How much further can I go in my 2004 Mazda 3 Sport GT once the gas light comes on?
June 22, 2010 6:17 AM Subscribe
How much further can I go in my 2004 Mazda 3 Sport GT once the gas light comes on?
I recently bought a 2004 Mazda 3 Sport GT and I'm not sure how far I can go before completely running out of gas once the warning light comes on. I'm guessing anywhere between 40 and 60km, but I could be way off.
I recently bought a 2004 Mazda 3 Sport GT and I'm not sure how far I can go before completely running out of gas once the warning light comes on. I'm guessing anywhere between 40 and 60km, but I could be way off.
Find out the maximum volume of your car's fuel tank (probably in your car's manual, or can be found online). Calculate your average fuel consumption rate (e.g. mpg) over a few weeks (manually or using e.g. Fuelly.com). When you have an average value, fill your tank, then drive around until the gas light comes on. Immediately go and fill your tank.
Max tank volume minus the amount you added to fill the tank when the light came on = the amount of gas left in the tank when the light came on. You can then use your average mpg value to figure out how far that amount of fuel will take you.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 6:24 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Max tank volume minus the amount you added to fill the tank when the light came on = the amount of gas left in the tank when the light came on. You can then use your average mpg value to figure out how far that amount of fuel will take you.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 6:24 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
stavrogin beat me to it! Seconding the above plan.
I always fill the tank completely and record then reset the tripmeter after each fill-up - thus I can track my mileage with the data of how much gas I put in (equal to how much was used since the last fill-up) and how far I went on that gas.
posted by cmetom at 6:25 AM on June 22, 2010
I always fill the tank completely and record then reset the tripmeter after each fill-up - thus I can track my mileage with the data of how much gas I put in (equal to how much was used since the last fill-up) and how far I went on that gas.
posted by cmetom at 6:25 AM on June 22, 2010
The way to really find out is to put some spare gas in a can in your trunk, and then to run it until you run out of gas. When I have done that, the answer has been off quite a but from what I thought with the above methods.
It's better to think of it as an amount of gas, instead of a distance traveled, as the distance you can travel will depend greatly on the fuel consumption during that period.
posted by iknowizbirfmark at 6:28 AM on June 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
It's better to think of it as an amount of gas, instead of a distance traveled, as the distance you can travel will depend greatly on the fuel consumption during that period.
posted by iknowizbirfmark at 6:28 AM on June 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
There isn't a universal answer to this, as it's going to depend on how the fuel sensor on your car happens to be calibrated. YMMV, as it were.
But there's a way to figure it out.
First, bust out your Owner's Manual and see how big a gas tank you've got. Looks like 55L/14.5 gallons.
Then, the next time your gas light goes off, see where your odometer is, and fill up as soon as you can. Note how much distance has passed between the light going off and tanking up. Then note how much gas you put in. Using your average mileage, you should be able to figure out how much gas you burned between the light going off and tanking up. Subtract that from the amount of gas you put in. Then subtract that remainder from the capacity of your tank. Multiply that by your average mileage, and you should get a rough estimate for how far you can go when the light goes off.
Do that two or three times to get a more accurate read.
Of course, if you're lazy and have good roadside assistance, you can also just keep driving a little farther each time you need gas until you either run out or have gone far enough. Me, I'd do the math.
posted by valkyryn at 6:28 AM on June 22, 2010
But there's a way to figure it out.
First, bust out your Owner's Manual and see how big a gas tank you've got. Looks like 55L/14.5 gallons.
Then, the next time your gas light goes off, see where your odometer is, and fill up as soon as you can. Note how much distance has passed between the light going off and tanking up. Then note how much gas you put in. Using your average mileage, you should be able to figure out how much gas you burned between the light going off and tanking up. Subtract that from the amount of gas you put in. Then subtract that remainder from the capacity of your tank. Multiply that by your average mileage, and you should get a rough estimate for how far you can go when the light goes off.
Do that two or three times to get a more accurate read.
Of course, if you're lazy and have good roadside assistance, you can also just keep driving a little farther each time you need gas until you either run out or have gone far enough. Me, I'd do the math.
posted by valkyryn at 6:28 AM on June 22, 2010
If you do run your car totally dry, the sediment at the bottom of the tank will gunk up your fuel filter and you'll need to replace that.
posted by stavrogin at 6:31 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by stavrogin at 6:31 AM on June 22, 2010
Stavrogin's method gives you the absolute maximum you could possibly go, right enough. 50 km is a reasonable guess, I think.
The usual caveats apply:
Your fuel pickup won't be right at the bottom of the tank.
Sucking up the sludge in the bottom of your tank is bad.
Once the fuel is very low you might suck air when the tank is tilted (uphill, downhill, sharp cornering).
Last time I was almost out of fuel I decided I had loads of range left and of course ended up at a gas/petrol station that was also out of fuel. Luckily a mixture of fumes and hope got me to the next station 20 miles away.
posted by samj at 6:32 AM on June 22, 2010
The usual caveats apply:
Your fuel pickup won't be right at the bottom of the tank.
