When do you get the Low Fuel Light notification?

[MazdaDriverNJ]

I noticed that on my 2024 CX-5 Turbo Premium, I can drive as low as 30, or even 20, miles left 'to empty' and the low fuel light still does not come on. I brought it to the dealer - they tried to tell me that it's not a problem. Well the Owner's Manual says that Low Fuel Light should come on at 2.3 gallons (approx 50 miles to empty). But it does not. I decided to check if it ever came on - and finally, at 13 miles to empty (when I was starting to sweat if I run out of gas), the light came on. That makes it about half a gallon, not 2.3 gallon that the manual says! The dealer is not helpful... I am still waiting on what they suggest.

Anyone had this issue?

 

[SimpleCanuck]

Don't go by distance to empty. In my '22, the estimated distance to empty always reads lower than it actually is at that particular moment. I had a belief that the pessimistic estimate is to get you to fill up sooner so that you do not get severely low. The light comes on based on how much (how little) is left in the tank.

 

[cz5gt]

It means you have more than 2.3 gal in the tank.
dont go by the Avg and distance to empty that is not very accurate. Cars are made like that intentionally.

 

[Conrad 16.5]

I noticed that on my 2024 CX-5 Turbo Premium, I can drive as low as 30, or even 20, miles left 'to empty' and the low fuel light still does not come on. I brought it to the dealer - they tried to tell me that it's not a problem. Well the Owner's Manual says that Low Fuel Light should come on at 2.3 gallons (approx 50 miles to empty). But it does not. I decided to check if it ever came on - and finally, at 13 miles to empty (when I was starting to sweat if I run out of gas), the light came on. That makes it about half a gallon, not 2.3 gallon that the manual says! The dealer is not helpful... I am still waiting on what they suggest.

Anyone had this issue?
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The low fuel light WILL come on. Drive till it does and then fill the tank right away. Make note of the amount of fuel you put in and subtract that from the fuel tank capacity. There you go, that's the number of gallons left when the light comes on. Multiply that number by your current fuel economy and there's the approximate number of miles you can travel after the low fuel indicator lights up.

 

[Mazdiod2]

I was noticing on some recent trips that every time I refilled I was putting in about 11 1/2 gallons yet the tank holds 14.8 gallons. I'm going to try to remember to do this so I'll know what the actual range is.

I started carrying a bottle of 'HEET' gas additive and it got me to a gas station when I ran low once (in a different car). A pint is probably good for a few miles.

The low fuel light WILL come on. Drive till it does and then fill the tank right away. Make note of the amount of fuel you put in and subtract that from the fuel tank capacity. There you go, that's the number of gallons left when the light comes on. Multiply that number by your current fuel economy and there's the approximate number of miles you can travel after the low fuel indicator lights up.

 

[Conrad 16.5]

I was noticing on some recent trips that every time I refilled I was putting in about 11 1/2 gallons yet the tank holds 14.8 gallons. I'm going to try to remember to do this so I'll know what the actual range is.

I started carrying a bottle of 'HEET' gas additive and it got me to a gas station when I ran low once (in a different car). A pint is probably good for a few miles.

Why do you have to try to remember? You have the numbers right there.

14.8-11.5=3.3 gallons remaining. Multiply your current mpg by 3.3 and you have your answer.

Using Heet as a gasoline substitute? Not gonna work the way you're thinking.

Assume that you have one gallon of gas in your tank. This gas is not diluted with Heet and is getting X number of miles per gallon. Now you pour in the Heet, and you have one gallon of gas that's been diluted with a pint of Heet and is no longer pure gas and as a result, is not burning as efficiently as it did before the dilution. Now you're not getting X miles per gallon but something less. That's no help and I most certainly would not count on this to keep me driving till I get to the next station.

 

[MazdaDriverNJ]

The low fuel light WILL come on. Drive till it does and then fill the tank right away. Make note of the amount of fuel you put in and subtract that from the fuel tank capacity. There you go, that's the number of gallons left when the light comes on. Multiply that number by your current fuel economy and there's the approximate number of miles you can travel after the low fuel indicator lights up.

You're right - the light (and the message "Refill Fuel Tank" did come on - when it showed 13 miles to empty. I didn't wait much longer and refilled right away at that point, already was quite stressed that it was so low. But I thought it was supposed to light up at approximately 50 miles to empty.

 

[Conrad 16.5]

I've ran the tank down to the point where the range is Zero, even a bit past that once or twice. I still had nearly two gallons in the tank.

 

[hsdejong]

You're right - the light (and the message "Refill Fuel Tank" did come on - when it showed 13 miles to empty.

The miles to empty is an estimated value based on your average fuel consumption.
The actual amount of fuel you have left is indicated by the analog fuel gauge.

 

[Mazdiod2]

Why do you have to try to remember? You have the numbers right there.

14.8-11.5=3.3 gallons remaining. Multiply your current mpg by 3.3 and you have your answer.

Using Heet as a gasoline substitute? Not gonna work the way you're thinking.

Assume that you have one gallon of gas in your tank. This gas is not diluted with Heet and is getting X number of miles per gallon. Now you pour in the Heet, and you have one gallon of gas that's been diluted with a pint of Heet and is no longer pure gas and as a result, is not burning as efficiently as it did before the dilution. Now you're not getting X miles per gallon but something less. That's no help and I most certainly would not count on this to keep me driving till I get to the next station.

Well, the Heet got me the mile or so to the station I needed. I doubt it's good for the engine, but it saved me some trouble. That car didn't have a warning light

 

[dunhillmc]

the miles to empty number leaves a lot of cushion so you don't run out of gas. it's supposed to come on with 2.5 gallons left but my 6 has always come at 4

 

[GrampaSlade]

Mine came on today about a half mile from the gas station. 12.67 gallons til the nozzle shut off

 

[Conrad 16.5]

Well, the Heet got me the mile or so to the station I needed. I doubt it's good for the engine, but it saved me some trouble. That car didn't have a warning light

I suspect that you would have made it that mile or so without adding a pint of Heet.

 

[Koko_Bandit]

I was noticing on some recent trips that every time I refilled I was putting in about 11 1/2 gallons yet the tank holds 14.8 gallons. I'm going to try to remember to do this so I'll know what the actual range is.

I started carrying a bottle of 'HEET' gas additive and it got me to a gas station when I ran low once (in a different car). A pint is probably good for a few miles.

Per "the Google" the CX-5 has a 15.3 gallon fuel tank.

 

[dunhillmc]

Per "the Google" the CX-5 has a 15.3 gallon fuel tank.

His 2016 is 14.8 gallons for 2WD or 15.3 for AWD

 

[Koko_Bandit]

His 2016 is 14.8 gallons for 2WD or 15.3 for AWD

Edmunds.com only lists 15.3 gallons for a 2016 model. No indication for 2WD vs. AWD. Car and Driver does state 14.8 for 2016 2WD. My bad for trusting Edmunds.com.

 

[Mazdiod2]

I suspect that you would have made it that mile or so without adding a pint of Heet.

No, I parked it I didn't notice the fuel gauge, but when I returned it started up but there was noise from the back (fuel pump) and then it died. I poured in the bottle of Heet and jumped on the bumper to mix it and then it started and I drove it to the station. Kind of a hack but it worked that time.