Mileage readout

[mwangarch]

Always interested to see how the computer calculates remaining mileage in the tank; it appears to be based on the last X miles of driving. If you combine the miles driven on the tank and add the remaining miles, you can get some absurd projections; Saw 715 theoretical miles the other day driving back down the sierras from Tahoe. That included 206 miles going up Donner pass twice, but that long stretch down the sierras made the car think it was getting 40 or 50 mpg. Still, if you have the 1.5 turbo and don't leadfoot it, 500 miles per tank is achievable on long road trips.

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[Dude]

Always interested to see how the computer calculates remaining mileage in the tank; it appears to be based on the last X miles of driving. If you combine the miles driven on the tank and add the remaining miles, you can get some absurd projections; Saw 715 theoretical miles the other day driving back down the sierras from Tahoe. That included 206 miles going up Donner pass twice, but that long stretch down the sierras made the car think it was getting 40 or 50 mpg. Still, if you have the 1.5 turbo and don't leadfoot it, 500 miles per tank is achievable on long road trips.

It’s a bit more complicated of a calculation then you might assume
… I used to develop the software for the fuel economy display including average mpg, instantaneous mpg, miles remaining, etc.

 

[DWG]

Looking at OP's picture I noticed that the Big Bend still has a fuel gauge. Much more accurate than the bars I have on my Badlands. When filling my cars at the gas station I would look at the fuel gauge and be able to estimate the amount of gallons it will take. With my BS with the bars not as close when estimating. The last time I filled the BS the fuel bars read exactly half full which should have been about 8 gallons. The BS took over 10 gallons which shouldn't have surprised me but looking at the gauge while reading full there are 8 total bars so each one must disappear about every 2 gallons used (16 gal tank). Need to remember that when looking at the gauges as it might actually be about 2 gallons less in the tank than is reading on the gauge.

Not sure at what point a warning message pops up to let you know that your fuel is low but if you are on the last bar I am guessing the fuel level could be 2 gallons less than you think. I also assume there is actually a small amount of fuel in the tank even if the gauge reads empty. Either way I do not intend to let the fuel level get that low but I am sure there could be situations where it just happens.

 

[Escape2Bronco]

Looking at OP's picture I noticed that the Big Bend still has a fuel gauge. Much more accurate than the bars I have on my Badlands. When filling my cars at the gas station I would look at the fuel gauge and be able to estimate the amount of gallons it will take. With my BS with the bars not as close when estimating. The last time I filled the BS the fuel bars read exactly half full which should have been about 8 gallons. The BS took over 10 gallons which shouldn't have surprised me but looking at the gauge while reading full there are 8 total bars so each one must disappear about every 2 gallons used (16 gal tank). Need to remember that when looking at the gauges as it might actually be about 2 gallons less in the tank than is reading on the gauge.

Not sure at what point a warning message pops up to let you know that your fuel is low but if you are on the last bar I am guessing the fuel level could be 2 gallons less than you think. I also assume there is actually a small amount of fuel in the tank even if the gauge reads empty. Either way I do not intend to let the fuel level get that low but I am sure there could be situations where it just happens.

The gas pump symbol seems to come on around 50 miles to go for me. I’ll look to see what the most gas I put in it at one fill up.

Looks like several times around 14.5 so 1.5 gallons remaining. All were right around 320 miles on the trip odometer.

 

[Dude]

The gas pump symbol seems to come on around 50 miles to go for me.

Same for me … 50 miles to go is when the gas pump symbol comes on which matches what the Owners Manual states.

The most gas I put in is 14.693 gallons and for that 36 miles to empty showed in the fuel display.

The Owners Manual also states the fuel gauge shows ‘about’ how much fuel remains meaning it’s not actuals.

 

[Mark S.]

The note about variations in gauge positions is instructive. The overwhelming majority of fuel gauges in the vehicles I've owned over the years could not be relied upon to accurately determine fuel remaining in the tank. This is especially true when the vehicle is moving causing the fuel to slosh around the tank.

The BEST way to determine fuel remaining is to know your vehicle (what's your typical fuel mileage in different driving conditions) and your driving habits. If you reset the trip meter when you fill up you should have a pretty good idea of how many miles you can drive before you need more fuel. Alternatively, you can let the computer do the work for you. My only advice is that you refuel before the light comes on--like when the computer says you have 75-100 miles left on the current tank. Allowing the fuel level to get below one gallon remaining places greater stress on the fuel pump in the tank, which relies on fuel for cooling. If you regularly allow the fuel level to get that low your fuel pump will not last as long.

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