Question about the fuel gage

[ellupo11]

I only got 1k miles on mine. My fuel gage seems a bit strange. First, the estimated range showed only 28 miles (yes, I know that's only a calculated estimate), 2 bars on the gage, no fuel light. Then light came on but I still had 2 bars for quite a while.
Couple weeks ago the light came on and I had 3 bars on the gage.
Just wanted to know if other people have similar experiences

 

[m3bs]

Of all of the things Honda really does well on these cars, the fuel gauge is not one of them….

 

[ctechauto]

It's an "estimate" on your previous driving behavior. I also italicized and air quotes around estimate because that is also a stretch. You may have driven less aggressively last fill up and had better MPG which would account for 3 bars vs 2. But the low fuel light icon will come on at 28 miles until "empty", regardless. I also air quotes around empty is because there is about 1.5-2 gallons of fuel still in the tank when it reaches empty (showing 0 miles to empty).

That being said, this is why I always learn how each individual car acts when the gauge says 0 miles to empty, low fuel, whatever it may be, then cross reference that with the manual on the tank size upon refueling. I ignore the level gauge, and the distance to empty is actually pretty accurate on this car when you double check it with quick math.

99.9% of vehicles have around 2 gallons of fuel (or more) even when it says its empty for safety and reserve purposes (no, this won't harm the fuel pump, it's not the 1960s anymore. The fuel pump and hanger reaches down to the most bottom part of the tank, especially in saddle style tanks (post-pump fuel filter and fuel pump sock will protect from sediment that may have migrated to bottom of the tank; either way it was in the fuel sloshing around anyway to begin with). Now if you run completely dry and on fumes/vapors, that's a different story).

 

[danielbl]

Of all of the things Honda really does well on these cars, the fuel gauge is not one of them….

On long road trips just driving down the highway, mine will lose a bar and then regain it usually when the tank is close to full. Annoyed me for a bit but now I just live with this quirk.

 

[ellupo11]

It's an "estimate" on your previous driving behavior. I also italicized and air quotes around estimate because that is also a stretch. You may have driven less aggressively last fill up and had better MPG which would account for 3 bars vs 2. But the low fuel light icon will come on at 28 miles until "empty", regardless. I also air quotes around empty is because there is about 1.5-2 gallons of fuel still in the tank when it reaches empty (showing 0 miles to empty).

That being said, this is why I always learn how each individual car acts when the gauge says 0 miles to empty, low fuel, whatever it may be, then cross reference that with the manual on the tank size upon refueling. I ignore the level gauge, and the distance to empty is actually pretty accurate on this car when you double check it with quick math.

99.9% of vehicles have around 2 gallons of fuel (or more) even when it says its empty for safety and reserve purposes (no, this won't harm the fuel pump, it's not the 1960s anymore. The fuel pump and hanger reaches down to the most bottom part of the tank, especially in saddle style tanks (post-pump fuel filter and fuel pump sock will protect from sediment that may have migrated to bottom of the tank; either way it was in the fuel sloshing around anyway to begin with). Now if you run completely dry and on fumes/vapors, that's a different story).

On cars I had with digital fuel gages the light would come on when it dropped to 1 bar. When this one came on with 3 bars showing, that threw me off.
That's why I prefer analog fuel gages

 

[ctechauto]

On cars I had with digital fuel gages the light would come on when it dropped to 1 bar. When this one came on with 3 bars showing, that threw me off.
That's why I prefer analog fuel gages

Just pay attention to the "Range" (distance to empty) instead of the level gauge then

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