Fuel level info from Mazda

[Andy Hollis]

Mazda's explanation of why refueling only seems to take 8-9 gallons, when the tank holds 11. This is useful info when autocrossing/tracking the car, and just how low you can go.

I refill the car to the point that the single flashing bar comes on. That's enough for 6-8 runs, with minimal extra weight.

 

[eyeballs]

Excellent info Andy! So even though we have an 11.3 gallon tank, only 10.5 gallons are useable. I've still never gotten mine to take much over 8 gallons, even after driving 20 miles or so after the E+1 bar flashing. I'll have to try fiddling with the position of the pump.

 

[fam]

What I really want to know is when youre using the miles remaining gauge (touring only I think) how much farther past zero it can go until it starts to sputter\run out of gas.

 

[njaremka]

What I really want to know is when youre using the miles remaining gauge (touring only I think) how much farther past zero it can go until it starts to sputter\run out of gas.

get a 2-5 gallon gas can, fill it up and throw it in the trunk. then, go out for a drive

 

[Chris_uk]

Like ^^

 

[fam]

My commute is an interstate drive across I75 and I280 with massive bridges and no safe places to pull off....hoping one of you suckers that might have a safer commute could try it.

 

[magnumP5]

What I really want to know is when youre using the miles remaining gauge (touring only I think) how much farther past zero it can go until it starts to sputter\run out of gas.

I swear I've driven 20+ miles with the "E" flashing. I usually average about 33 mi/gal and with 0.7 gal remaining that would be about 23 miles. I didn't think I was really cutting it THAT close but at least now I have some information to use ("E" flashing = ~20 mi "safe" range).

 

[njaremka]

My commute is an interstate drive across I75 and I280 with massive bridges and no safe places to pull off....hoping one of you suckers that might have a safer commute could try it.

i wasn't implying that you should do it on your work commute. if you have a free saturday, you could use it as an excuse to go for a cruise.

 

[Gravity]

I can tell you that I've run to 0kms on the trip computer, and made another 60km and still had about 6L left in the tank.

I've hit JUST 0kms left and hat about 8.5L left in the tank.

 

[nikbrewer]

i have ran 50 miles plast zero, and have put 11.2 gallons in before, so i musy have been bone dry

 

[ajent420]

this may be a dumb question, but if the pump doesn't reach all the way to the bottom, does that leave potential for any kind of build of deposits or whatnot?

 

[MyPrecious]

I think that might be "the purpose"...perhaps the sump doesn't go to the bottom of the tank to avoid pulling in any particulates (like rust or metal shavings) that might settle on the bottom of the tank and would be harmful to the fuel pump if ingested by it?

 

[323F Rock]

i cracked open a 12 year old mazda 323F fuel tank and it was so clean inside you could eat off it!
there was no "sludge" or "bits" after all Petrol is a solvent which cleans so would break down any "sludge" should it occur....

 

[fam]

well if you autocross on a low fuel level like every mazda owner should....youd splash all that around anyway so you wouldnt have any deposits (unless you ate too much taco bell).

 

[MyPrecious]

i cracked open a 12 year old mazda 323F fuel tank and it was so clean inside you could eat off it!
there was no "sludge" or "bits" after all Petrol is a solvent which cleans so would break down any "sludge" should it occur....

I agree with you completely in terms of the solvent properties of gasoline/petrol...and that any light particulates would likely pass through the fuel pump without harming it....and then be captured by the fuel filter....but heavy particulates...that were insolvable by liquid hydrocarbons would seemingly settle to the bottom of the tank and stay there.

I agree...I am careful where I purchase my gasoline/petrol...and in how I fill the tank...and thus would be very surprised if there were any appreciable debris in my tank....even after a decade or more....but...with Mazda selling automobiles in markets worldwide...would that necessarily always be the case....it seems that there could be the potential in some of their market area (no offense intended)...that the standards of fuel delivery and retail management would not necessarily not be at the same level as in the U.S. or the UK...such that the potential to introduce contamination while refueling could be more prevalent?

 

[323F Rock]

i can see where the preventative measures are coming from, but for the UK and US i don't see there is any problem with running your car to empty every now and again! we paid for the last couple of gallons might as well use them