Why does the fuel light come on so early?

S

sunnydays

Active member
Hey all,

Why is it the car fuel light comes on when their is a still approx 25% of fuel remaining. I always fill up straight away as soon as this comes on.

When the feul light comes on is it indicating potential increased wear in the fuel pump due to low fuel, or just a precautionary warning so you dont run out? Seems abit early for it to come on at a 1/4 remaining

Thanks all
 
I know this is in an E89 thread, but I'm pretty sure the E85/86 tanks are the same size as E89 tanks.

My low fuel light seems to come on with about 60 miles left in my E86 (and my E46).

But there are some brave owners on here - I've never got close to 0! :roll:
 
I'm sure I read that the 35's start restricting engine performance when the light comes on.....?

Had a mate who regularly ran his cars down to zero on the gauge and thought nothing of it. Even drove his brand new Jag onto a petrol forecourt once. He'd gone past the liquid fuel stage, past the vapour and coasted to a standstill bang on the pump. :o

Never got caught out. Didn't do much for driver / passenger relationships though.
 
You can alter when it comes on in with carly if it bugs you hugely :)

oh and after 0, it then goes to '----'

I then carried on with that for about 20 miles, luckily found a petrol station (was in france and two petrol stations in a row were closed :( )
 
willgill said:
You can alter when it comes on in with carly if it bugs you hugely :)

oh and after 0, it then goes to '----'

I then carried on with that for about 20 miles, luckily found a petrol station (was in france and two petrol stations in a row were closed :( )
Click to expand...

Agree and had this very problem on many cars. Low then no fuel stations.

When crossing Europe on a Sunday you'll be really pleased to have this warning on really early...
 
When i was trading one of my previous E89 back to the dealer, I ran mine down to 0 on the display. As it went to ----, the darn thing coughed, spluttered and died. Ended up on the M6 hard shoulder while a mate brought me a can of fuel.

So now I never chance getting anything like close to zero. I will wait until I get the solid pump display which keeps coming back but that's it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom