Sorry this is so long, but I know this has probably been mentioned a million times, but the other night I was low on gas (35 miles to empty and gas light on). I drove to a buddies place about 10 miles away and left his place and the gauge showed 18 miles to empty. Well, I drove about 3 miles and then it showed 9 miles to empty...now I am starting to stress it a little since now I am on the highway and the closest gas station is still about 10 miles away. I look down and now it is now showing nothing....just a dash and miles to empty and the gas needle is below the red line.

Whew, finally make it to the gas station and can only get 11.25 gallons in and when I start her, she is showing full and 295 miles to empty (Yet I manage to only get 160-170 miles a tank). IIRC, the tank is 16 gallons plus. Is the fuel gauge and miles to empty computer that far off? Now The gauge is showing 295 full and I drove about 50 miles yesterday and the gauge now shows 204 miles to empty.

Also, I usually always get gas whenever the light turns on, since I did run out of gas 1 time in my life...of course it happened when it was 2 am and 25 degrees out and the closest station was 3 miles away.

 

If you just fill up a bit (i.e. less than a half tank) when you are close to empty, the fuel gauge will not register this. This is something with the design of the fuel sensors.

 

I have run completely dry 2 times lately. Once with the indicator showing 72 miles to empty and another time showing 60 miles to empty. Between the two times mentioned, I carried fuel and ran it down to 45 miles to empty and it didn't quit, so I figured I was safe at 60. WRONG. I think inconsistency would be an applicable term.

My dealer said I could bring the car in with very low fuel and he would drain it, add some fuel and recalibrate the gauge. I don't think I'll bother. I'm now using 1/4 tank inidicated as my fill-up call.