Low fuel light

jrt67ss350 · Nov 13, 2003

I've got a question for ya. How low does the fuel level have to be before the low fuel light in the fuel gauge comes on? I've had mine down to the R line, and the light still hasn't come on. I've replaced the light bulb for the low fuel light in the cluster with a known good bulb, and it still hasn't come on, even with the fuel level down to the R line. What else would be causing it to not work?

xLibelle · Nov 13, 2003

mine doesnt come on either.
ive taken mine past the R line with ease. found out exactly how big my tank is too, lol. never ran out of gas though. i dont think ive ever seen that light on. never saw it in my mercedes either, no, i take that back, it came on the moment i ran out of gas.

Ben · Nov 13, 2003

do they even have low fuel lights???? its never come on for me, and ive had it pretty damn low.............

jrt67ss350 · Nov 13, 2003

There's a red lens right to the left of the R line, and there's a light bulb behind it. I would assume that it's supposed to work. Interesting that you guys have never seen it come on either. Keep the responses coming, guys.

equate · Nov 13, 2003

OH i know about those lights lol, I think you have to be down to your last 2-3 gallons in my estimation. One time i just ran my car until it stopped ruinning because of gas, I odn't fillup until the light comes on

xLibelle · Nov 13, 2003

equate, our tank holds ~12.5 gallons. ive put almost 13 in b4, with no light. i know the light works because ive seen it on, but not with low fuel.

mikev · Nov 14, 2003

7litres in mine when it comes on but lets face it the miles left display has replaced fuel warning lights.

Big Daddy · Nov 14, 2003

I have seen the low fuel light on all three of my BMW's. Using the Trip Computer they usually indicate that I have a range of 40 miles when the light comes on, that isn't much fuel. You do not want to run out of fuel though, it is very hard on the fuel pumps, causes them to overheat, and shortens their life.

BavarianWheels · Nov 14, 2003

jrt67ss350 said:

Assuming you are talking about the 1987 325...

I drive a 1988 528e...my light works fine...I've found that it comes on around when the fuel range is at about 30 miles. I've taken mine down to under 10 miles and that is when it started to sputter for lack of fuel. Luckily I was coming up on the corner station and floated right in.

Actually works the same in my 1987 325...but I don't drive it as much.

jrt67ss350 · Nov 14, 2003

Yeah, I'm definitely talking about the 325 - the Camaro doesn't have a fuel light. I know that the trip computers and things have made fuel lights "obsolete," but I don't have the OBC in my car.

Libelle, when have you seen the light on without low fuel? I've never seen mine on.

It's not a big deal, but I'd like the light to work since it is there.

BavarianWheels · Nov 14, 2003

I hear ya!! It's that annoying knowledge of something a-miss and no apparent fix.

[?|]

mrferg · Nov 14, 2003

I was driving around last week with next to no gas in the tank. I came to a stop at the top of a hill, when that light came on for the first time. It really freaked me out, and my next stop became the gas station.

Ryan Stewart · Nov 14, 2003

Mine comes on at about 6-70 miles left according to the OBC. Well beyond the R line. I would however recommend filling at the R line if possible because fuel keeps the pump cool. Cool mechanical components are happy mechanical components.

The lowest mine has said was 8miles left, only once. I was out of town and it took me forever to find a gas station, heart pounding the whole time.

rjp325i · Nov 14, 2003

My 1985 318i had the light come on at 1/8 tank capacity or about the 2 gal remaining level. On my 1989 325i I have not seen the light although I might not have gotten low enough. The tank holds 16.4 gals according to my owners manual so if the most I've put in is about 14 gals it would not come on. The manual says the light should come on with 1.6 gal remaining but I would assume that is a nominal value.

Nyarlathotep · Nov 14, 2003

Ryan Stewart said:

Mine just displayed dashes when I hit about 10 miles left.. And not a single station in sight.. [rolleyes]

xLibelle · Nov 14, 2003

doesnt it come on as a test when you start your car? i dont remember when its gone on but i know i've seen it before!

jrt67ss350 · Nov 14, 2003

Nah, it doesn't come on as a test when I start the car. Should it?

rjp325i · Nov 14, 2003

Neither one of my E30s ever came on as a test>

bichmgnt · Nov 15, 2003

This is spooky - I was going thinking about this exact thing in the car the other day and was going to post it but I forgot.

On my 86 325es it comes on when the computer hits 40 miles and at 10 miles the computer stops working and goes to ---. The car will run for about 30 more seconds before it dies completely. On my 91 325iC it's a little weirder. the light comes on when the trip computer gets to 22 miles and then the trip computer climbs to about 40 over the next mile or so. It also works until the computer gets to 10 , then goes to --- and dies within 20-30 seconds.

The first time in the 86 I just trusted it too much and was about a half mile from the gas station. Luckily it was all downhill. The second time in the 91 I knew I was stretching it a little and then got lost. Had no idea where I was or where a gas station might be. When AAA showed up with some gas they told me that the closest gas station was about a quarter mile away, all downhill. If I had known where it was I never would have called them.

I was going to ask if anyone else's trip computer counts up like mine does but it seems you are all too responsible to even let the light come on. I guess I just like living on the edge.

;-)

Steve

jrt67ss350 · Nov 15, 2003

bichmgnt,

Where is the needle at on your fuel gauge when the light comes on? Is it below R? Also, does it come on when you start the car as a test?

I'm in the red area on my gauge right now. Normally, I'd fill it up, but I might continue driving to see if the light comes on. [:0]

Low fuel light

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