Moneymike

not that anybody wants to run low on gas here...but I decided that I wanted to see what happened when the gas goes low...I was delighted to see that it will tell me how many miles I have until E....UNTIL once it got below 20 miles it only shows me this picture of a gas pump and it being pumped into the car basically saying "get your *** to the gas station" which is fine...I just wish they would still show you how far you have to E

JimPap

When the gas pump light illuminates, doesn't that mean that you're in the 2 gallon reserve? Depending on where and how you're driving, this could mean anything from 40 to 60 miles till extinction.

One thing that I wish MB had done was have a larger fuel tank. My previous car had a 18.5 gallon gallon tank. That 1.5 gallon difference would help me go an extra day or two.


I read somewhere that its important to not top off the fuel as it backs up into some kind of filter causing engine problems. So when I refuel the car, I use the slow speed setting on the pump handle and stop when it goes off. I may be missing some gas capacity there. What are you guys doing??

Qest

Fuel will expand or contract depending on the temperature. It takes up less space when cold, and more space when warm. The fuel system in your car probably has an expansion tank intended for when the fuel expands so that it doesn't come gushing out creating a fire hazard instead.

I saw this one day when a postal employee filled his vehicle on a cold morning that quickly developed into a very hot day. Gasoline was spurting out near the fuel filler cap!

So don't look for a way to fill the expansion tank, but do buy gas on cold mornings to get more for your money.

Chaz00Blue

Every computer system with miles to empty that I have ever seem cuts out before empty. I believe this is to prevent people from complaining when the car dies and the guage says that they should still be able to go 2 miles. After all it can't be completely accurate because there are too many variables.

MBTex

I had the same issue last night with mine...It put up a warning telling me it was on the reserve tank, then I hit OK and it went away. 2 miles later the pic you described showed up. The gas gauge itself was still above E so I let it go until this morning, when I put 16.5 gallons in.

oblu

How big is the tank anyway? Is it 17gal + 2gal reserve or is it just 17gal and they consider the last 2gal the reserve?

Sorry, haven't paid attention when filling.

MBTex

I'm going to guess 17 gallon total. I filled up 16.5 this morning with the "Get Gas RIGHT NOW" warning picture displayed since last night (drove it about 20 miles with that warning on).

JimPap

This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Cramer was determined to find out how much further he could drive after the empty light came on.

MBTex

Yep I know the one...unfortunately I had already bought the car so there would be no "Thelma & Louis" moment that allowed me to just leave the car on the road with the sales guy!

Moneymike

hahha man Seinfeld was classic

Jorg

You can check the miles left on your trip computer setting and you will see, if you step on it, the indicated distance left, will go down and if you baby it, the distance left, will even go up. No need for guess work.

In Europe the gas station attendant saw me filling the car up and then topping it up two more times, to make sure the tank was really filled up. He told me that was a bad idea, because the topping up action let the fumes escape into the environment. Ever since that time I stop filling the tank up as soon as the pump shuts off.

Jorg

lboudreau

I think that gas attendant was on crack. Do you have any idea how much gas fumes actually escape when you're fueling up?

Take a look at this: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=VA5tO8xZu0k

I find that on some cars the pump will stop prematurely.

ffejalink

Bummer. My 03 and 05 C's and 06 ML list the miles until empty down to 0 miles (yes, it's a bit scary driving with 0 miles left). My 02 ML flashed the word "fuel" once the reserve light came on.

peabers

My wife's Subaru would not let me put another drop into the tank once the pump jumps. If I try to squeeze more in, it will literally spray back out. I learned that the hard way.

Jorg

You ask, if I know how much gasoline fume will escape when I fill my car up? Yes I do, if I put 60 liter into the gas tank, 60 liters of fume will come out the nozzle. Yes you can smell it and it is not good for you.

On my S-Class sedan it shows first how many kilometer are left and then, when it gets close to empty, it show a little picture of an S-class sedan with a "red" fuel pump beside it.

Jorg