TKLEI14

Just curious, because it seems like the "Reserve Fuel" light comes on when the gas gauge still show almost 1/4 of a tank. I looked and this car has a 21.1 gallon tank with 2.4 being reserve. Does that mean it has a 23.5 gallon tank?

Also how far have you been able to travel once you hit the "Reserve Fuel" warning on the car?

CLK Masters

no, the lower number is with the reserve included. it depends on your driving style and city v. highway, usually i can get about 20-30 miles from my reserve.

str8ridin

^^ Correct.

And to answer your other question, the fuel pump is cooled by the gas, so you don't want to be driving too much when the reserve light is on. Unless you have ***** of steel like The Godfather....he rode with 0 miles for a few miles. I only had the guts to get it down to 5!

ChicagoX

^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Good info here, folks.

studd143

LOL....Damme! Wish I had read this article lastnight. I ran out of gas with my 04 E55. I left my house and saw it said 91k left on the tank then it displayed Reserve Fuel.. my work is 50k away so I thought I'd just take it easy and fill up with 94 Octane once I get to work...well, the car was amazing until I got within .5miles of the Gas station. I was at a light and blasting music then......the ignition lights came on ...I said OH NO to myself. Long story short, it no matter how many times i cranked it..no start. It had about 2 bars left and still nothing. I got a co-worker to help me fetch 2 Gallons and we finally topped it up to 1/4 tank exact. I went to the gas station then left the car to idle right in front the pump and after 2mins it died. I got scared...so i filled it up since I was there and then after paying it started up first try..but with engine light on...like from the 1st time I got it to start after stalling. PS...this car doesn't thump when its out...it just died. engine stopped running. Well, during my episode...I tried about 20x to start it even with 1/4 tank...that's before when I was at the traffic light. So, after investigation, I might just change the Crank Position Sensor just incase... Thus far, I did a ECU reset and "check engine" light went away and car is fine ideling for 10mins or so on full tank. Never will i let this car get to reserve and if I do...definately head to the nearest Gas station..

Thanks and hope this helps another brother...peace.

GT-ER

I've never seen an MB fuel pump but if it's like every other car I have seen the fuel pump is installed into a bucket and the bucket is always full of fuel regardless of the amount of fuel in the tank ( unless you run out of fuel completely ).

06E55

I have driven over 15 miles when my display indicated 0 miles left. Have done this numerous times.

AKnight55

Why would you continuously do that? Are you trying to run out

03'55AMG

You guys are lucky! my car has run out !!3!! times with the reserve light no where to be seen... now when i see it i instantly get to a gas station.. my gauge always reads at LEAST 100 miles when i run out... its annoying.. i know its wrong too because last time i filled it up all the way, the gauge read a full tank for over 100 miles of spirited driving. its like the sensor moved up in the tank..

studd143

Thanks ... I drove to the dealer this morning after work and spoke to a couple tech's. They immediately mentioned the possible failure of the crank position sensor and suggest I do a diagnostic first. They also said to drive it for a few days and see while also observing the fuel level for rapid decrease in level or non movement... The approximate quote for this CPS in Canada is 500.00 which includes diag plus labour and part which is 180.00. FYI ... It drove amazing and no further problems after fill up!

alextaylor29

I think to the reason it goes on so early because if you're really putting the boot to the car (Driving very aggressively) you get get like 4 MPG. So if you only have about 2 gallons in the reserve it's probablly playing it safe.

Plus running out of gas and having to walk/call somebody is a pain in the a$$ so I'm glad it alerts me early to be honest.

Alex

studd143

Hi guys... The car had 3/4 tank of gas 94 octane. The car died in traffic... It took a couple tries but I got her going and funny enough the Benz dealer was right next door so I drove it straight in... As before they suspect the cps so I don't think my problem was fuel related but it's still scary just the same. Benz said they had a lot if cars with Cps prob recently. Here goes another big bill.. 6k in costnsince I got the car 6months ago.. I probably won't update as am getting off topic.. Take care..

06E55

Actually, I was. I wanted to figure out how accurate my gauge really was. I drove over 16 miles in morning traffic once with the gauge reading 0 the entire time. Funny thing is, when I went to the gas station, it only held 20 of 21 gallons... Now I know that when my gauge reads a certain amount left, I can add 15 miles to it and be okay... Especially on the highway...

I Like Soup

I've only driven it once where it gave me the -- for the amount of mileage I had left. When I filled up, it was a little over 20 gallons...

nanayaw6

I think there is some discrepancy with how the fuel gauge is calibrated on these cars. I've driven 7 miles when it said zero a few times and by zero I mean the gallon display on the cluster and not miles or bars. Also the number sometimes jumps up from zero if I'm going down the mildest slope. I've also noticed that when my gauge first says 0.0 gallons and I fill up right away, it takes just around 20 gallons on the gas pump to bring me back up to 21.0 gallons. I'm guessing my level indicator is calibrated conservatively than others.

Yuille36

It is never a good idea to run out of gas, by pushing the limits. Because if you run out of gas, that pump can suck up all the sediment in the bottom of the tank and could possible clog up the filter or worse, burn out the pump etc..

GT-ER

Also wrong as the pump ALWAYS sucks gas from the bottom of the tank so whether it's empty or full, it's constantly sucking up any sediments the tank may have ( which should be next to none ). Running out of fuel does run the pump dry though which is bad in it's self.

03'55AMG

When I ran out, I did not even attempt to turn it back over, i just pushed it with the help of some very nice strangers and walked about a mile and got a gallon then drove back and put in 10 gallons of cheap stuff.

06E55

Bingo!

EdoubleNickel

Since owning my car, the lowest I've ever had it was half tank. For most of the time its been full. I don't go two days without a fill up.

03'55AMG

wow, run it down, and give it some 100% fresh gas... lol im always below half a tank, never fill it cuz of that damned gas leak

Boywonda

2nd the gas leak comment... I usually only fill to a little over 3/4 full

jpohl402

i'm in the same boat....