Over the weekend, I ran into the same issue on our long-term 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T that we've had with our Evolution X MR and Evo GSR. The "distance to empty" meter stops counting down the miles once you drop below a certain threshold.
In our Challenger R/T, that threshold is 30 miles, and it seems to be timed with the low fuel warning light. That light (off to the left) came on at the 347.5-mile mark in this trip.
On the upside, the lack of DTE functionality isn't such an annoyance in the Dodge, which actually has some fuel range, thanks to its 19-gallon tank and respectable 25-mpg highway rating (though of course it rates only 16 in the city).
I ended up with 19.8 mpg on this 365.8-mile tank and I put in 18.468 gallons. I have to think, though, that the 19-gallon "capacity" is a rounded-down estimate. Hard to believe I was really a mere half-gallon from running dry fewer than 20 miles after the low-fuel warning light illuminated. Still, this tank bodes well for my upcoming road trip in the Challenger: Our longest tank so far is 396.8 miles (as driven by Brent Romans), so 400 should be attainable.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 13,007 miles
greenpony says:
10:47 AM, 11/ 2/09
It seems perfectly accurate. 19.8 mpg on a 19 gallon tank gives you 376 miles. You said it started reading "LOW FUEL" with 30 miles left. I'd say that was pretty damn accurate, and you would have run out of gas if you decided to drive for another 11 miles.
wobbly_ears says:
11:55 AM, 11/ 2/09
The gauges SUCK! The Jeep Compass/Dodge Caliber I recently rented had the same gauges....
bodyblue says:
12:00 PM, 11/ 2/09
The gauges look nice! Big and easy to read...what more can you ask for? At least the Challenger can get close to 160 unlike most cars with speedos that go that high.
wrinklebump says:
12:02 PM, 11/ 2/09
I like the gauges. Simple and legible. Gauges are supposed to convey information about the car, not give you an HJ
bodyblue says:
01:48 PM, 11/ 2/09
^^^^^ ROFLMFAO
moparfool says:
01:52 PM, 11/ 2/09
Is it a good idea to run the tank down so low? I've always heard that the fuel helps cool the fuel pump (if located in the tank) and running less than 1/4 of a tank may cause fuel pump damage due to overheating, especially on hot days. Not that we have many hot days right now in Minnesota.
DCuerpoJr says:
02:58 PM, 11/ 2/09
Hey look! It has over 3 times the range of the Mini E! And you can fill it up with regular 87 octane!
Sweet deal my friend.
DLu says:
05:56 PM, 11/ 2/09
agree w/ moparfool, many fule pumps benefit from a bath of gas to keep it cool. however, i imagine each car has a different volume below which the pump is left high and dry.
personally, i am too lazy to get gas before the low fuel warning light came on.
i always owned cars that had the light come on when 3 gallons are left in the tank ... until the G37, which has the most worthless DTE meter -- it goes to "*******" to show a supposed empty tank. then, probably 20 miles after, the low fuel warning light comes on, which is when 3 gallons are left in the tank.
DLu says:
05:57 PM, 11/ 2/09
agree w/ moparfool, many fule pumps benefit from a bath of gas to keep it cool. however, i imagine each car has a different volume below which the pump is left high and dry.
personally, i am too lazy to get gas before the low fuel warning light came on.
i always owned cars that had the light come on when 3 gallons are left in the tank ... until the G37, which has the most worthless DTE meter -- it goes to "*******" to show a supposed empty tank. then, probably 20 miles after, the low fuel warning light comes on, which is when 3 gallons are left in the tank.
the_big_al says:
10:23 PM, 11/ 2/09
DTE's are nice in a way... but I never have trusted them in cars that I have driven that have had them. What I do trust is my brain, coupled with my trip odometer and fuel gauge. I fill up, reset the trip meter, and check the gauge. Then as I am driving, I monitor the gauge. Then I check the trip meter. I know how far I can go on a tank of gas with my typical style of driving. Usually the gauge is close to accurate compared to my trip meter. When my low fuel light comes on, I again check my mileage. Usually it is right on with when I need to head to gas station. I have about 3 gallons left or about 50 miles or so give or take a few depending on how I have been driving. It just takes a little simple math and I never have to worry about trusting a DTE. I have also never run out of gas using this method and have even used it to push my limit to the absolute limit when I have had to.
zoomzoomn says:
06:58 AM, 11/ 4/09
My '08 Armada is the worst pessimist that I have ever met! It starts reading low fuel (warnings all over the place!) at it's estimated 30-some miles to empty. Then at 20-23 miles it flips to zero miles and another large warning pops up in the central nav screen. What's so damn crazy about it is that the most I have ever put into the truck following it's warnings of woe is 23 gallons! It alledgedly holds 28. Even fudging a gallon of reserve at it's paltry 14-15MPG that is a real 50-60 miles left in the tank when it reads zero miles left. That means that it is warning me to fill up when there is nearly 100 miles left on the tank! That's pretty ridiculous!!! But who am I to second guess the DTE! And the Nissan dealer won't even address it as a problem even in spite of it's obvious gross miscaculation. My '98 Durango's low fuel warning came on allowing for a 40-50 mile run if needed (that at 11-13MPG). My '03 Expedition was the leanest allowing only 20-30 miles after the low fuel warning appeared (at 13-14MPG).