want to know when i am really low in gas. At times, I find myself ignoring the indicators all together which puts me in a situation where i might run out of gas if i push it too long.
10-17-15, 12:53 PM
#2
When I changed the fuel filter, my gauge was on emty and the range was around 20 miles but there was plenty of gas in the tank, around 2 inches.
The light comes to early, I know, but that's good because nobody would drive with the light on, and that means the fuel pump is almost covered with fuel and that means it will never overheat and that means it will never break.
The light comes to early, I know, but that's good because nobody would drive with the light on, and that means the fuel pump is almost covered with fuel and that means it will never overheat and that means it will never break.
10-19-15, 07:03 AM
#3
It's designed that way to prevent damage to the fuel pump. Lexus figures that most drivers would have the wherewithal to get gas before running completely bone dry. The fuel pump is submerged in the gas which essentially keeps it cool. When you are low, the fuel pump is exposed to the air in the tank and can run hot fairly quickly. Running to the E line increases the risk of fuel pump damage.
10-21-15, 07:25 AM
#4
It's designed that way to prevent damage to the fuel pump. Lexus figures that most drivers would have the wherewithal to get gas before running completely bone dry. The fuel pump is submerged in the gas which essentially keeps it cool. When you are low, the fuel pump is exposed to the air in the tank and can run hot fairly quickly. Running to the E line increases the risk of fuel pump damage.
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