Distance till empty "safety net"

[Rotus8]

You'll be routinely buying a fuel pump way too soon. I learned that lesson the hard way.

Well, I dunno about routinely. I've been driving it this way for 35K imles and still on the original pump. Maybe if the tank is usually run down almost to the bottom, it keeps gunk from accumulating. I am pretty careful not to actually run out, I just don't like to spend more time going out of my way to fill up than I need to.

 

[Rotus8]

These cars have a mileage meter for gas? As in "40 miles until empty"?

I ran out of gas once. The MS3 gives no warning it's going to die. No sputtering or anything like my buddy's truck does. I thought I had about 10 miles left. (ugh)

It's called the trip computer option on the display above the radio. Some models have 'em, some not. Some of the ones without can use a "secret code" to turn it on; If it's '08.5 or later, you are SOL though.

 

[Hyun]

I am grateful that someone took time to figure that secret code out for my speed but to this date, i wonder how he figured it out. Maybe a leak from internal source?

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

08 and newer actually. 07 and later you could do the code on the sport models.

 

[typeshluder]

It's called the trip computer option on the display above the radio. Some models have 'em, some not. Some of the ones without can use a "secret code" to turn it on; If it's '08.5 or later, you are SOL though.

Gotcha! I have an 08.5 and was wondering how the f$#k I never saw it before. Why the hell would they get rid of that? I think it would be a nice feature.

 

[Moultese]

I've never tested my miles until empty. I usually fill up when I hit about 1/4 tank left.

 

[irnbru83]

Yeah, I used that trick in my '07 Sport. After 5 minutes, I turned the clock back on.

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

I use the clock on my GPS

Yeah, I used that trick in my '07 Sport. After 5 minutes, I turned the clock back on.

And leave the trip comp on Average.

 

[MikeHTally]

Well, I dunno about routinely. I've been driving it this way for 35K imles and still on the original pump. Maybe if the tank is usually run down almost to the bottom, it keeps gunk from accumulating. I am pretty careful not to actually run out, I just don't like to spend more time going out of my way to fill up than I need to.

That's what I used to think. Guess you'll have to learn the hard way, too. The gunk is secondary -- it's the heat that kills the pump. An obstructed filter may hasten its demise.