Cadillac STS Forum - 2005 through 2010Forum for discussions regarding the new Sigma-based STS model. Not for Cadillac "Seville" discussions (2004 and older).
Cadillac Forums: Gas Gauge miles to empty - out of gas
Thanks Fred! That was just the kind of ego stroking comment I was looking for. See - it wasn't my fault, they're all like that! Ha
Yes, yes I know I was a fool and I should have filled up sooner. At least mine went further than 8 miles after the bell. Come on, that is just ridiculous.
Digital readouts as well as gas gauges should estimate conservatively, not run out just as the needle hits empty.
It's just another example of Cadillac's lack of attention to detail.
And all these years I thought "EMPTY" meant "EMPTY"
Now I realize that when talking about Cadillacs... "EMPTY" shouldn't mean "EMPTY." At least according to some people.
I still think that if the needle hits "EMPTY" and you run out of gas... it is your own fault, not a problem with the car. After all, it is on "EMPTY." That means there is nothing left in the tank.
To me this is related to the "what is wrong with the kids today" topic.
Without the convenience of the Low Fuel warning... what would you do?
The low fuel light in my Trailblazer is worthless too, fuel gages are just not that accurate... for many reasons.
My advice is, pretend there is no warning just watch the gage.
__________________ Views expressed by the author of this post do not necessarily represent those of the Lindsay Automotive Group.
In addition to watching the gauge, you've got to watch how much gas goes in compared to the size of the tank. This is the only way to translate what the warning indicator means. Admittedly, the new STS gives the least warning I've ever seen. My experience in how to translate the warning light:
01 Sable: You might want to get gas sometime this week. (5 gal left)
96 STS: Get gas in a couple days. (3 gal)
93 Goldwing: Start looking for a rest stop in an hour or so. (1 gal)
05 STS: Dude, I hope your cell phone is charged. (you're on fumes)
In addition to watching the gauge, you've got to watch how much gas goes in compared to the size of the tank. This is the only way to translate what the warning indicator means. Admittedly, the new STS gives the least warning I've ever seen. My experience in how to translate the warning light:
01 Sable: You might want to get gas sometime this week. (5 gal left)
96 STS: Get gas in a couple days. (3 gal)
93 Goldwing: Start looking for a rest stop in an hour or so. (1 gal)
05 STS: Dude, I hope your cell phone is charged. (you're on fumes)
WOW, so you are saying that your Goldwing gets like over 60 miles to the gallon? "93 Goldwing: Start looking for a rest stop in an hour or so. (1 gal)" That would be freaking amazing! I don't know how fast you drive, but it would seem to me that if you only have 1 gallon of gas left, you need to be looking for a gas station way before 1 hour...
My dad had a '75 Malibu station wagon. One day we were driving as he was testing to see where the needle would be on the E when we ran out of gas.
A buzzer started going off inside the car, we are all searching wildly to see where the noise was coming from, then about 20 seconds later we coasted over to the side of the road.
This whole discussion reminds me of how he still complains 30 years later about the buzzer that comes on to tell you that "you just ran out of gas".
WOW, so you are saying that your Goldwing gets like over 60 miles to the gallon? "93 Goldwing: Start looking for a rest stop in an hour or so. (1 gal)" That would be freaking amazing! I don't know how fast you drive, but it would seem to me that if you only have 1 gallon of gas left, you need to be looking for a gas station way before 1 hour...
Well, I was taking a little poetic license, but the Goldwing has a bit over a gallon when the light comes on, and the needle is way below Empty by then. At 42 MPG on country roads (30-50 MPH), the light simply reminds me to look for a coffee stop soon.
I think my R6 will go about 50 with the low fuel light on.
Never tried it. When it comes on I look for a gas station.
It doesn't have a fuel gage though, I reset the trip odometer and then when it gets close to 200 I fill it up.
Actually it doesn't have a reserve tank like my older bikes did, since it has an electric pump and no switching valve.
Yeah, I remember the manual reserve tanks. The Goldwing doesn't have one either. Even with the manual reserve, I once got a little cocky with an older 600-pound bike and ended up pushing it uphill about a mile. It was much harder than it looked. I don't really push the limit anymore, especially now with a 900 pound beast.
--Automobile Magazine, May 2004
