Miles Until Empty Question
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Joined: Nov 2009
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Lexus IS250
Miles Until Empty Question
on my e350 once the gas sign comes on it does not display how many more miles until empty, is there a way to show this until the car essentially runs out of gas or miles left until empty goes to 0?
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From: Orlando, FL
2026 AMG GT63 Pro
did you try scrolling through the main menu (trip computer, mph, distance till empty?)
Pretty sure that when the light just turns on, it will give you a mileage number...
once you get to about 15 miles to empty, it stops displaying mileage to empty.
hope this helps.
Pretty sure that when the light just turns on, it will give you a mileage number...
once you get to about 15 miles to empty, it stops displaying mileage to empty.
hope this helps.
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Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Connecticut
2018 BMW 540d
IIRC once you get to a certain point the computer stops displaying miles to empty and just shows an icon.My BMW showed DTE right up to zero but with diesels it's very unwise to run out of fuel (very different fuel delivery system) so I never even let it get close.The relative lack of stations that sell diesel and the added trouble caused by running out of fuel are about the only disadvantages of diesel that I can think of.
Last edited by listerone; Apr 28, 2011 at 08:32 PM.
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From: Central Pennsylvania
2012 S350 Bluetec 4Matic, Diamond White, P2
IIRC once you get to a certain point the computer stops displaying miles to empty and just shows an icon.My BMW showed DTE right up to zero but with diesels it's very unwise to run out of fuel (very different fuel delivery system) so I never even let it get close.The relative lack of stations that sell diesel and the added trouble caused by running out of fuel are about the only disadvantages of diesel that I can think of.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 978
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From: Essex County, NJ
2011 E350 Sport 4Matic - P2 & Drivers Assist / 2010 C300 Sport 4Matic - P2 / 2013 Porsche Cayenne S
When you have 30 miles worth of gas left in the car (about a gallon and half) the low fuel light indicator will come on. Once you drop down to 15 miles worth of gas left in the car the "miles till empty" count down with be replaced with a picture of a car being gassed up. Unfortunately there is no way to tell how many more miles to go until you run out of gas. John Stosel from 20/20 did a segment on this in his minivan and he was able to drive for an aditionaly 40 miles while his onboard computer was saying 0 miles till empty. A friend of mine drove 30 additional miles while his BMW was showing 0 miles left on his iDrive but ended up chickening out. The truth is it is really, really hard to tell exactly how much fuel is left in the car before it grids to a halt because of lack of fuel.
Its also not a good idea to let your fuel tank drain completely. You can have residual sediment from within the fuel tank be transferred into your engine and the lack of fuel also puts extra strain on the fuel pump. If you run out of fuel on a car that uses regular gasoline its not too big of a deal of filling it up with gas again and getting it to run. For Diesels it a huge pain in the butt because you have to bleed the system of air first and then try to fire the engine up again.
Its also not a good idea to let your fuel tank drain completely. You can have residual sediment from within the fuel tank be transferred into your engine and the lack of fuel also puts extra strain on the fuel pump. If you run out of fuel on a car that uses regular gasoline its not too big of a deal of filling it up with gas again and getting it to run. For Diesels it a huge pain in the butt because you have to bleed the system of air first and then try to fire the engine up again.
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,747
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From: Central Pennsylvania
2012 S350 Bluetec 4Matic, Diamond White, P2
When you have 30 miles worth of gas left in the car (about a gallon and half) the low fuel light indicator will come on. Once you drop down to 15 miles worth of gas left in the car the "miles till empty" count down with be replaced with a picture of a car being gassed up. Unfortunately there is no way to tell how many more miles to go until you run out of gas. John Stosel from 20/20 did a segment on this in his minivan and he was able to drive for an aditionaly 40 miles while his onboard computer was saying 0 miles till empty. A friend of mine drove 30 additional miles while his BMW was showing 0 miles left on his iDrive but ended up chickening out. The truth is it is really, really hard to tell exactly how much fuel is left in the car before it grids to a halt because of lack of fuel.
Its also not a good idea to let your fuel tank drain completely. You can have residual sediment from within the fuel tank be transferred into your engine and the lack of fuel also puts extra strain on the fuel pump. If you run out of fuel on a car that uses regular gasoline its not too big of a deal of filling it up with gas again and getting it to run. For Diesels it a huge pain in the butt because you have to bleed the system of air first and then try to fire the engine up again.
Its also not a good idea to let your fuel tank drain completely. You can have residual sediment from within the fuel tank be transferred into your engine and the lack of fuel also puts extra strain on the fuel pump. If you run out of fuel on a car that uses regular gasoline its not too big of a deal of filling it up with gas again and getting it to run. For Diesels it a huge pain in the butt because you have to bleed the system of air first and then try to fire the engine up again.
