[apocalypto]

Question for all you knowledgeable folks here: According to the manual, the V6 gas tank capacity is 16 gallons but when I purposely ran the display to 0 miles left until empty tank, I immediately went to a station and filled it up. The fill up at the station read 14.5 gallons. Does this mean the display is wrong and that actually we have about 1.5 gallons until we completely run out of gas?

 

[Guest]

It's probably the reserve to keep you from going empty and damage the engine. Typically when my low fuel light comes on at 50 miles to empty, I am putting in about 13.5 gallons or so.

 

[FiK]

Pump gas is oxygenated, so instead of straight pure liquid fuel, you're pumping a slight foam into your tank. If you fill your tank from empty, the pump's shutoff will be tripped by the foamy liquid reaching the nozzle. But, the fuel will settle over time, after which you can top off and fill the rest of the tank.

Of note, when Ford did that one-tank mileage test with the 3.7L, they did this to put as much fuel into the tank as possible.

Don't Top Off Your Gas Tank! | Mid-Atlantic Air Protection

For a full tank fillup on a road trip, I could see waiting 5 minutes and adding about .5 gallons or so. I wouldn't mess around with the remaining ~half gallon, if only for the reasons in the link above. I bet if you try that test again, you can do it at a slower rate (if the nozzle has multiple notches for flow rates, set it lower instead of max or if it doesn't and you have the time/will, slow fill it manually) and you'll get more fuel into your tank next time. ;]

 

[ShortySmalls]

my 99 v6 i run for another 30 miles or so before i feel i need gas when i see the empty light on, and it still only holds around 14 gallons, even though its 16 gallon tank. Think its 16 gallon, including all the fuel in the lines and filters and stuff or something like that

 

[apocalypto]

Pump gas is oxygenated, so instead of straight pure liquid fuel, you're pumping a slight foam into your tank. If you fill your tank from empty, the pump's shutoff will be tripped by the foamy liquid reaching the nozzle. But, the fuel will settle over time, after which you can top off and fill the rest of the tank.

Of note, when Ford did that one-tank mileage test with the 3.7L, they did this to put as much fuel into the tank as possible.

Don't Top Off Your Gas Tank! | Mid-Atlantic Air Protection

For a full tank fillup on a road trip, I could see waiting 5 minutes and adding about .5 gallons or so. I wouldn't mess around with the remaining ~half gallon, if only for the reasons in the link above. I bet if you try that test again, you can do it at a slower rate (if the nozzle has multiple notches for flow rates, set it lower instead of max or if it doesn't and you have the time/will, slow fill it manually) and you'll get more fuel into your tank next time. ;]

The things you learn every day here..thanks for the link.

 

[Ltngdrvr]

Th other thing is that no matter what, you can't completely empty the tank by running the car, even if the car dies because it ran out of the available useable gas from the tank you still couldn't put 16 gallons in it.

 

[Buck268]

Why do you guys run your tanks so low? I always try to fill up before I hit 1/4 tank and DEFINATELY before the low light comes on. Don't want to have any potential effects from running low levels such as shortened fuel pump or filter life. Or just getting caught out with little gas and a long drive to make asap.

 

[Strange Mud]

I think there is plenty of gas left when it hits empty, we need a volunteer to see how far it can go...not me.

 

[Yadkin]

There's an extra gallon or so after your distance to empty display says zero. Think of it as a reserve fuel tank on a motorcycle. That and the foam thing. And the saddle bag tanks are not easy to fill completely.

 

[WhiteBird00]

Pump gas is oxygenated, so instead of straight pure liquid fuel, you're pumping a slight foam into your tank. If you fill your tank from empty, the pump's shutoff will be tripped by the foamy liquid reaching the nozzle. But, the fuel will settle over time, after which you can top off and fill the rest of the tank.

Of note, when Ford did that one-tank mileage test with the 3.7L, they did this to put as much fuel into the tank as possible.

Don't Top Off Your Gas Tank! | Mid-Atlantic Air Protection

For a full tank fillup on a road trip, I could see waiting 5 minutes and adding about .5 gallons or so. I wouldn't mess around with the remaining ~half gallon, if only for the reasons in the link above. I bet if you try that test again, you can do it at a slower rate (if the nozzle has multiple notches for flow rates, set it lower instead of max or if it doesn't and you have the time/will, slow fill it manually) and you'll get more fuel into your tank next time. ;]

There is no foam from pump gas - if you've ever filled a motorcycle, boat, or jerry can (or anything where you can see into the tank), you can see this for yourself. Oxygenated fuel is not like a carbonated drink - there are no vapor bubbles in the gas. Yes, there is some churning from the speed of the flow and that's what causes much of the vapor that vapor recovery systems are designed to capture. But there is no "foamy liquid" that would cause the dispenser to shut off prematurely. And certainly nothing to cause a 1.5 gallon difference.

 

[B-Unit]

I ran clear out, was able to get over 15 back in, dont recall exactly how much tho.

 

[muhstang]

There's an intentional empty tank reserve (and a full tank reserve). The fuel sensor arm isn't intended to touch the bottom of the tank due to NVH issues among other things. Two-pronged benefit: you gas up before you reach true empty and your ride is quieter :winks

Depending on the empty reserve, you could be driving around for 20-30 miles before you stall.

 

[V6 Cannonballer]

I once ran mine down until I was too uncomfortable. Don't remember what the display said, but I did pump just over 15.5 gallons, so I was mighty close. I'm sure the tank is 16 gallons, as stated by Ford.

 

[FoolnYa]

I think there is plenty of gas left when it hits empty, we need a volunteer to see how far it can go...not me.

Iver personally gone 5 miles or more after it reached 0. The ol lady was FREAKING out!!! :smilie

Ive yet to put more than 14.7 gallons in when filling up. But I haven't filled up in a while. My car is just a evening/weekend warrior, and gas=weight, so she only gets it $20 at a time, lol :heha:

 

[ShortySmalls]

my ol jeep has the screen that tells me miles to empty and that crap, and i drove it 2 days well over 60 miles when it said 0 miles to empty

 

[Top Down Bruce]

There is no foam from pump gas - if you've ever filled a motorcycle, boat, or jerry can (or anything where you can see into the tank), you can see this for yourself. Oxygenated fuel is not like a carbonated drink - there are no vapor bubbles in the gas. Yes, there is some churning from the speed of the flow and that's what causes much of the vapor that vapor recovery systems are designed to capture. But there is no "foamy liquid" that would cause the dispenser to shut off prematurely. And certainly nothing to cause a 1.5 gallon difference.

I agree the foam thing does not exist, at least from my experiences.
My Model A's tank is right above my lap, with a three inch filler so I look right into the tank and have never seen foam, filling it about fifty times a year.

I always fill the Stang to the fuel pump's first shut-off. I figure no reason to squeeze too much fuel into it, and there might be some kind of air vent I do not want to fill with gas.