21 miles to E my A**!!!!

[06EXP]

Ok, so the expy left me and the family on the side of the road the other night and had to call AAA for some gas. The computer said 21 miles to empty, and we were planning on filling up when we got to town. What the Heck?!? Now I know I can't trust it. I used to have a vehicle with this feature and it was rock solid accurate, is this one not?

 

[JUST4FUN]

well at least you AAA was worth what you payed for it.

 

[02Expedition]

why would you let it get so low with your family in it?????????????

 

[Stoned06]

I get nervous when I get under 40 miles left. I have never trusted the digital readout, and never will. As soon as I hear the ding that I have less than 50 miles left, I fill it up. I do think mine comes on early too as I can only get about 21 gallons in the tank, and it holds 27. My wife has taken her car to around 10 miles left before, and I was hoping it WOULD run out of gas to prove a point to her. She got lucky and made it to the gas station before she ran out.

 

[06EXP]

"I" did NOT let it get that low, my wife is the daily driver of the Expy and SHE let it get that low. Of which she will NEVER let that happen again!

 

[outkast]

fuel mileage fluctuates, and your "miles till empty" is based on fuel mileage. Chances are you haven't reset it for a while, so while you are avg 15mpg, and for the last 20 miles you are really getting 10, its gonna be off...I'm not gonna beat a dead horse here, but unless you are absolutly broke, and trying to get every last mile out of it...don't let "her" do it again.

 

[jimmyv13]

My wife does the same thing...she runs it routinely under 10 miles to empty. I can't wait for it to run out...I'll definitely be busy when she calls for some help.

She gets mad at me when I mention it..."the computer tells me how far I've got!"

 

[walnuts4x4]

wow I must have gotten lucky a few times I let mine get down to single digits but probaly wont be doing that again.... lol

 

[ELVATO]

Well, that's one way to kill the fuel pump early. The fuel pump uses the gas as a way to cool it down. When you run it so low, it shortens the life of the pump. Also, you pick up w/e is on the bottom of your fuel tank. I guess as long as you change your fuel filter sooner, that aspect should be fine.

 

[06EXP]

Well needless to say there is a new rule in effect in this household. When the tank reaches 1/4, FILL IT UP!!!

 

[ELVATO]

Sounds like a good rule

 

[rick chitown]

wow... I guess I'm really paranoid then... I start looking for a gas station when I get below 1/2 a tank!

 

[david_jr]

My low fuel light came on for the first time since I've owned it the other day. Said I had 50 miles to empty and started counting down from there. Was down to like 45 by the time I got to a station. Only took 23 gallons though and we have an 08 Limited with a 28 gallon tank. Is it normal for the gauge to be that far off or does a 28 gallon tank not take 28 gallons?

 

[Never_Evil]

I must be one of the lucky ones, I can go to 0 for about an extra 10 miles or so. I dont like pushing it that far, but when $$ is hard to get at minimum wage, you squeeze out all you can.

 

[seeker]

Good luck. Mama is always right.

If mama ain't happy, then no one is happy. Hope she learns not to trust an "estimated" number. Once or twice with this happening and you toss in some yes maam's, she should turn around. Call me a veteran of the married condition.

 

[lakmflx]

I must be one of the lucky ones, I can go to 0 for about an extra 10 miles or so. I dont like pushing it that far, but when $$ is hard to get at minimum wage, you squeeze out all you can.

Same for me, but im with ya i dont like letting it get that low myself either. When it does get that low its usually cause i havent come across a gas station to fill up.

 

[Black_Exhaust]

Wow this reminds me of a funny story. Back, oh lets say, 3 years ago my dad forgot to fill up my truck before we left Lansing, where he has a motorsports store, I knew the needle was a tick over empty then and its a 70or so mile drive from the highway entrance to the gas station I knew he was going to by our house. Some how 55 miles to empty went down slow enough that we made it there with the readout saying 0 miles to empty. Now that it's my truck that needle never goes below 1/4, but I know my readouts a little unoptimistic when I cut it close.

 

[nvycrmn]

i had something similar. when i was home on leave, i took my mother-in-law to an appt. she was running late and i was running out of gas. i told her i had to stop but she inisisted i would make it. when i dropped her off and made it to the gas station, my computer said 0 miles till empty. man was i nervous! didnt want to be that guy a block from the gas station with a gas can in my hand!

 

[Drth Vdr]

I apologize for bringing this back from the dead - but I'm new to the forum, so it's new to me, and maybe some other newbies around here. Anyway - I too have an '08 limited and I've been carefully paying attention to my gauge and fill-up gallons. I've run it down to 10 a couple times and have yet to put more than 25 gallons in the tank (I supposedly have a 28 gallon tank). According to the manual, the computer calculates it based on your average mpg in the last 500 miles.

As a side note, I test drove 3 used expeditions while I was shopping for one, and they ALL had between 0 and 10 miles till "E" according to the computer.

 

[GAINMOB]

well...i've done it to know in emergency situations just in case i ever need to or cant get gas...i've ran it down to below ten and filled up and i have 27 gal tank and was able to get 26 and change...but i do it to all my cars if they have it so i know if its true or not...i normally fill up at 1/4 tank but ocassionaly i'll go to an 1/8