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From: Los Angeles
04 CL55 (sold), 2012 CLS550 (sold), 2014 S550 (sold), 2015 ES300H (DAILY)
When you have 30 miles worth of gas left in the car (about a gallon and half) the low fuel light indicator will come on. Once you drop down to 15 miles worth of gas left in the car the "miles till empty" count down with be replaced with a picture of a car being gassed up. Unfortunately there is no way to tell how many more miles to go until you run out of gas. John Stosel from 20/20 did a segment on this in his minivan and he was able to drive for an aditionaly 40 miles while his onboard computer was saying 0 miles till empty. A friend of mine drove 30 additional miles while his BMW was showing 0 miles left on his iDrive but ended up chickening out. The truth is it is really, really hard to tell exactly how much fuel is left in the car before it grids to a halt because of lack of fuel.
Its also not a good idea to let your fuel tank drain completely. You can have residual sediment from within the fuel tank be transferred into your engine and the lack of fuel also puts extra strain on the fuel pump. If you run out of fuel on a car that uses regular gasoline its not too big of a deal of filling it up with gas again and getting it to run. For Diesels it a huge pain in the butt because you have to bleed the system of air first and then try to fire the engine up again.
Its also not a good idea to let your fuel tank drain completely. You can have residual sediment from within the fuel tank be transferred into your engine and the lack of fuel also puts extra strain on the fuel pump. If you run out of fuel on a car that uses regular gasoline its not too big of a deal of filling it up with gas again and getting it to run. For Diesels it a huge pain in the butt because you have to bleed the system of air first and then try to fire the engine up again.
, there's no way he made an extra 40 miles" but I guess I was wrong.
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Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 244
Likes: 2
From: Texas
2014 E350 Coupe Steel Gray
I do agree with you, but...I ALWAYS, soon after I purchase a car, run it down as far as I'm comfortable with doing (well past the car icon for low fuel). The reason I do this (for me) is a matter of security and to ensure that my needle is working properly.
Hubby and I took a trip, and his SUV was showing a quarter of a tank. Immediately when the low fuel light came on, we started searching for gas. About 5 miles after the light came on, the car came to a stop. It had completely run out of gas. It was a nightmare. When we returned home from the trip, we took the SUV to the dealership and they found that the needle wasn't calibrated properly, thus indicating more gas than actual. They fixed it but we've never felt safe with any car since then.
Incidentally, I'm going to have them look at my E soon because I think the needle isn't calibrated right.
Hubby and I took a trip, and his SUV was showing a quarter of a tank. Immediately when the low fuel light came on, we started searching for gas. About 5 miles after the light came on, the car came to a stop. It had completely run out of gas. It was a nightmare. When we returned home from the trip, we took the SUV to the dealership and they found that the needle wasn't calibrated properly, thus indicating more gas than actual. They fixed it but we've never felt safe with any car since then.
Incidentally, I'm going to have them look at my E soon because I think the needle isn't calibrated right.
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,121
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From: Connecticut
2018 BMW 540d
Many stations in my area carry diesel. One of the main reasons to not let a diesel "run dry" is that diesel fuel attracts water and this water tends to settle at the bottom of the tank. It is a good idea to run something like Power Service Diesel Kleen every once and a while as it bonds to the water and keeps it out of your tank.
Oh well....I've never run out of gas (fuel) in my life,let's see if I can keep it that way!
Last edited by listerone; Apr 29, 2011 at 04:03 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 978
Likes: 3
From: Essex County, NJ
2011 E350 Sport 4Matic - P2 & Drivers Assist / 2010 C300 Sport 4Matic - P2 / 2013 Porsche Cayenne S
I do agree with you, but...I ALWAYS, soon after I purchase a car, run it down as far as I'm comfortable with doing (well past the car icon for low fuel). The reason I do this (for me) is a matter of security and to ensure that my needle is working properly.
Hubby and I took a trip, and his SUV was showing a quarter of a tank. Immediately when the low fuel light came on, we started searching for gas. About 5 miles after the light came on, the car came to a stop. It had completely run out of gas. It was a nightmare. When we returned home from the trip, we took the SUV to the dealership and they found that the needle wasn't calibrated properly, thus indicating more gas than actual. They fixed it but we've never felt safe with any car since then.
Incidentally, I'm going to have them look at my E soon because I think the needle isn't calibrated right.
Hubby and I took a trip, and his SUV was showing a quarter of a tank. Immediately when the low fuel light came on, we started searching for gas. About 5 miles after the light came on, the car came to a stop. It had completely run out of gas. It was a nightmare. When we returned home from the trip, we took the SUV to the dealership and they found that the needle wasn't calibrated properly, thus indicating more gas than actual. They fixed it but we've never felt safe with any car since then.
Incidentally, I'm going to have them look at my E soon because I think the needle isn't calibrated right.
Last edited by LaicepsYdobon; Apr 29, 2011 at 08:58 PM.
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From: Chicago (Palos Park)
2023 CLA 250, 2021 GLC43, 2003 CLK320
On my CLK I many times run it down to 2-3 miles, it will continue to show to that point. Thats only as I'm always rushing. I keep telling my wife to keep her car at ~ 50% and no less then 25% just so she has a good buffer when she is out and about with the kids. Did not know that the E would stop displaying miles after it gets too low.
