When the gas gauge hits the Empty (E) line ...
How much gasoline reserve is left in the tank?

I'm just curious because i fill up my RX8 with gas when it hits 1/4 tank.

If the capacity of the gas tank is 15.9 gallons. Does this mean that the range between Empty (E) and Full (F) is only about 13 or 14 gallons? And you still have about 1.9 or 2.9 gallons left once the needle falls in line with the "E" level?

 

Not sure about the "E" line. I usually fill it up when the low gas light comes on, and never drive more than a mile or two after the light comes on. When I fill her up at that point, it's usually takes around 13.4 gal.

 

most cars can usually go for a while on "E" - so you can find a gas station ASAP

 

Ok, wow ... so if the capacity is about 13.5 gal. from F to E, then even if you are doing a good 20 MPG gas consumption, you can only travel 270 miles (13.5 x 20) and look for the next gas station after 270 miles. But if you can stretch your MPG to 22.3, (13.5 x 22.3) = 301 miles, I guess that's when you have the 300 miles range.

 

I drove about 12miles once I saw the light... I filled as soon as I could and didn't run out of gas..

 

i top it off every time. and i drive till i dont think i can push it any farther every time. i have physically put 14.8 gallons in my tank at my most dangerously low time. lol. after the gas light comes on. you have a long way you can still drive.

 

Just did 20 miles with the little yellow light on this last weekend...

 

btw i noticed on my last trip that the empty light doesnt always come on at the same mark on the fuel gauge. when i am driving around town it goes on at a tick below 1/4 tank. when i was on the highway it didnt come on until 1 tick above E or right at E. in either situation i am putting in 13.5-14 gallons or there abouts. this suggests to me that the pcm is doing some calculations and turning on the light based on speed, gear, fuel consumed(based on amount injected?). and "suggesting" you should fill soon based on its calculation of mpg. why we dont have a display of this trip computer i dont understand.

 

consistently go 20 miles after light comes on.

 

I regularly do 80kms on the the amber light, and still have a few litres left in the tank when i pull in to fill her up.... probably not too good for her
This sort of equates to filling her up at aound the 450ish kms mark... give or take a little depending driving style..

 

Don't let it get that low! Just to be safe, fill-up before you reach "E".

 

Today's useless trivia was brought to you buy the letters "R" and "X" and the number "8".

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-gauge.htm

 

Haha!! Perfect dude.... :D

 

haha that's funny. gas "reserve". I don't think there is such a thing on the RX8, with stories of people running out of gas at the first hint of the gas light coming on.

 

Hmmm ... that's what i'm scared off. And even if there was a gallon left ... revving the RX8 at high RPM will quickly burn off that gallon.

 

Like the link mentioned, all fuel gauges read empty too soon. One reason is the manufactures (Mazda) do not want to get sued for some accident or ??? caused (per a lawyer) by running out of gas before the gauge hit empty.

As for me I have 9000+ miles on my 8 and usually run below empty every time. I know that I can go 250 miles arround town and 300 on a trip. So watch the trip meter (I always reset it with a full fill).

When new I slowly brought the needle past empty and checked how much fuel I used. Most I have taken so far was 15.2. I was on a trip and got caught on a toll road and had to run it that low. I was concerned, but now know how much fuel is left in the tank.

But every gauge can be a little different. So do your own testing.

 

Not sure about our RXs but if we have an electric fuel pump in the tank going to the E can spell trouble later on since winter is coming up. Never know what lerks at the bottom of our tanks and what fuel left overs are there. I usually never take any car to the E mark because of the possible strain on the intank pump. In the winter some might experience a line freeze depending on the temps and where you live. Its best to go as far as a 1/4 tank and then fill it up. Just my own observation and from experince of others who had trouble when going to E several times. I have no experience with my RX but past history is telling me just try not to test the car when you hit E.