Sucking up the sludge in the bottom of your tank is bad.
Once the fuel is very low you might suck air when the tank is tilted (uphill, downhill, sharp cornering).
Last time I was almost out of fuel I decided I had loads of range left and of course ended up at a gas/petrol station that was also out of fuel. Luckily a mixture of fumes and hope got me to the next station 20 miles away.
posted by samj at 6:32 AM on June 22, 2010
While I am sure that iknowbizbirfmark has the best method, know that the real world rules are that not enough if you need to be somewhere in a hurry and plenty if you have no obligations.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 6:39 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by JohnnyGunn at 6:39 AM on June 22, 2010
If you do run your car totally dry, the sediment at the bottom of the tank will gunk up your fuel filter and you'll need to replace that.
This is not true unless your car is so old and troubled and filled with years with dirty gas that it's about to die anyway. It's not like there is a layer of sludge that will not get mixed in with gas normally but will if you run it until you are out of gas.
posted by iknowizbirfmark at 6:43 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
This is not true unless your car is so old and troubled and filled with years with dirty gas that it's about to die anyway. It's not like there is a layer of sludge that will not get mixed in with gas normally but will if you run it until you are out of gas.
posted by iknowizbirfmark at 6:43 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Based on other Mazdas, it's reasonable to expect your fuel light to come on with 2 usable gallons left (but 3 actual gallons, the last gallon is not going to be picked up reliably enough to drive on). How far you can get on that? Depends on your driving style, traffic, weather (if you're running the airconditioning)....
posted by anaelith at 6:46 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by anaelith at 6:46 AM on June 22, 2010
This is not true unless your car is so old and troubled and filled with years with dirty gas that it's about to die anyway. It's not like there is a layer of sludge that will not get mixed in with gas normally but will if you run it until you are out of gas.
Gas tanks can rust, gas station owners can take poor care of their tanks, tanker trucks can be maintained poorly, etc. I've ran a car dry and it started to hesitate and stall until I had my fuel filter replaced.
posted by stavrogin at 6:53 AM on June 22, 2010
Gas tanks can rust, gas station owners can take poor care of their tanks, tanker trucks can be maintained poorly, etc. I've ran a car dry and it started to hesitate and stall until I had my fuel filter replaced.
posted by stavrogin at 6:53 AM on June 22, 2010
If you do run your car totally dry, the sediment at the bottom of the tank will gunk up your fuel filter and you'll need to replace that.
The fuel pump always pulls from the bottom of the tank. It doesn't move.
Caveats to depending on the "run dry" method:
1- Fuel gauges are neither accurate nor precise. It is not a smart piece of electronics. One day "E" can mean three gallons, the next it can mean one.
2- I have had cars that will happily run to the razor's edge of empty. If I stop and fill up, I'm fine. However, if I turn the car off before filling up, it will not start again until I put more gas in. Be careful with that.
Running out of gas tip, which should never be followed, but it has worked for me. Keep a couple of bottles of Heet or ISO-Heet in the trunk. If you run out of gas, dump them in. Should give you enough volume to get to a gas station. I have also used 70% rubbing alcohol in a pinch. The car did NOT like it, but it drove.
posted by gjc at 7:17 AM on June 22, 2010
The fuel pump always pulls from the bottom of the tank. It doesn't move.
Caveats to depending on the "run dry" method:
1- Fuel gauges are neither accurate nor precise. It is not a smart piece of electronics. One day "E" can mean three gallons, the next it can mean one.
2- I have had cars that will happily run to the razor's edge of empty. If I stop and fill up, I'm fine. However, if I turn the car off before filling up, it will not start again until I put more gas in. Be careful with that.
Running out of gas tip, which should never be followed, but it has worked for me. Keep a couple of bottles of Heet or ISO-Heet in the trunk. If you run out of gas, dump them in. Should give you enough volume to get to a gas station. I have also used 70% rubbing alcohol in a pinch. The car did NOT like it, but it drove.
posted by gjc at 7:17 AM on June 22, 2010
My motorbike (BMW R850R) has no fuel guage, but only a warning light. I zero the trip counter at every fillup, and deliberately don't zero it if for any reason (not enough cash, etc.) I can't fill up entirely, just to keep myself reminded that the trip counter isn't reliable for the moment. After a few months of this procedure, I gradually got the feel of it: I can totally rely on at least 300km with a full tank, of being reminded by the warning light anywhere around 260/270 km, and in one extreme emergency made 324 km without beginning to stutter (but by riding in extreme fuel-saving mode), and the next fill was more or less what the manual told me the tank should hold. So if I'm riding where petrol stations are few and far apart, I know I need to fill when the light comes on, unless I know there's a pump within 50 km ahead, and the warning light doesn't let me forget this. It also reminds me not to go like a teenager at 6000 rpm until I've got a fill.
