[VTEClover]

What is the most amount of gas you have ever purchased? What did your gas gauge read when you filled up? Does the needle go below the E?

Summer travel is upon us and I haven't seen this exact topic posted. Some have questioned that the Fuel low light comes on way too early (we have 5+ gals left, assuming the 20 gal tank). But the real issue is how big is the tank and how low does the gauge go before you run out of gas?

 

[2001SpaceOdyssey]

I have the same situatin with my 2001 LX. If I refill right when the fuel light first comes on, I'll only get from 13.5 to 15 Gallons. Like you, I have to wonder if there really is 5 to 6.5 gallons left.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by VTEClover:
What is the most amount of gas you have ever purchased? What did your gas gauge read when you filled up? Does the needle go below the E?

Summer travel is upon us and I haven't seen this exact topic posted. Some have questioned that the Fuel low light comes on way too early (we have 5+ gals left, assuming the 20 gal tank). But the real issue is how big is the tank and how low does the gauge go before you run out of gas?</font>

 

[trekman]

The most i've put in the tank is 17.91 gal.On a recent trip though have gone 388 miles averaging 22.91 mpg on the trip which was about 80% freeway,though.much narrow hilly driving on the trip though through the hills around calistoga and near the coast.
gas light seems to consistently come on when there's about 6 gallons left.so i figure at least 50-60 miles before filling up(leaving a few gallons),depending on if it's city or highway driving.

2001 EX,2700 mi.,5 months new.
cassette,trans cooler,hitch,mud guards,cross bars(no noise),gold kit,bug deflector,cargo tray and cargo mat.no problems so far.



[This message has been edited by trekman (edited 05-24-2001).]

 

[winsonchan]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by VTEClover:
What is the most amount of gas you have ever purchased? What did your gas gauge read when you filled up? Does the needle go below the E?

Summer travel is upon us and I haven't seen this exact topic posted. Some have questioned that the Fuel low light comes on way too early (we have 5+ gals left, assuming the 20 gal tank). But the real issue is how big is the tank and how low does the gauge go before you run out of gas?</font>

I have a 2001 EX, same situation, the most that I could fill in after the light is on is 51 liter which is also around 13.5 gallon.
The light comes on too early

 

[porschetr]

hmmm. What's the problem.
They always do that.
My other car has about 46L tank and it warns me when it has 10L left.



[This message has been edited by porschetr (edited 06-11-2001).]

 

[famguy]

The needle was on the Empty line and the low fuel light was on. I refueled and only added 13.5 gallons. The 6.5 gallons difference is too much. Does the tank really hold 20 gallons? I'm not sure. Honda should fix this problem.

 

[exindenver]

This is not a problem. It's a feature.

I'm sure the only one to ever run out of gas in an Odyssey is the guy trying to find out if his Odyssey actually has a 20 gallon tank by driving it until it is empty.

Even with 13 gallons, thats about 250 miles between fill ups around town. Pretty typical for most cars I've owned.

 

[VTEClover]

Ok, I gambled and ran the tank down to 2 needle widths below the E and then filled full up with 18.5gals. I pumped about .5 gal more than when the pump stopped, which brought the gas gauge well above the Full line. Anyone fill up with more than 18.5gal? How low was the gas needle below the E?

Running out of gas is no fun. These fuel injected engines are not meant to run out of gas. However, there are some techniques to use if you do attempt to run low. 1) keep a gas can handy or drive in an area where there are lots of gas stations on every block. 2) I figured this was a better way to experiment - drive up hill or down hill while turning (like freeway on ramps), if you push the pedal to the metal, the remaining gas in the tank goes to once side and you end up with some gas starvation as the acceleration suck the line dry. The engine stalls a bit, then typically when you let off the gas, it comes back on again. This is when you know, you're almost empty - less than 1/2 gal. I haven't done this on the Ody yet, since my test was on a longer trip. But I report back when I try this. Until then, anyone with a bigger fillup than 18.5gal?

 

[TrickedOdyssey]

I would MUCH rather have the light go on TOO early than too late

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Any Questions, comments...email me: [email protected]

 

[DrewH]

We have a 01 SSLX and I noticed an early fuel light also after a couple of 13 gal fillups. The fuel light came on when the needle was just above the 1/4 tank mark. We went on a long trip and filled up again. The next time the fuel light didn't come on until below 1/8 of a tank, where I would expect it. That fill up after letting it get a little further down towards E was 17gal.
I wonder if the computer automatically adjusts itself after a few tank fulls or by refill habits to more correctly reflect the amount shown by the guage.

 

[hondaman]

I took mine into the dealer for this problem and they stated Honda is aware this problem, there is no repair that will fix it and that there is a change planned. The dealer suggested I wait until the lite comes on and stays on before I get gas. I have started doing that which is allowing me to add more gas at fuel up.

As a test, I drove mine until it actually ran out of gas. I was able to put in 18 gals.

From my understanding there will be about 1-2 gallons of unusable fuel always left in the tank. The fuel pick up is off the bottom of the tank to prevent contaminates from being sucked up into the system. So not all the gas in the tank is accessible. This is due gas stations not have the best holding tanks.

 

[hondaman]

Oh by the way I didn't top off on my run out of gas trick. So I could have gotten in more the 1/2 gal.

