What's my actual gas tank size? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Parts Peddler · 10-17-2016, 12:13 AM

Today, I was driving home from my granddaughter's cheer-leading competition. I knew I was close to having just enough gas to get home. My GPS said I was 63 miles from the gas station near my home. My fuel range said 57 miles. Knowing that about 62 of the 63 miles remaining were freeway, I knew I would gain enough range to make it to the gas station. My low fuel warning came on when I had 35 miles to go per my GPS and 45 miles left on my range. When I got to the gas station and filled up, I expected my car to take very close to the full capacity of the gas tank, 18.8 gallons as per the owners manual. I could only get 16.5 gallons into the car. That means I had 2.3 gallons left in the tank when I stopped. Is there a "reserve" portion of the tank that isn't registered on the fuel gauge? My calculated mileage equaled my mileage on the DIC. Any idea why I could only get 16.5 gallons into my tank?

Thanks in advance.

CamaroFred · 10-17-2016, 01:56 AM

Yeah, the DIC always low balls it; I guess for unexpected conditions.

My Ultra-Gauge plugs in the OBDII and always displays a greater DTE, but I'm pretty sure it uses instantaneous MPGs.

Superdonkey23 · 10-17-2016, 03:36 AM

It's to ensure that you won't run out of gas and destroy your fuel pump.

Sir Nuke · 10-17-2016, 05:38 AM

Parts Peddler, your gauge is right, as is your WARNING light. the last 5 chevys have all been the same, and I did a little test when I first got them. Knowing what the fuel capacity was, I filled them up to the top.....and proceeded on my normal routine. as soon as the LOW FUEL light came, I pulled into the nearest gas station, and then I knew of a fact, how much gas I have left when the light came on....and it has always been in the 2.5 to 3 gallons left.

kmarshall2121 · 10-17-2016, 12:05 PM

What is the lowest number your DIC shows? Has anyone got it into the single digits? Not that this is a challenge, Ive never allowed mine to get below 1/4 tank. just curious

shibbs · 10-17-2016, 12:09 PM

Mine has never gone below 30 miles, and at that point it just says LOW RANGE. Usually it triggers at 50 miles or so.

I try not to ever get below 1/4 tank, because fuel acts as coolant for your fuel pump. I don't want to have to replace mine.

CamaroFred · 10-17-2016, 07:25 PM

As shibbs states the DIC won't display the DTE once the Low Fuel warning comes on. Kinda sucks.

My Ultra-Gauge will display to single digits, but that would mean 1/2 gallon or so. I've run mine pretty low (teens), but I usually only pump a 1/2 tank driving locally during summer (two weeks worth), and never have much less than 1/4 in winter or highway trips.

Sir Nuke · 10-18-2016, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shibbs

Mine has never gone below 30 miles, and at that point it just says LOW RANGE. Usually it triggers at 50 miles or so.

I try not to ever get below 1/4 tank, because fuel acts as coolant for your fuel pump. I don't want to have to replace mine.

JamesMyBoy · 10-18-2016, 06:01 AM

If I remember correctly, after the warning chime and the LOW FUEL message displays, if you hit the 'Reset' button (or whatever it's called), the message clears, and the DIC will then show you the range (miles left). I've done this, but never have pushed it below 30 or so miles... I've always been on my way to a gas station when this happens.
Then again, I may be thinking of how it works on the 2012 Acadia, since the wife usually leaves it pretty low on gas!

CamaroFred · 10-18-2016, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesMyBoy

If I remember correctly, after the warning chime and the LOW FUEL message displays, if you hit the 'Reset' button (or whatever it's called), the message clears, and the DIC will then show you the range (miles left). I've done this, but never have pushed it below 30 or so miles... I've always been on my way to a gas station when this happens.
Then again, I may be thinking of how it works on the 2012 Acadia, since the wife usually leaves it pretty low on gas!

May be a firmware change. I have a 2011, shibbs a 2012.

ClawSS · 10-18-2016, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroFred

Yeah, the DIC always low balls it...

I don't care who you are...that's funny right there.

sef6 · 05-04-2019, 12:24 PM

My 2¢: '14 ZL1. I had poured injector cleaner into the tank, and was trying to run it low to remove as much as possible before next fill. After the needle hit the red mark, the warning came on. According to the "trip info", I had 34 miles range. I drove about 20 miles before getting to a station, filled it with 16.54 gallons. Rechecking the computer, using projected range divided by mpg, it said I had 20.1 gallons.
Conclusion? At ¼ tank, get gas.

polizzio · 05-05-2019, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sef6

My 2¢: '14 ZL1. I had poured injector cleaner into the tank, and was trying to run it low to remove as much as possible before next fill. After the needle hit the red mark, the warning came on. According to the "trip info", I had 34 miles range. I drove about 20 miles before getting to a station, filled it with 16.54 gallons. Rechecking the computer, using projected range divided by mpg, it said I had 20.1 gallons.
Conclusion? At ¼ tank, get gas.