Not exactly the reply you were asking for, I admit, but this easy method has proved perfectly reliable and may be all you need, depending on your requirements. Obviously if you for some reason need something more accurate, there's plenty of good advice upthread.
posted by aqsakal at 7:18 AM on June 22, 2010
Not exactly the reply you were asking for, I admit, but this easy method has proved perfectly reliable and may be all you need, depending on your requirements. Obviously if you for some reason need something more accurate, there's plenty of good advice upthread.
posted by aqsakal at 7:18 AM on June 22, 2010
This is a good question, one that I have wondered about for my car. Since I'm math / number phobic, is there any kind of website or place on the tubes where someone has collected info from consumers about how far that different cars can travel from the light till empty? I haven't googled yet, just wondered if anyone knew of any kind of database that may exist. (I have a 2008 Acura Mdx in case anybody has done the math already).
posted by pearlybob at 7:22 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by pearlybob at 7:22 AM on June 22, 2010
My experience with my 2003 Mazda Protege5 (Which the Mazda 3 replaced in '04) is that the low fuel light comes on when just around 12.5 gallons have been consumed. This means there's 2 gallons left in the tank, which is about enough to make it 45-50 miles on the highway. I usually stop and fill up when I hit 1/4 tank anyway, as the fuel pump in the tank relies on having fuel around it to cool itself. Running your car to the low light and below will cause some additional wear and tear on the pump, not to mention you'll be sucking all the crap up off the bottom of the tank into your engine.
posted by ganzhimself at 7:36 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by ganzhimself at 7:36 AM on June 22, 2010
My Mazda 3 Owner's Manual tells me approximately when the fuel light comes on (I think it says 1-2 gallons remaining). You could check there.
posted by backseatpilot at 7:48 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by backseatpilot at 7:48 AM on June 22, 2010
Even if you're fine with any damage caused to the fuel filter when you run out of gas, you'll also be damaging the fuel pump, which uses the fuel for lubrication. Which means taking it to a mechanic to take out your fuel tank and replace a ~$100-200 part plus labor.
posted by stavrogin at 7:53 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by stavrogin at 7:53 AM on June 22, 2010
In general, avoid operating your vehicle with a very low tank of gas. The sediment concern is pretty minimal, since there's a filter built into the fuel pump itself that blocks any junk in the tank. The real concern is that the fuel pump is lubricated and cooled by the fuel. I've had customers return repeatedly, complaining that their car runs poorly and doesn't start and each time, they came in with an empty tank of gas. I replaced one customer's fuel pump three times in a year because they couldn't be bothered to keep more than a quarter tank of gas in the car at any given time. The DC motor doesn't like to be run dry at all. They're generally pretty cheaply assembled and all the bushings are cheap plastic and they'll fail pretty quickly and the insulation in the motor breaks down and begins to bind.
So, do your best to make this an irrelevent question and don't operate your car with extreme low fuel levels.
posted by Jon-o at 8:35 AM on June 22, 2010
So, do your best to make this an irrelevent question and don't operate your car with extreme low fuel levels.
posted by Jon-o at 8:35 AM on June 22, 2010
Until recently, I had the same car. The empty light would come on around 41L down. I think the most gas I ever put in it (lost one foggy late night) was 49L. How far you can get on that depends on how you're driving, but would be somewhere between 50km (for rough city driving) and 100Km (for steady 100km/h highway driving).
I never had to learn the hard way how close I would get to the bottom of the 55L tank before the fuel pump's intake would suck air.
posted by dodecapus at 8:37 AM on June 22, 2010
I never had to learn the hard way how close I would get to the bottom of the 55L tank before the fuel pump's intake would suck air.
posted by dodecapus at 8:37 AM on June 22, 2010
My 2005 Mazda 3 sedan has a 13 gallon tank and the light comes on when 1.5 gallons are left.
posted by L. Ron McKenzie at 8:42 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by L. Ron McKenzie at 8:42 AM on June 22, 2010
I don't know how Mazda does it, but I have run out of gas in my Subaru, and when I went to fill it, I was able to fit a gallon and a half less than my manual says my tank holds. I was actually going by that reckoning in the first place which is why I ran out. So: If you're going to push it, I'd suggest bringing some extra fuel separately.
posted by aubilenon at 10:03 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by aubilenon at 10:03 AM on June 22, 2010
is there any kind of website or place on the tubes where someone has collected info from consumers about how far that different cars can travel from the light till empty?
As already pointed out, such a web site could not possibly give accurate numbers because distance depends on mileage and mileage depends on a large number of factors, not the least of which is how the person drives (i.e. jackrabbit starts or granny mode) and whether they're driving in stop-and-go traffic or steady highway speeds.
posted by Rhomboid at 1:07 PM on June 22, 2010
As already pointed out, such a web site could not possibly give accurate numbers because distance depends on mileage and mileage depends on a large number of factors, not the least of which is how the person drives (i.e. jackrabbit starts or granny mode) and whether they're driving in stop-and-go traffic or steady highway speeds.
posted by Rhomboid at 1:07 PM on June 22, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by stavrogin at 6:20 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]