Gas low warning light on 2017 E;

[pyrophilus]

I just got a 2017 EB to replace my 2015 EB. The 2017 is new, but has manufacturing date of Aug 2016, so it probably sat 1 and half year on the lot.

I noticed that when the gas gauge gets to 1/4 tank left, the low fuel warning comes on the center display, and says 50 miles left.

My 2015 did not trip until below 1/8th tank left.

Is it normal for the 2017"s to trip the low fuel warning at 1/4 tank? Also at this time, when I fill up, I get 11.3 gallons until full.

I am just afraid that fuel sensor maybe faulty? I find that I am always going into gas stations because the warning comecomes on every time I start the car when I get to 1/4 tank of gas left.

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[scottmoyer]

I have a '17 GT and my light comes on at 50 miles left. It also hits that at the 1/4 tank mark. My last tank, I got 18 mpg and drove until I had about 32 miles left. I filled up and got 13 gallons.

 

[pyrophilus]

I have a '17 GT and my light comes on at 50 miles left. It also hits that at the 1/4 tank mark. My last tank, I got 18 mpg and drove until I had about 32 miles left. I filled up and got 13 gallons.

Thanks Scott,

I guess then it is correct, albeit the math doesn't work for me. You have a 5.0, and I doubt the EB and GT have different sized gas tanks, so my guess is 1/4 tank for GT and EB both mean same #'s of gallons left...

But they have different MPG's, so the actual #of miles left should be different, not 50miles left for both EB and GT. Talk about software guys being lazy at ford...

The gas tank is supposedly 15.5 to 16 gal capacity. It ok 11.3gal to refill it. So I had 4.2 to 4.7 gal when fuel warning came on. I am averaging 21MPG, so that means I have 88 to 98.7 miles of range before going bingo on gas...

In the 3 years that I drove my '15 EB Premium, I saw the low gas light less than I can count on both hands. It has been going off every single time before I decide to go get gas on my '17 (same spec as '15, same 6MT, but with ACC, Nav, spare tire).

What, is Fod responding because too many 2015 owners get stranded on side of road running out of gas???:shrug:

 

[Cobra Jet]

If it matters, I have a 2016 EB w/PP and my “low fuel” light also illuminates when the tank gets to 50 miles left.

 

[DarkestHour]

My 2016 GT does the same. It's normal.

 

[scottmoyer]

Here's something to think about. If the light comes on with 50 miles left and the gauge is at 1/4, then that should equate to a 200 mile range on the entire tank. When I do city driving (18 mpg), my range will be about 275 miles after a fillup. When I do highway only, I get 25 mpg and 350 mile range.

They might have programmed it to come on and falsely alert you to the miles remaining at the 1/4 tank so you get gas. It's been discussed for years that there can be crap in the tank and also water in the tank, especially with ethanol blends, that can damage the car if you do drive until empty. Just a possibility.

 

[gamecoc430]

And remember, the fuel in the tank actually cools the fuel pump. Run the tank too low and you danger burning out the fuel pump.

 

[highvoltage]

Mine comes on at 50 miles to E. The needle on the tank level varies. Pretty sure it’s based only on miles to the tank. Not at the 1/4 mark.

 

[moreause]

But they have different MPG's, so the actual #of miles left should be different, not 50miles left for both EB and GT. Talk about software guys being lazy at ford...

why that would be lazy ... they decided that the warning would be a distance instead of volume

since volume could give some low pre aning if your a crazy driver

but 50 miles is 50 miles if adjusted to current mpg average

Here's something to think about. If the light comes on with 50 miles left and the gauge is at 1/4, then that should equate to a 200 mile range on the entire tank. When I do city driving (18 mpg), my range will be about 275 miles after a fillup. When I do highway only, I get 25 mpg and 350 mile range.

They might have programmed it to come on and falsely alert you to the miles remaining at the 1/4 tank so you get gas. It's been discussed for years that there can be crap in the tank and also water in the tank, especially with ethanol blends, that can damage the car if you do drive until empty. Just a possibility.

