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- 2008 Mazda5 5MT Sport w/ Popular Package
I have been calculating 2.5-3.5 gallons (depending of the actual car angle when it comes up), but not sure. Anyone else cared to check it out? 
How many gallons left after the dreaded yellow light comes up?
- Thread starter coolmazda5
- Start date
I noticed that same thing. The first time I went to test the mpg out I had a serious "why in the f#@!$ did I buy this thing" moment comparing the low fuel light to the number of miles I had traveled. After pumping the fuel it really came out to 29mpg because of all the fuel left in the freaking tank.
If I had to guess they do that to help protect the fuel pump from people who like to drain the tank all the time.
If I had to guess they do that to help protect the fuel pump from people who like to drain the tank all the time.
WhiteStar III
Member
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- Mazda5 Sport
2.5 gal
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- 2008 Mazda5 5MT Sport w/ Popular Package
Thanks, so I was close
Yes, it is good to have such an early warning. Agree with Wytchdctr, damaged gas pumps are not funny...
Now 2.5 Normal US Gallons = 1.0 Wife US Gallon. If I tell her that there are 2.5 Gallons left after the light comes up she'll run it to dry, that is a fact (scary)
Is that in analogous to my wife dialing house thermostat from 75F to 65F so A/C will cool a 85F room quicker? (silly)
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- 2008 Mazda5 5MT Sport w/ Popular Package
Hmmm, sounds like that Mazda5 issue actually, the topic: the auto A/C. So, you were saying?
it is normal indeed. I think the issue is psychological (the fan noise may create a heating illusion
Hey, luv her dearly, don't take me wrong (note: she is asking me to type this last paragraph)
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slvrsleeper
Member
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- 2007 Mazda5 sport 5mt True Silver
And my wife freaks out when the light comes on every time! She like "Oh god we're gonna run outta gas and die on the side of the road!" And I say " dear the car still has two and a half gallons of gas on board we could drive fifty more miles and still have gas left to go find a cheap station. She won't believe me of course.... She swears that the low fuel warning in her Subaru blinks at her as the tank goes dry.( this from someone who fills up with a quarter tank still on board)
Whoa! Mine, too! Let me know if you find a 'fix?'
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- 2002 BJFW, 2007 BK3P, 1979 SA22C, 2005 BK3P
msd dash hawk says that 20% fuel is in the tank when the light comes on
markuszoom5
Member
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- Mazda 5 Sport
Thanks, so I was close
Yes, it is good to have such an early warning. Agree with Wytchdctr, damaged gas pumps are not funny...
Now 2.5 Normal US Gallons = 1.0 Wife US Gallon. If I tell her that there are 2.5 Gallons left after the light comes up she'll run it to dry, that is a fact (scary)
LOL +++. That makes me laugh it is so true though. My wife's 2007 Civic has a digital gauge composed of little squares. Even when the yellow light comes on, she is like: "There is still 2 square left, I am OK. That irritates me so much.
WhiteStar III
Member
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- Mazda5 Sport
Due to my long commute, range is important, so I'm very concious of my fuel input and have to work at getting the most fuel I can in the car (yes I top off and I've never had any issues or CEL as a result).
If I stop for fuel in NJ (~ .20 cheaper than PA), where an attendant is required to pump, I have to factor in that I will never get more than ~ 14.5 gal in the tank (and depending on the gas station's pump flow rate it may be less).
Granted I've never actually run out of fuel just as I get to a gas station, but the most I've been able to pump in is 16.996 gal and I estimate the max fuel load is around 17.25 gal.
If I stop for fuel in NJ (~ .20 cheaper than PA), where an attendant is required to pump, I have to factor in that I will never get more than ~ 14.5 gal in the tank (and depending on the gas station's pump flow rate it may be less).
Granted I've never actually run out of fuel just as I get to a gas station, but the most I've been able to pump in is 16.996 gal and I estimate the max fuel load is around 17.25 gal.
Yessir it is, and USUALLY you can squeeze another 1/2 gal in the filler (most cars). The filler might be a little longer in the 5, since its so far back to make room for the door, but if you put in more than 16.5 gal, you need to report the station to the dept of weights & measures, esp if you didn't sputter pulling in.
Last night, the light was on before I got the car from my wife, I drove it 1 mi to the convenience store, then another 1.5 mi to the gas station with cheaper prices about 4 hours later. The fill-up: 13.01 (303.4 mi, all city), and I am sure that included the filler, so the light was on with an easy 3.2-3.5 gal left. But this is the 1st time I have had such a small fillup with the light on, so perhaps I need to use THAT pump more often
BTW, flat desert with very shallow grades, so gauge measurement is consistant.
WhiteStar III
Member
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- Mazda5 Sport
Yessir it is, and USUALLY you can squeeze another 1/2 gal in the filler (most cars). The filler might be a little longer in the 5, since its so far back to make room for the door, but if you put in more than 16.5 gal, you need to report the station to the dept of weights & measures, esp if you didn't sputter pulling in.
Last night, the light was on before I got the car from my wife, I drove it 1 mi to the convenience store, then another 1.5 mi to the gas station with cheaper prices about 4 hours later. The fill-up: 13.01 (303.4 mi, all city), and I am sure that included the filler, so the light was on with an easy 3.2-3.5 gal left. But this is the 1st time I have had such a small fillup with the light on, so perhaps I need to use THAT pump more often
BTW, flat desert with very shallow grades, so gauge measurement is consistant.
:dodgy:
Believe what you wish! I'll guarantee you your not getting the full "16" gallons the specs state if you let the pump do all the work; especially if you think you've got almost a quarter tank at low fuel warning.