2014 ZL1 fuel tank cap = 18.8 gallons. Straight from the owner's manual or a quick google search.

Netraa · 08-30-2019, 02:02 PM

it really sucks when your car gets 8-9 miles to the gallon... when your 'low fuel' light goes off, I have less than 20 miles to get to a gas station.

10-17-2016, 12:13 AM	#1
Parts Peddler Drives: 2014 1LT/RS Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Antelope, Ca Posts: 56 View My Garage	What's my actual gas tank size? Today, I was driving home from my granddaughter's cheer-leading competition. I knew I was close to having just enough gas to get home. My GPS said I was 63 miles from the gas station near my home. My fuel range said 57 miles. Knowing that about 62 of the 63 miles remaining were freeway, I knew I would gain enough range to make it to the gas station. My low fuel warning came on when I had 35 miles to go per my GPS and 45 miles left on my range. When I got to the gas station and filled up, I expected my car to take very close to the full capacity of the gas tank, 18.8 gallons as per the owners manual. I could only get 16.5 gallons into the car. That means I had 2.3 gallons left in the tank when I stopped. Is there a "reserve" portion of the tank that isn't registered on the fuel gauge? My calculated mileage equaled my mileage on the DIC. Any idea why I could only get 16.5 gallons into my tank? Thanks in advance.

10-17-2016, 03:36 AM	#3
Superdonkey23 Drives: BRM 2014 SS/M6 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Fort Walton Beach Posts: 57	It's to ensure that you won't run out of gas and destroy your fuel pump. __________________ NPP exhaust w/fuse pull, Stainless Power 1 7/8 LTH w/HF cats, CAI Intake, VMAX ported TB. Tuned by Phil at Tampa Tuning, 425Hp/418tq.

10-17-2016, 05:38 AM	#4
Sir Nuke Master of All Things Drives: '20 Corvette Stingray Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Southeast of Houston, Texas Posts: 22,322 View My Garage	Parts Peddler, your gauge is right, as is your WARNING light. the last 5 chevys have all been the same, and I did a little test when I first got them. Knowing what the fuel capacity was, I filled them up to the top.....and proceeded on my normal routine. as soon as the LOW FUEL light came, I pulled into the nearest gas station, and then I knew of a fact, how much gas I have left when the light came on....and it has always been in the 2.5 to 3 gallons left. __________________

10-18-2016, 06:01 AM	#9
JamesMyBoy Drives: 2014 2SS/RS Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Eastern Nebraska Posts: 451	If I remember correctly, after the warning chime and the LOW FUEL message displays, if you hit the 'Reset' button (or whatever it's called), the message clears, and the DIC will then show you the range (miles left). I've done this, but never have pushed it below 30 or so miles... I've always been on my way to a gas station when this happens. Then again, I may be thinking of how it works on the 2012 Acadia, since the wife usually leaves it pretty low on gas! __________________

10-17-2016, 01:56 AM	#2
CamaroFred Drives: Miss Con Ception Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 2,999	Yeah, the DIC always low balls it; I guess for unexpected conditions. My Ultra-Gauge plugs in the OBDII and always displays a greater DTE, but I'm pretty sure it uses instantaneous MPGs.

10-17-2016, 12:05 PM	#5
kmarshall2121 Drives: 2012 45th Anniversary Edition Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,618 View My Garage	What is the lowest number your DIC shows? Has anyone got it into the single digits? Not that this is a challenge, Ive never allowed mine to get below 1/4 tank. just curious

10-17-2016, 07:25 PM	#7
CamaroFred Drives: Miss Con Ception Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 2,999	As shibbs states the DIC won't display the DTE once the Low Fuel warning comes on. Kinda sucks. My Ultra-Gauge will display to single digits, but that would mean 1/2 gallon or so. I've run mine pretty low (teens), but I usually only pump a 1/2 tank driving locally during summer (two weeks worth), and never have much less than 1/4 in winter or highway trips.

05-04-2019, 12:24 PM	#12
sef6 Drives: ZL1 '14, Tahoe '13 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 21 View My Garage	My 2¢: '14 ZL1. I had poured injector cleaner into the tank, and was trying to run it low to remove as much as possible before next fill. After the needle hit the red mark, the warning came on. According to the "trip info", I had 34 miles range. I drove about 20 miles before getting to a station, filled it with 16.54 gallons. Rechecking the computer, using projected range divided by mpg, it said I had 20.1 gallons. Conclusion? At ¼ tank, get gas.

08-30-2019, 02:02 PM	#14
Netraa Drives: 2014 2ss/rs Join Date: May 2012 Location: New Braunfels, Texas Posts: 293	it really sucks when your car gets 8-9 miles to the gallon... when your 'low fuel' light goes off, I have less than 20 miles to get to a gas station.