mmgrad

What is the closest you've been to driving on an empty tank of gas?

I went down to 0.2 gallons, and was wondering how accurate that is.

By the way, what exactly would happen if you are driving on the freeway going 60 and your car completely runs out of gas?

nubomb

If you ever watched Seinfield, there was this episode where Kramer was pushing the limits trying to drive on fumes. It was pretty funny. Anyway, I have a 99 and don't have that feature but my grand prix does and it is pretty accurate. I wouldn't bet my life on it even with roadside assistance

I never let my tank get below a 1/4, I have this feeling (it doesn't make much sense) that there is crap lining the bottom of the tank and the gas will be degraded.

Your car wll just cut out and and you will roll to a stop. Then hundreds of people behind you will be really pissed and cursing out the dumbass in a Benz.

Mach430

I was at .2 across the street from a gas station, stopped at a red light. While waiting, it changed to 0.0. The light turned green, and I turned into the gas station with no problems.

I think I'm going to win this one

mmgrad

Does this in any way harm your engine?

nubomb

I doubt it. I'm sure it's not good If it happens often.

So did you push your luck or are you planning on testing how long the car can go?

Mach430

If your car is at the point, where it is sputtering on fumes, you are doing something wrong... If you still have gas, and it is driving properly, everything is ok.

jkelley

If you are talking about the MFD on your dash indicating 0.2 gallons, you're actually quite ok - fill it up from there, and I'd bet you only add ~ 14 - 14.2 gallons to your 16.4 gallon tank (the MFD numbers don't count the 1.2 gallon reserve).

I've actually driven 16 miles after hitting 0.0 :p

mmgrad

really? that is very interesting information. Can anyone attest to a similar experience?

the closest i went was 0.2 according to the cluster, and i pulled off the freeway to get gas. I figure I wouldn't make it to my destination, which was another 6+ miles.

fubar

I too have been at 0.0 and only been able to add 14.2 gals. I got out the manual to ck the tank size. It does look like reading does not take the reserve into account.

fubar

Mach430

The US models do include the reserve in their readings. But as for filling up the tank, I've put 16.6, which is .2 more than the car carries. Any ideas?

mmgrad

I usually pump in about 14 gallons when the light comes on at approx 2 gallons left.

Whatever the cluster says + whatever amount of gas I pump in typically yields a total of about 16.4 gallons.

911Jose

I think my gas reading was pretty accurate. I was on my way back form NY State going through Connecticut. I was running out of gas, missed the gas exits becuase I was speedign alongside an Audi A8. Go through hartford and I ddint see any gas exits. I was starting to worry at this point. My reading was at .2 gallons. Luckily I saw an exit. Then my car started making strange noises. Just made it to the gas station.
So I'm pretty sure there is no reserve on the gas reading.

Safet

An overdue appointment from the state's weights and measures inspectors?

SteveChod

I've driven 30 miles after being at zero. The car definitely has a good amount of reserve.

LOH

I've gotten to 0.0gal several times and haven't run out yet, not that I'm trying to. The first time it happened I was a little wary but when I filled up it took far less than the 16.4gal it indicates when full. So I concluded that it probably didn't include the reserve. But as I write this, that doesn't make sense since it still always goes from 16.4 to 0.0 so it must just be an optimistic reading probably to prevent genii like me and Kramer from pushing the limit.

One particularly nail-biting time it got to 0.0 and I was on an unfamiliar highway about 4AM. I drove probably 30 miles before I found a gas station. Although I don't remember exactly how many gallons it took it was maybe 15 or 15.5. Typically I never get more than 14-15 gallons in when filling up and I almost never fill up before the reserve light comes on. As the car gets older I'll probably have less faith in this system. When the new C-class arrived I test-drove one just for kicks and ran out of gas despite the gas gauge indicating plenty of fuel.

e_one09

That is really interesting.

mmgrad

Is it possible that certain model years include the "reserve" in the reading? For instance, MY '01+???

I'm sure if I was to check with the local dealership(s), that I'd get several different answers.

LOH

Just today I got down to 0.2gal. It was a quick ride and I forgot my wallet so my friend gave me $5. The pump indicated 2.4gal put in and when I got back in my car it said I had 3.4gal. BTW my car is a 2001.

Mach430

The only time I think the gauge will be correct is when the tank is either full or empty. My tank usually stays at above 16 gallons for the first 60 miles. Obviously, this can't happen. I think as you get closer to 0, there is less margin for error (), but I would never expect it to be 100% accurate.

xyzpl

Newyears eve 2002, on highway 60 heading east, trying to make it to my second date, just as I got on to the 60 from the 605, my car started to choke, it felt like it was about to die.... like when you are trying to start a car with a dead battery... I put the gear to neutral, and the car just quites at about 75mph... all the lights poped up on the dash, the engine just stoped.

I'm cruzin now and i flicked my key and try to start it again, and it did, So i thought COOL, I'll just take the next exit and get some gas... But i did not make it.... I had to pull over to the side and call my friend to bring me gas....

Before my friend reached me, a nice CHP officer came to check on me... SHe asked me what i was doing on the side of the freeway and i told her i ran outta gas.

I guess i must look pretty stoned cause she ask me why am i smiling so much, am i on drugs? I told her I just thought this was so funny, i can't believe i am spending my newyears eve with her and Jay Leno ( on my TV) on the side of the freeway....

So, we counted down to 2003 with Jay Leno on my TV and wished each other happy new years and she was on her way...

BTW, i thought i still had gas because I could of sworn that my CLK told me I was on reserve gas, and i never saw the warning...

It was later that i realized, it was on my SLK, not my CLK...

ktm

So you started the car while moving? in Neutral?

I did not think this was possible.

I would think that you could exceed 16.4 if you fill the pipe all the way to the top. In Virginia, we had a news story last year that was kind of interesting.

A guy who commutes from the suburbs would fill up at several gas stations throughout the month during his commute. He kept meticulous records to determine his mileage under different circumstances. He soon noticed markedly different mileage (worse) from fuel purchased at a certain gas station. He did more testing and could not resolve the differences. Eventually, the state charged the owner with felony fraud. It turns out that the owner had modified the pumps to read that you had purchased 1.00 gallons when in reality you had only pumped about .98-.99 gallons. A small difference but one that can add up in a big hurry. They estimated the amount of time that had passed and the ill-gotten profits exceeded several hundred thousand.

An interesting story given the limits of the MB tank. I would bet there are more out there.