Gas gauge question...

[Smurf50]

The 2011 is the first car I have owned with a readout telling me how many miles until empty. I like it, but I am running into a small conundrum....I get notice from the electronic display that I have 50 miles remaining while I am OVER A quarter tank on the analog meter.

Now my question is, which one should I be taking as most likely correct? I gas up usually by the time it says I have 15 miles left, but the analog gauge is still between and 1/8 and 1/4 tank...

[DirtyD]

The gas gauge is based on a few factors. Miles driven on previous tank, gear ratio, and fuel remaining. It's only an estimate, but it's pretty accurate. For safety almost all cars technically have 1-2 gallons of reserve fuel lefts even once you get to E, this is to make sure you might have a little more to stretch the extra distance to the next possibly station. Our cars have 16 (or 16.5) gal tanks, cant exactly remember. I've run my car to 0 miles to E before (15.1 gal) and within 10 miles of E (14.5ish).

Both are fairly accurate

[DirtyD]

I will add that last 1/4 tank will go faster that you realize. LOL

[kn7671]

I find myself getting gas every few days from spring through fall just to scrub the bugs off the windshield, plus it gives me another opportunity to leave the house for a short drive.

From my experience, between the three S197 5.0's I've owned, they've all been on the safe side when alerting at the 50-miles-to-empty range, and when you get down under 15-miles to empty, I've almost always had 1.5 to 2.5 gallons left in the tank.

[DirtyD]

I find myself getting gas every few days from spring through fall just to scrub the bugs off the windshield, plus it gives me another opportunity to leave the house for a short drive.

From my experience, between the three S197 5.0's I've owned, they've all been on the safe side when alerting at the 50-miles-to-empty range, and when you get down under 15-miles to empty, I've almost always had 1.5 to 2.5 gallons left in the tank.

Yup, exactly what I've found

[MnemonicGhost]

Gas tanks are not symmetric at all, and with sloshing and irregular inner surfaces the fuel remaining vs. basic "depth" is not linear at all. For overall fuel economy, it is best to run it as low as possible, but don't get caught too far away from a gas station when you need it! :)

[Smurf50]

I guess it doesn't help that I definitely do have a lead foot... :p

[Phuck Phace]

I guess it doesn't help that I definitely do have a lead foot... :p

Just wait till you switch to E85.

[Smurf50]

Just wait till you switch to E85.

Is it worth doing that without having a turbo/supercharger?

[DirtyD]

Is it worth doing that without having a turbo/supercharger?

For a DD, no unless you want power and don't give a shut about any type I'd efficient fuel driving. Lol

If your car sees fun day driving only, it's worth it.

[Smurf50]

For a DD, no unless you want power and don't give a shut about any type I'd efficient fuel driving. Lol

If your car sees fun day driving only, it's worth it.

So for a long trip, say 300 miles or so it would not be worth having the E85 tune?

I only drive about 5 miles a day....at most. So the longest drives I take are my "fun" drives just to have some fun. I am sure the fact that I drive so little is part of the reason my gas mileage is absolute ass...

[DirtyD]

So for a long trip, say 300 miles or so it would not be worth having the E85 tune?

I only drive about 5 miles a day....at most. So the longest drives I take are my "fun" drives just to have some fun. I am sure the fact that I drive so little is part of the reason my gas mileage is absolute ass...

If you can afford/handle getting maybe 20-21 AVG MPG, maybe 23 max on the highway, depending on mods, then I say go for it. You can always purchase a fuel drain kit and swap back to 93 for long trips, which may be what I do when I switch to corn

[IHateThisSite]

Haha ... I get 17 with 93... But that is because traffic going home from work...

[DirtyD]

Haha ... I get 17 with 93... But that is because traffic going home from work...
I get a mixed MPG of 19-20 during the warm months, 18-19 during winter.

[Sieran]

Finally got over the "must drive in 4th all the time because it is fun" new car syndrome. Now that I have been skipping shifts and driving in 6th (city) I have gone from 14mpg to 18-19. Much better on my wallet.

[DirtyD]

Finally got over the "must drive in 4th all the time because it is fun" new car syndrome. Now that I have been skipping shifts and driving in 6th (city) I have gone from 14mpg to 18-19. Much better on my wallet.
what speeds are you driving around town at to use 6th? I seen you have 3.73s, so I imagine around 45-50. I can hold 6th at 40-45, but it's like 1100 RPM. LOL.

[IHateThisSite]

I do 18-20 without a problem and 23+ highway when school is out ... It's the stop and go that kills me

[DirtyD]

Shoot, I can hold 26 doing 80-85 on the highway. I love it. :D

[Zeek]

Shoot, I can hold 26 doing 80-85 on the highway. I love it. :D

I don't see how you get 26. On the 50 mile trip from mesquite to commerce at 80 I get 22.5ish and I have 3.55s

[IHateThisSite]

Drafting ....

[Smurf50]

Well you all get a hell of a lot better than I do! I usually end up about 180 miles per tank :( As I mentioned though, I drive very little so I am sure I use more gas starting my car than actually driving it...