1/4 of the tank in probably not 1/4 in the real world

tank shape is not always uniform... and fuel sensor are not always linear ..much more these days..but i have seen some weird one

and don't forget fuel moving all over the place when you drive...

 

[pyrophilus]

It's weird, I've owned ten cars from various makers, and none of them ever turn on gas nag light at 50 miles. Usually just under 20. I actually think it's not a bad idea, but it's so annoying that every time I start car I get the warning, I end up trying to find a gas station when I probably have another 80-90 miles of range left.

I am 99% sure my 15 EB did not trip at 50 miles...

I say it's lazy on Ford as it sounds like at 1/4 tank, if you had the 5.0, the 4.2 gallon left (on mine when light goes off it is exactly 25% left according to OBDII), and I fill it with 11.3 gallons, 15.5-11.3=4.2), and if you get 16-17mpg on a V8, that would be around 60+ miles of range, which would be in line with the 50 mile warning.

On my car, it gets 21avg (and Ford says 21 city), which means at the 25% mark with 4.2 gallons left, that's 94.5 mile of range still left.

What I'm saying is it seems like Ford gauged the 50miles DTE based on 5.0 and didn't make adjustments for the EB fuel economy.

Do all of your other cars trip the fuel low light at 1/4 tank too? I'm curious.

 

[gamecoc430]

My 2017 GT does. My choice if I want to fill up promptly, or wait unlit closer to completely empty. Your choice. If you know you can go XX miles further, wait until then.

 

[moreause]

It's weird, I've owned ten cars from various makers, and none of them ever turn on gas nag light at 50 miles. Usually just under 20. I actually think it's not a bad idea, but it's so annoying that every time I start car I get the warning, I end up trying to find a gas station when I probably have another 80-90 miles of range left.

I am 99% sure my 15 EB did not trip at 50 miles...

I say it's lazy on Ford as it sounds like at 1/4 tank, if you had the 5.0, the 4.2 gallon left (on mine when light goes off it is exactly 25% left according to OBDII), and I fill it with 11.3 gallons, 15.5-11.3=4.2), and if you get 16-17mpg on a V8, that would be around 60+ miles of range, which would be in line with the 50 mile warning.

On my car, it gets 21avg (and Ford says 21 city), which means at the 25% mark with 4.2 gallons left, that's 94.5 mile of range still left.

What I'm saying is it seems like Ford gauged the 50miles DTE based on 5.0 and didn't make adjustments for the EB fuel economy.

Do all of your other cars trip the fuel low light at 1/4 tank too? I'm curious.

first you have to remember that 1/4 high in the tank is not neccessarly 1/4 of total volume

second that liquid as to cover the whole area of the tank ..so that is not much liquid space for the pump to pick it up

and if you start putting into account ... incline, acceleration braking , hard cornering on the wrong side of the pump

now a day people only think in 1 and 0 they forget all the real life thing that make it work

and if that light trouble you ... you have a mustang .... you should be able to put gaz into it

ps... my hyundai genesis coupe light would turn on in the same range BUT the light was far less annoying i concede

 

[highvoltage]

It’s a good practice to not get below 1/4 tank anyways. Moisture can come into play and the crap that can settle to the bottom of the fuel tank too.

 

[TruBlu16GT]

And remember, the fuel in the tank actually cools the fuel pump. Run the tank too low and you danger burning out the fuel pump.

Not entirely accurate. As long as there is fuel, the pump will cool, but also lubricate itself.

It's those folks that run their tanks dry, and continue to try to start their car are the ones that burn out their fuel pumps.


On my car, the light comes on at 1/4 tank or 50 miles to E. I find it to be a bit annoying and wish I could turn it off. I'm not one of those fools who doesn't know what a fuel gauge is for.

 

[Houston Kid]

In the GT350 its on all of the time. It comes on with 1/2 of a tank left and says 50 miles to E. I'm lucky to get 170 miles per tank. She is a thirsty girl.

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