How much fuel left when fuel light on

[Hora]

1.5 engine, when it hits fuel light on two bars then down to one. Roughly how many miles are left?

[TnTkr]

Depends on how you drive, but at least 20 miles. I have no precise answer. I would be even more curious to know how many miles/kilometers/litres are left when the computer states that remaining fuel is good for 0 mile/km distance. I have planned to test it, but haven't had suitable time yet.

[culzean]

Depends on how you drive, but at least 20 miles. I have no precise answer. I would be even more curious to know how many miles/kilometers/litres are left when the computer states that remaining fuel is good for 0 mile/km distance. I have planned to test it, but haven't had suitable time yet.

It would seem logical that the zero on miles to empty display would coincide with 'fuel light flashing, that the system will say that for all intents and purposes 'zero' is when you start to use reserve fuel.   Be interested to see if that is the case..

[Henryge]

Hi There, I regularly used to let low fuel light come and it would say 27 miles left of fuel. Then when it reached zero i would zero out trip counter, would then start out 5 miles of driving then refill, then next time went to 10 miles before refilling got a far as 30 miles is my limit, So somewhere between 30 and 35 miles ran out of petrol, soft me didn't bother to carry can of fuel for this test as this test period was over 8 month period. (Nobody likes the smell of petrol in the car) this was average normal driving to and from work with couple minutes queuing, So make of that what you will. :'(

[Jocko]

With my Mk1 I regularly have the fuel light come on 40 miles from home. I drive home and the next morning go and get petrol.

[TnTkr]

Depends on how you drive, but at least 20 miles. I have no precise answer. I would be even more curious to know how many miles/kilometers/litres are left when the computer states that remaining fuel is good for 0 mile/km distance. I have planned to test it, but haven't had suitable time yet.

It would seem logical that the zero on miles to empty display would coincide with 'fuel light flashing, that the system will say that for all intents and purposes 'zero' is when you start to use reserve fuel.   Be interested to see if that is the case..

Mine lights up the low fuel warning light when there is 50 km range left.

[Hora]

Depends on how you drive, but at least 20 miles. I have no precise answer. I would be even more curious to know how many miles/kilometers/litres are left when the computer states that remaining fuel is good for 0 mile/km distance. I have planned to test it, but haven't had suitable time yet.

It would seem logical that the zero on miles to empty display would coincide with 'fuel light flashing, that the system will say that for all intents and purposes 'zero' is when you start to use reserve fuel.   Be interested to see if that is the case..

Mine lights up the low fuel warning light when there is 50 km range left.

That's impressive, what engine and gearbox?

Mine went to no bars on the display when I set off on my 12 mile commute home at 6am this morning.... I just drove faster to make the anxious feeling last for a shorter period!

[jazzaro]

More or less, the light comes on when there are about 6-8 liters left in the tank, I usually refill with 33-36 liters  in a tank with 39l of capacity plus the connecting hose, I presume 1-2l.
So my Jazz could run at least  for other 70-80km after the yellow light comes on, average consumption 15-18km/l.

[TnTkr]

Depends on how you drive, but at least 20 miles. I have no precise answer. I would be even more curious to know how many miles/kilometers/litres are left when the computer states that remaining fuel is good for 0 mile/km distance. I have planned to test it, but haven't had suitable time yet.

It would seem logical that the zero on miles to empty display would coincide with 'fuel light flashing, that the system will say that for all intents and purposes 'zero' is when you start to use reserve fuel.   Be interested to see if that is the case..

Mine lights up the low fuel warning light when there is 50 km range left.

That's impressive, what engine and gearbox?

Mine went to no bars on the display when I set off on my 12 mile commute home at 6am this morning.... I just drove faster to make the anxious feeling last for a shorter period!

1.5 litre engine and 6-speed manual gearbox.

[SteveiD]

Best not to run to the bottom of the tank as there will inevitably be a bit of dirt or even water down there!

[ColinB]

Best not to run to the bottom of the tank as there will inevitably be a bit of dirt or even water down there!

Err, no, not quite. The pump suction intake is at the bottom of the tank, and if there's any water in the tank it will always be at the bottom (petrol is less dense than water) so would have been the first thing to get sucked into the pump intake, not the last. Likewise any sediment at the bottom of the tank will be sucked into the pump intake early, you don't need to run the tank down to get to it. The only stuff that'll get sucked in when the tank's nearly empty is anything that's floating on the surface of the fuel.

[SteveiD]

In your opinion. It is and always  has been fact that you are more likely to contaminate your fuel system by running on undiluted dregs. All motoring organisations and garages will tell you the same.

[culzean]

In your opinion. It is and always  has been fact that you are more likely to contaminate your fuel system by running on undiluted dregs. All motoring organisations and garages will tell you the same.

As ColinB already said, the fuel pickup point in the tank is fixed, it does not float around - so however much fuel in the tank the petrol is being drawn from same spot, so if there is dirt there with an almost empty tank, there would have been dirt there with a full tank.   Water is heavier than petrol and will stay at bottom of tank ( and fuel injection handles water better than carbs did ), it is only things that may float on top of fuel ( cannot think of any ) that will get nearer the pump intake when fuel gets low, and that is why the filter is there. Fuel is now cleaner than it has ever been, and fuel tanks now plastic,  so no rust.   Some say fuel pump will overheat if fuel level is too low, but I am sure pumps are conservatively rated, the last thing you want in a fuel tank is a hot electrical device.

[Mikey]

Hi Hora,
According to owner manual Low Fuel Indicator goes on when there's approx 5.3 litres fuel left , how many miles that will last depends on what's your mpg. The range is around mpg*1.166 so for example if it's 35mpg it means it will last 35*1.166 = 40 miles 

How I got to it:
range = LowFuelLevel*(miles/l)
mpg -> miles/l is mpg/4.54 (1 imperial gallon in 4.54l)
range = 5.2*(mpg/4.54) = (5.2/4.54)*mpg = 1.167*mpg
   
BTW, Link to Honda Manual:
https://www.honda.co.uk/content/dam/local/uk/cars/owners/manuals/JAZZ/2016%20Jazz%20Owners%20Manual.pdf

[Neil Ives]

As ColinB already said, the fuel pickup point in the tank is fixed, it does not float around - so however much fuel in the tank the petrol is being drawn from same spot, so if there is dirt there with an almost empty tank, there would have been dirt there with a full tank. 

But this ignores floating debris.