Low Fuel Warning?

[jsolan]

I apologize if this has been asked before, I've tried searching for this, but it's a group of words that hits quite a few posts with little relevance.

 

What is the low fuel trigger for the 2013 FFH? In my '06 fusion it was 50 miles on the DTE. I've seen a reference in one post on here that it is 15 miles on the DTE in the new car?

That seems awfully low if true. The fuel gauge in the FFH is somewhat hidden amongst all the other meters in the car so I rarely pay attention to it. I always knew in my old car that I could make it back home from work if the light came on during my drive there, I'd like to have the same comfort level in this one.

 

Also, is it possible to change the warning? I couldn't find a setting for it while looking, but it feels like there's few hundred to look through.

[acdii]

Mine kicked on the first time at 35 MTE. It may take a few tanks to stabilize, but I always thought it came on at 50 like all the other cars, unless the DTE is out of whack during the first few fills.

[hybridbear]

This seems largely variable in our experience. The light will also come on if you stop on an uphill incline and then shut off once you're on level ground. It seems that most of us have been able to go 10-20 miles past 0 on the DTE with no problems. Confirmation of the ability to do this can be found by using Engineering Test Mode to look at your FLPM (Fuel Level Percent of Maximum). An ET Mode explanation can be found here

[jsolan]

Thanks. I'm at 115 MTE right now, I guess I'll just keep driving it this week and see if mine is the same.

[mokee]

I believe the low fuel warning kicks in when fuel level reaches 1/8th of the usable capacity of the fuel tank. The actual capacity of the tank is the usable capacity + the empty reserve. This implies that the actual tank is segmented. I still haven't come across the figure for the empty reserve of the 2013 FFH. I guess it's a secret.

 

I don't put a whole lot of trust in DTE as that's supposed to be based on the last 500 miles computed from readings of the running average fuel economy, or RAFE. For forumites with ScanGuage IIs, RAFE might be worthwhile programming in X-Guage.

[Waldo]

Ford recently changed their strategy from giving low fuel warnings at a fixed DTE (50 miles) to a fixed fuel tank level (1/8th or 3/16ths). DTE is intended to hit 0 with about 1/16th of a tank left (that's the "reserve", it's not a separate compartment or some kind of secret). I don't think the FFH uses a different strategy than all the other Ford vehicles.

 

So when you get the warning depends on your recent fuel economy (RAFE as pointed out above).

[acdii]

Hmm, I guess that doesnt apply to all new Fords. The Flex comes on at 50 still. Thinking back I think the other 13 ffh did too, note I think it did, but I rarely went below 1/4 tank in that car due to the Scangauge being used.

[Waldo]

Hmm, I guess that doesnt apply to all new Fords. The Flex comes on at 50 still. Thinking back I think the other 13 ffh did too, note I think it did, but I rarely went below 1/4 tank in that car due to the Scangauge being used.

 

I can guarantee that the 2013 Flex uses the new strategy. If it came on at 50 then it's just a coincidence.

[jsolan]

Thanks for the update, I always thought doing it on tank size would've been a better option, but got very used to the 50 MTE after 7 years.

[mokee]

Ford recently changed their strategy from giving low fuel warnings at a fixed DTE (50 miles) to a fixed fuel tank level (1/8th or 3/16ths). DTE is intended to hit 0 with about 1/16th of a tank left (that's the "reserve", it's not a separate compartment or some kind of secret). I don't think the FFH uses a different strategy than all the other Ford vehicles.

 

So when you get the warning depends on your recent fuel economy (RAFE as pointed out above).

Thanks for the explanation of the new strategy and "empty reserve". Will running out of fuel possibly damage engine or pollution control components?

[ruralvoice]

I have a 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid and can tell you that I hunted and hunted for low fuel indication information. Here is what I know to be true, at least for the 2012, because I have seen and experienced it over and over. For mine, the amber fuel warning comes on at 50 miles to empty (DTE), and then anytime you stop and start the car you get the amber warning when you are below 50. You can reset the large amber warning in the upper left of the 2012 display by depressing "reset". But, it will come back on if you stop and start the car or get to 25 miles to empty (DTE) and then 0 miles (DTE). The amber warning at the fuel gauge remains on from 50 miles (DTE) on down. But, the warning is a brighter amber or yellow by the fuel gauge from the normal shaded color telling you your fuel level on the gauge.

 

Now, when you get to the point when there is about a gallon remaining (about 40 miles in my 2012 fusion). The SHADED area that shows fuel quantity, which is just a sliver now and is normally amber/yellow, TURNS RED (kind of like the bottom markers of the other gauges--so easy to miss it). When that comes on, you are operating on the "reserve". Okay, that's all I can tell you about my experience on the 2012. Of course, yours may be mechanized differently on the 2013.

[acdii]

 

I can guarantee that the 2013 Flex uses the new strategy. If it came on at 50 then it's just a coincidence.

You may want to reconsider that guarantee. So far every single low warning has been 50 miles DTE on the Flex. Can't say that for the Fusion, and going under 50 miles DTE is not that great a warning, now it kicks in at like 20 DTE.