 

[odymomof2]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by VTEClover:
Until then, anyone with a bigger fillup than 18.5gal?</font>

Nope, max fill up to date, since taking delivery on 4/1/01 is 17 gallons.

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~Angela~
'01 MB EX
cassette
mud guareds

[This message has been edited by odymomof2 (edited 06-20-2001).]

 

[jacklew]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by VTEClover:
What is the most amount of gas you have ever purchased? What did your gas gauge read when you filled up? Does the needle go below the E?</font>

18.41, 18.21, 18.09, 18.01 gal. all with the needle just below E. Usually a few more cents before withdrawing. Almost a year old. Also have an 89 Camry with 16.1 gal tank. Maximum was 13.5 gal. Toyota wanted to dismantle the tank since I claimed it didn't hold 16 gal. No thanks,

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Jack

[This message has been edited by jacklew (edited 06-21-2001).]

 

[cmt4]

I have seen this issue so much that I must propose a drastic solution. Someone PLEASE siphon all the gas out of their tank, when it is at half full or some other easily-marked amount. Then measure what's been siphoned and multiply by what ever factor to reach a full tank. Someone out there MUST do this! I've seen stranger recommendations posted.

 

[sdp]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by cmt4:
I have seen this issue so much that I must propose a drastic solution. Someone PLEASE siphon all the gas out of their tank, when it is at half full or some other easily-marked amount. Then measure what's been siphoned and multiply by what ever factor to reach a full tank. Someone out there MUST do this! I've seen stranger recommendations posted.</font>

Won't work. Have to either run it dry and then fill it up, or fill it up then siphon it (hmm, where to?). How do you know when it's 1/2 full or at some easily marked point? You don't - not with the Ody's fuel gauge. It's there for generality, not accuracy. Remember, a half full (or is it half emtpy?) tank registers around the 1/4 tank mark on the fuel gauge.

Someone here has gotten it to take 18.5 gallons at a fill-up. I'll buy the 20 gallon spec.

P.S. Not to be a wiseguy, but YOU could do your experiment if it bothers you so much. Most of us are fine with accepting that it's just the way the Ody is...

 

[cmt4]

First, I was the one bieng a wiseguy. Second, siphon to another vehicle that has a low tank (you know, a vehicle that actually has a working fuel gauge). But, I see your point about siphoning at 1/2 tank. So... fill er up and then siphon all of it out. How much can you get out?

Let me tell you why it's a problem. You have a guage there for a reason, not for looks. It should tell you what you need to know and not assume you need a four or five gallon "cushion." My trips are VERY long... usually 1,200 miles or more, one way. I NEED the fuel guage to be accurate so I can: travel quickly and safely (don't want to second-guess the guage and run out of gas). My travels take me to very remote areas where gas stations can be hard to come by. I know they call them "idiot lights/guages" but I think (in this case) that refers to the engineers.

And while we're on it... it's the same with hot dog buns. Why do they sell them in packages of 10 or 12 when hot dogs come in packages of 8?! It's a communist plot, I tell ya.

 

[wallstreet123456]

Willsomeone please tell me what it says in owners manual about the fuel light. Does it say how many gallons are left when the light comes on?

 

[Intrepid175]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by wallstreet123456:
Willsomeone please tell me what it says in owners manual about the fuel light. Does it say how many gallons are left when the light comes on?</font>

I'm assuming you haven't bought an Odyssey yet so I'll accommodate.

All I could find on the fuel light was on page 65 and it states:

"This light comes on as a reminder that you must refuel soon."

That's certainly a "duh" if ever I've read one.

As for the fuel gauge, on page 67 it states:

"This shows how much fuel you have. It is most accurate when the vehicle is on level ground. It may show slightly more or less than actual amount when you are driving on curvy or hilly roads.

The needle returns to the bottom after you turn off the ignition. The gauge shows the fuel level reading immediately after you turn the ignition switch back ON (II)."

FWIW,
Drive Safe,
Steve

[This message has been edited by Intrepid175 (edited 06-27-2001).]

 

[jacklew]

From http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/tsb

Service Bulletin Number: 010999
Bulletin Sequence Number: 801
Date of Bulletin: 9909
NHTSA Item Number: SB608017
Make: HONDA TRUCK
Model: ODYSSEY
Year: 2000 and 1999
Component: INTERIOR SYSTEMS:INSTRUMENT PANEL:GAUGE:INDICATOR:GAS
Summary: INFORMATION REGARDING LOW FUEL LIGHT ON AT 1/4 TANK, THIS IS NORMAL BECAUSE THE PCM IS PROGRAMMED TO TURN THE LIGHT ON AT 1/4 TANK. *TT

Service Bulletin Number: 010101
Bulletin Sequence Number: 178
Date of Bulletin: 0101
NHTSA Item Number: SB617890
Make: HONDA TRUCK
Model: ODYSSEY
Year: 2001, 2000, 1999
Component: INTERIOR SYSTEMS:INSTRUMENT PANEL:GAUGE:INDICATOR:GAS
Summary: THIS ARTICLES STATES THAT IT'S A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE FOR THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR TO COME ON WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE READS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN 1/4 TANK (ABOUT 5 GALLONS LEFT). *RC


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Jack