[DirtyD]

I don't see how you get 26. On the 50 mile trip from mesquite to commerce at 80 I get 22.5ish and I have 3.55s

320 mile trips to my parents down I45 really help. Set cruise and just cruise. Haha

If I had a 50 miles hwy trip to work, I'd like to see what I get.

I've found these cars actually like driving their most efficient between 75-80 on cruise. Which is awesome

[DirtyD]

Well you all get a hell of a lot better than I do! I usually end up about 180 miles per tank :( As I mentioned though, I drive very little so I am sure I use more gas starting my car than actually driving it...

Short trips don't help at all. If you aren't using an entire gallon on each drive, that extra gas is used to start the car, and it goes faster than you think. That's what I found on my F150 when I had it. The less miles you drive at highway speeds under what you get MPG on the hwy sucks your gas quick

[Smurf50]

Short trips don't help at all. If you aren't using an entire gallon on each drive, that extra gas is used to start the car, and it goes faster than you think. That's what I found on my F150 when I had it. The less miles you drive at highway speeds under what you get MPG on the hwy sucks your gas quick

Yup, if I don't drive like I stole it I can usually get 200+ per tank while city driving....the problem is with how nice it sounds, and how fun it is to drive...who WOULDN'T drive it like it was stolen :D

[DirtyD]

Yup, if I don't drive like I stole it I can usually get 200+ per tank while city driving....the problem is with how nice it sounds, and how fun it is to drive...who WOULDN'T drive it like it was stolen :D
You will eventually calm down on the running it in the ground on a daily basis. It took me about 7 months. LOL

[jng2985]

230ish per tank all city at 15.7avg. Traffic light after traffic light, followed by bat out of hell on 35 access.. Lol I read y'all getting 18+ and I picture a bunch of old ladies in loud cars..

[Phuck Phace]

I'm getting 9.3 on E85.

[DirtyD]

I'm getting 9.3 on E85.

You have a miniature jet though, that sucks fuel like Jeff sucks......

[DirtyD]

230ish per tank all city at 15.7avg. Traffic light after traffic light, followed by bat out of hell on 35 access.. Lol I read y'all getting 18+ and I picture a bunch of old ladies in loud cars..

Even doing a little hotrodding on my normal daily commute I can net around 17-18 with a little traffic

Another reason Ft. Worth > Dallas. :D

[JDMLOL]

e85 mileage: "Miles per gallon? Bitch, gallons per mile."

[Phuck Phace]

e85 mileage: "Miles per gallon? Bitch, gallons per mile."

LOL, no joke.

[Luke]

e85 mileage: "Miles per gallon? Bitch, gallons per mile."

Sounds like my Bronco with the old engine... 8 mpg city, 8 mpg highway, 8 mpg uphill, 8 mpg downhill. I usually got around 260-270 miles on a 35 gallon tank.

[Grandpa]

I'm getting 9.3 on E85.

I'm sure that has a little something to do with your lead foot too. lol

I'm averaging 20 in town and 27 hwy. I had it almost up to 30 highway but I've been driving the car a lil harder lately cuz I'm starting to get bored with the car.

[Smurf50]

You will eventually calm down on the running it in the ground on a daily basis. It took me about 7 months. LOL

Errr, I don't know if that will ever happen sir! I have been driving like this since I was 16 and with every new mod comes more reason to step into it!

I guess I will just accept that I will be filling up every week, like I have always been!

[DirtyD]

Errr, I don't know if that will ever happen sir! I have been driving like this since I was 16 and with every new mod comes more reason to step into it!

I guess I will just accept that I will be filling up every week, like I have always been!
I fill up on average every 5 days, so I know your pain.

I guess coming from a V6 F150 when I was 16 didn't get me used to going fast a lot, unless it was downhill with a hurricane force tail wind. :lol:

[Dan12GT]

I get about 19-20 with my daily commutes, which is about 75% city driving. I skip shift 1-4-6 all the time when just driving like an old man. I do also time to time get on it a bit during those commutes. My present round trip commute is about 25 miles daily. I work 3-4 days a week (depending on the week), so with here and there driving when I am off work I get about that same average each tank. Last week I did however drive to Muenster and back and drove to work 3 days and averaged 23.5. I averaged 26-27 doing 80-85 to and from muenster. You can get over 27 if you keep it around 70 and use cruise control. I also have 3:31 gears so that helps a bit in the fuel economy department.

[Sieran]

what speeds are you driving around town at to use 6th? I seen you have 3.73s, so I imagine around 45-50. I can hold 6th at 40-45, but it's like 1100 RPM. LOL.

Usually around 40-50 for 6th. I do hear a little gear chatter from the back though around 40. Below that i drop to 5th and the MPGs drop like flies.

[DirtyD]

Usually around 40-50 for 6th. I do hear a little gear chatter from the back though around 40. Below that i drop to 5th and the MPGs drop like flies.
Yeah, I keep 5th up to about 45 or so, which is roughly 2000-2100 rpm for me with 3.55s.

I have found that my MPG rolling in 5th at those speeds it actually not too bad, around 19 or so.