How many miles will I get when the fuel indicator hits E?

[grnsolara]

I'm pretty sure it's 50 miles. From what I understand though (and someone can correct me if this is wrong), I've been told the light is linked to the function of the catalytic converter and o2 sensors. Being low on vapor pressure from the fuel tank trips the o2 sensor and throws the light. This would mean (and this part I know is true) when you're running too long with the orange light on you are putting strain on the catalytic converter and o2 sensors. Someone else could probably explain this much more intelligibly, but this is what I've been told by a few people who work for Toyota about our models. Flame away if I'm wrong.

[drewcrane]

you can damage your fuel pump running ,since the pump is in the tank i would not recomend going to low because the pump will get hot and eventually fail sooner than later,interesting though about the cat. i hope some one can explain that in detail

[Chinky420]

when you hit E, i would say you have about 2 gallons of fuel left (depending on if you're on a hill at the time, if you're in the middle of a highway run, stuck in stop-n-go traffic, etc). typically, i make my next stop a gas station as soon as i see the light come on...

BUT, considering that i get about 20 miles to the gallon, i figure i can go about 35 miles before getting stranded. depending on your driving style, i would just take whatever you average miles/gallon, and double it.

for me, with my driving style (aggressive), i take off those extra 5 miles (35 instead of 40), just because i most likely will drive harder since my car is lighter.



i still haven't run out of gas in the solara though. i think i've clocked somewhere around 25 miles after the light went on, though.

[solara90]

im a person who fills up around a 1/2 a gallon.. guess call me compulsive.. but i dont like running low

[funboy102]

Hey man, You could really hurt someone while driving on E.

I agree, don't drive on E.

[TLMNICK]

I never let my tank get that low....truthfully I dont even know if my gas light even works. I top it up when it gets down to half tank....that way it also "appears" that you arent spending as much money to fill up.

I dont put gas in the car very often anyway....i dont winter drive it, and i only take it out on the weekends in the summer months. I find the solara isnt as good on gas as my maxima.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

U have close to 2.5 gallons, you make the adjustment for your driving habits. On highway I can easily hit 60+ miles at E.

[01Convertible]

Using the book number of 18.5gals for fuel capacity, I ran my vehicle until the "low fuel" light was "on" steady. I then fueled up and it took about 17gals for the fillup. I concluded that I had about 1.5gals remaining. Cruising on the interstate using cruise control, I get between 26 and 28mpg, leading me to believe I could go around 40 miles before running out. Around town I only get about 21mpg, so I could estimate that I could go about 30 miles before running out.

Has anyone been able to put more than 18.5gals in their Solara? It seems as though some manufacturers deliberately understate their capacity by a small amount.

This is for a 2001 Solara Convertible SLE with V-6 engine. I believe the low fuel light is illuminated by a float switch that is part of the fuel tank sending unit and has nothing to do with emission sensors. I say this based on the factory wiring diagrams detailing the schematic for the "combination meter" found on page 254 of the 2001 Solara Electrical Wiring Diagram manual.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

^^...I have but I never went back to that same station. I'm not sure if I overfilled or was I cheated. It was close to 18.6 something.

[funboy102]

Using the book number of 18.5gals for fuel capacity, I ran my vehicle until the "low fuel" light was "on" steady. I then fueled up and it took about 17gals for the fillup. I concluded that I had about 1.5gals remaining. Cruising on the interstate using cruise control, I get between 26 and 28mpg, leading me to believe I could go around 40 miles before running out. Around town I only get about 21mpg, so I could estimate that I could go about 30 miles before running out.

Has anyone been able to put more than 18.5gals in their Solara? It seems as though some manufacturers deliberately understate their capacity by a small amount.

This is for a 2001 Solara Convertible SLE with V-6 engine. I believe the low fuel light is illuminated by a float switch that is part of the fuel tank sending unit and has nothing to do with emission sensors. I say this based on the factory wiring diagrams detailing the schematic for the "combination meter" found on page 254 of the 2001 Solara Electrical Wiring Diagram manual.

^^ One of the more technical answer for this thread.

[trdkamuri51o]

i got 19 in once.. lol.... dont ask me how low i was.. i know i got about 550 miles on that tank of gas rofl...

[youngblood]

Using the book number of 18.5gals for fuel capacity, I ran my vehicle until the "low fuel" light was "on" steady. I then fueled up and it took about 17gals for the fillup. I concluded that I had about 1.5gals remaining. Cruising on the interstate using cruise control, I get between 26 and 28mpg, leading me to believe I could go around 40 miles before running out. Around town I only get about 21mpg, so I could estimate that I could go about 30 miles before running out.

Has anyone been able to put more than 18.5gals in their Solara? It seems as though some manufacturers deliberately understate their capacity by a small amount.

This is for a 2001 Solara Convertible SLE with V-6 engine. I believe the low fuel light is illuminated by a float switch that is part of the fuel tank sending unit and has nothing to do with emission sensors. I say this based on the factory wiring diagrams detailing the schematic for the "combination meter" found on page 254 of the 2001 Solara Electrical Wiring Diagram manual.

^^ One of the more technical answer for this thread.

And the best, IMO.

[aznsensation]

Using the book number of 18.5gals for fuel capacity, I ran my vehicle until the "low fuel" light was "on" steady. I then fueled up and it took about 17gals for the fillup. I concluded that I had about 1.5gals remaining. Cruising on the interstate using cruise control, I get between 26 and 28mpg, leading me to believe I could go around 40 miles before running out. Around town I only get about 21mpg, so I could estimate that I could go about 30 miles before running out.

Has anyone been able to put more than 18.5gals in their Solara? It seems as though some manufacturers deliberately understate their capacity by a small amount.

This is for a 2001 Solara Convertible SLE with V-6 engine. I believe the low fuel light is illuminated by a float switch that is part of the fuel tank sending unit and has nothing to do with emission sensors. I say this based on the factory wiring diagrams detailing the schematic for the "combination meter" found on page 254 of the 2001 Solara Electrical Wiring Diagram manual.

Winner winner chicken dinner...best answer of the thread.

[Loss4wrds]

I have heard the fuel pump burning up thing if you run your car to empty but I have never had a problem with any of my cars. I always fill up completely full and run the tank completely empty. I have done this on all of my cars since I have started driving. Never had a fuel pump issue but maybe I am just lucky. I just don't have time to stop every other day for gas just so I don't go below half a tank. I put any where from 400-800mi a week on my car. I will run it really low if it means that I will make it to my prefered gas station. I have had lots and lots of issues from bad gas or swaping brands that caused pinging, irregular idle, and stalling that I had to endure till the next tank of gas but never a burnt up fuel pump.
So personally I would rather ride on E for a few more miles than go to a unknown gas station.