Where's the reserve tank??

[sambot]

The reserve tank on the gauge that is.

So now I've had the car a little while, and I've had to do a few fillups.

Where on the gauge is the reserve tank? All the other cars I've owned have had a red zone on the fuel gauge which gives you an idea of where you are in terms of a quickly emptying tank, aka reserve tank. Right now the light comes on when the gauge reads about 1/8th left.

RIght now I'm playing it safe and gassing up fairly quickly after the light comes on.

[proxim2020]

According to the service manual, there's a reserve tank that's used once you hit the E. I'm not sure of the size though. Normally reserves are about 2 gallons. But I've heard them being as low as 1.5 gallons and as high as 4 gallons. It's best to stay above the last major tick, the 1/4th mark.

[Wings]

You gotta fill up before the light comes on. I have less than a gallon when the light comes on.

[Ever Victorious]

I was able to go 35 miles with the light on on my V, so that was more than a gallon. I wouldn't push it, though. Fuel low lights seem to come on with less and less remaining mileage these days.

[Althalus]

I always fill up at a 1/4 tank, whats the point of driving till its empty?

[BBISHOPPCM]

There is no "reserve tank," the low fuel light comes on when there is roughly two gallons of fuel left in the tank. Keep in mind, running with low fuel will damage the fuel pump (or shorten its' life) if done excessively. I would not plan on travelling more than 20 miles once the light comes on.

[sambot]

Thank you all for your comments and wisdom. Guess I have to change my filling habits. No more driving on fumes for me.

I still miss the red zone.

[motoguy128]

Also remember that tanks have 2 directional vents. Warm, moist air in the afternoon can condense inside the tank at night. The less fuel you have, the more air is inside the tank (only race cars use collapsable fuel cells)... and the more moisture than can condense. In the winter especially, you don't want to let the car sit overnight with less than 1/2 a tank.

On the flip side, gasoline weighs 8lb per gallon, so driving with only 1/4 tank reduces the cars weight by around 60lbs compared to a full tank. On the other hand, the car rides smoother with more rear weight.

I don't let my tank fall below half way unless on on a trip. It's also nice to know that in an emergency, I have at least 200 miles range.... (i.e. Hurrican Katrina... when there were short term localized fuel shortages and price gouging)

[proxim2020]

[QUOTE=motoguy128I don't let my tank fall below half way unless on on a trip. It's also nice to know that in an emergency, I have at least 200 miles range.... (i.e. Hurrican Katrina... when there were short term localized fuel shortages and price gouging)[/QUOTE]

We had the same thing happen to us during Hurricane Rita. It was the first hurricane to hit the area after Katrina. The storm was coming but not many people knew where it would land. It ended up making a B-line for Galveston/Houston. Every one was still freaked by Katrina and decided to get out of the city. Well needless to say, stations ran out of fuel within hours and tons of people were stranded on the highways. With 4 million people trying to leave all at once, you won't have much choice for fueling on the road. Even though I decided to ride the storm out, it taught me a few things. Now I keep (2) 5 gallon jugs of stabilized fuel at home. If a storm is heading towards the general region, I don't let the tank drop below half.

[sambot]

I don't let my tank fall below half way unless on on a trip. It's also nice to know that in an emergency, I have at least 200 miles range.... (i.e. Hurrican Katrina... when there were short term localized fuel shortages and price gouging)

Except we all have to remember that what we see on the gauge as half a tank left, is more like a quarter or less of a tank. It's either that or my car drives for 350 kilometres on next to no fuel, and then it guzzles the gas for the last 3/4 of the tank.

I know that in the winter it is recommended to always have half a tank of gas, in case you get stranded in the cold, in the snow, in the ditch, which translates into filling up every 1.5 to 2 hours on long highway trips.

[modest180sx]

i have driven many 40 to 60 miles with my light on. And when i fianlly fill up it only fills 12.3 ish galons. So i could of gone more.

im thinkin the reserve thank is the last 3 gallons or 2.5.