Low fuel warning question
 

I am aware that when you hit the 1/8th tank level, the fuel gauge LED light turns red. This morning I learned when you get below a certain level, it starts flashing red.

Any idea how much fuel remains at the point it starts flashing? I was able to get to a fill station and the car took 17.998 gallons with no topping off. Just wondering how close I ended up cutting it.

TIA!

Never got to the point that it flashed red before...

Thanks for sharing though. I'm sure you know its bad to run cars that empty right?

I just go as soon as it turns red so I don't run any debris through the fuel lines but that's good to know.

I know, generally, it isn't good to run a car to empty. However, still trying to figure out how empty I really was. I haven't pulled the manual, but I read somewhere the fuel capacity is 19.8 gallons. I filled 18, which implies there was another 1.8 in there. But that still feels like a lot to have in the tank for it to start flashing red. But maybe they just program the warning to be super conservative.

Wow, I didn't realize that the official tank size was 19.8. That would suggest that the low fuel warning is really conservative.

I just RTFM and it does say 19.8 capacity and it also says the reserve is 2.6 of the total capacity so they must build in a ton of cushion for slackers like me.

2.6 of the 19.8 is reserve? Or is that in addition, if so, that would be crazy and give it a much longer range. Although it wouldn't be practical since most won't drive that long in the red.

As stated, "the reserve is 2.6 of the total capacity".

Unfortunately, none of this tells you exactly how much fuel you have left when your gauge starts flashing. 2-2.5 gallon reserve is not uncommon. My M3 gives you a warning signal when you get to just below 1/4 tank, or less than 4 gallons. My Previous Porsche Cayenne, has a 26 gallon tank but the gauge would be down to "0 miles" and I would fill up with under 23 gallons.

FWIW, pretty much every car we get comes to the dealership off the truck with the red light blinking or just about there.

I personally have run to where it states 0 miles left and blinking red and drove another 25 miles till I found a station.

The most Ive ever filled my tank was the first tank it ever had(off the truck) and I filled it with 18.30 gallons.