MB-BOB

A Couple of tanks ago, I put 16.410 gallons of gas into my C320 sedan. I was on fumes, and drove about 5 miles after my range screen went to "0" miles, but I did make it to the gas station without any drama. I didn't think much about it until looked up the Specs in my owner's manual today. Hmmm: "16.4 gallons, including 2.1 reserve." By all rights I should have been stuck on the side of the road, .1 gallon short of the station.

Does anyone know how far you can drive after "0" miles registers? And does anyone really know how much gas the tank really holds? And, is the Coupe tank the same size? (Just thought I'd throw that one out there to make the coupsters feel a part of the forum, don't you know?)

vinmanc32

you were definately on fumes if you put in 16.4. I think the previous post of 16.4 is right. That could have been ugly. Dont wanna run outta gas in your C320. People definately wont understand that one. Im guessing that your tank is the same size as mine which is 16.4. Theres always some in the engine and in all the tubes which feed the engine and the pumps. So you may squeeze another .2 gallons in. But you were on the edge my friend.

C 320-Sport

I also have a C320, I was curious to know which screen tells you how many miles till empty you have. because I dont know how to find out.

vadim

This figure is very approximate, it's a MB's computer's extrapolation based on the tank fuel level and current gas mileage, which is in turn a derivative of certain parameters measured during driving. Just set your screen to range reading mode and watch it magically go up and down depending on the driving conditions/speed/idle time/etc. So it's hardly possible to answer this question, other than "oh, sh..t!"

Rick

Bob,
The vacuum canister system can fail or report a failure if you run too low on fuel. The manual cautions against this. Be careful!

MarkL

It's a sub-page on the "After Start" page. One screen shows mileage info from the last startup, the next page shows "since reset" and the 3rd page shows "range". Like they said, it's only an estimate.

MB-BOB: I hate to go much less than 1/4 tank. Then I start staring at the needle... Also, doesn't crud accumulate at the bottom of the tank which could get "disturbed" or sucked into the fuel line if you go too low? Tsk tsk tsk... Usually it's my wife who lets the tank go to "E". I can't stand it!!!

avlis

Mr Bob,

I looked in my coupe manual earlier today and I think the tank capacity was the same. However, I understood it to be 16.4 gallons PLUS a 2.1 gallon reserve meaning you should have had about 2 gallons left after the range went to zero miles. Total capacity would be 18.5. I could be wrong?

avlis

Mr Bob,

I looked in my coupe manual earlier today and I think the tank capacity was the same. However, I understood it to be 16.4 gallons PLUS a 2.1 gallon reserve meaning you should have had about 2 gallons left after the range went to zero miles. Total capacity would be 18.5. I could be wrong?

Lynn

My coupe manual says 16.4 gallons INCLUDING a 2.1 gallon reserve, not plus a 2.1 gallon reserve

MB-BOB

That's a hoot, MarkL. Situation in my house is just the opposite. I'm the daredevil with the gas tank, while my wife hits the first gas station she sees once the needle drops to 3/8. Can't be much "crud" in a new gas tank, can there?

Problem is that the neighborhoods I drive through severely restrict gas stations, so there are only two (at the start and end) along my 16-mile commute.

With my previous new cars, I used to take along a full gas can and purposely run a tank to empty, just to see how low the needle went... showed me how far I could press it if needed. But, with a vacuum canister system that can fail or report a failure if you run too low on fuel, or report a malfunction if you OVERFILL... Gee, not much fun and adventure with this part of MB ownership!

Thanks, guys!

Mike T.

A car of the C-Class' size and standing should have a fuel tank of between 70 (18.5 USG) and 80 litres (21 USG). Considering the appetite of the V-6 versions, 80 would be more like it. The 62 litre tank is FAR too small; surely they could do better than that...

jpgroom

I used to drive until waaay after the reserve lite came on. A couple of years ago a mechanic told me that running a car that low is a bad thing. I don't remember exactly why, something about the fuel pump overheating while sucking fumes or the car being realy difficult to restart if you run out. My wife gets nervous at 1/2 tank.