Matiz : A dumb question on "reserve fuel lamp"

kshastry · 12th December 2007, 23:13

Duh.. a real dumb one! OK, I still drive a Matiz, and love her especially for FE factor (16 km in city, 20 on HW). I usually fill her full and top it off. I won't usually refill till the reserve lamp glows indicating a low fuel in the tank.

I am not sure about at what level of fuel does that the lamp turns on? I usually won't take chance, so head for the nearest filling station (usually not requiring to drive more than 5 kms).

Can anyone tell me how many KMs can I possibly drive after the lamp glows?

aah78 · 12th December 2007, 23:21

That's not the wisest of things to do.

We understand, that you're trying to maxmize your fuel economy. However, driving till you're running on fumes (so to speak), is bad for the engine. Fuel always contains some impurities / residue which collect at the bottom of the fuel tank.

I'm not into techincal terms but as far as my layman's knowledge goes - when you drive till the fuel gauge reaches "E" and beyond, there is a good chance that these impurities might get sucked up by the fuel pump and clog / damage it.

Worst case scenario - they pass through the fuel filter and enter the engine - you don't want that!

.

As per your query - I'm speculating here - you should be able to drive approximately 50kms after your fuel reserve light turns ON, depending on prevailing traffic conditions, ofcourse.

sumitkalindi · 13th December 2007, 11:48

The best practice is to tank up when the fuel level is low, like 1/4 th of the tank than waiting for the reserve light.
The main corcern is impurities, Debris, or water blocking the filter , orgoing to carb and your car getting stuck in middle of nowhere.

hvkumar · 13th December 2007, 11:55

Matiz has 5.5 litres in the tank after the fuel reserve light starts glowing.

adya33 · 14th December 2007, 12:57

You should have first checked owners manual as it clearly says that after reserve light glows you have about 5 to 5.5 liters of fuel

kshastry · 14th December 2007, 13:09

Thanks guys for your replies. Looks like I have been taking a costly risk with the engine. I will be more careful from now on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by adya33

You should have first checked owners manual as it clearly says that after reserve light glows you have about 5 to 5.5 liters of fuel

No user manual with me :( Thats why had to ask this question.

1000Horses · 14th December 2007, 15:28

I dont see any issue waiting for low fuel lamp to turnup. Most of the cars have good enough fuel when lights comes up. My car shows up when there is 12 L of fuel there. In way its a good measure for calculating efficiency. But one shd check his car manual for exact figure for reserve fuel.

hvkumar · 14th December 2007, 16:27

My Matiz has run 2,60,000 kms and I always drive till the fuel reserve light comes up without any adverse consequences. I find that most useful to calculate FE, it gives excellent results to calculate reseve light to reserve light. Incidentally, teh owners' manual DOES NOT mention the reserve light. I learnt of the reserve capacity from the Daewoo dealer, and also from my own measurements - I have got up to 70 kms on reserve before running out of fuel.

Jaggu · 14th December 2007, 16:58

its anyday better to fill up when the fuel guage is at 1/4 th mark.

a) This will avoid water and rust in tank being sucked up by the fuel pump.
b) Prevents corrosion inside to a great extent since the tank will be splashed around with the petrol.
c) Lesser loss due to vaporisation.
d) Obvious peace of mind factor and flexibility to make any emergency trip etc.

In short it aint worth it to see the orange light guys.

HotChillyPepper · 14th December 2007, 17:16

Not less than 5 liters u have in your tank when it starts glowing . So approx 50 Kms is safe and 60 Kms you should keep as the upper sealing.

abhibh · 15th December 2007, 02:23

Ok 1 question reagarding low fuel warning lamp. This lamp glows when the gauge is near the "RED line E" ??

JayD · 15th December 2007, 08:16

My matiz usually runs 60+kms after the reserve lamp glows. And i get a FE of just about 10!!! but dont trust the matiz fuel guage too much as it is not at all accurate.

adya33 · 15th December 2007, 09:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvkumar

My Matiz has run 2,60,000 kms and I always drive till the fuel reserve light comes up without any adverse consequences. I find that most useful to calculate FE, it gives excellent results to calculate reseve light to reserve light. Incidentally, teh owners' manual DOES NOT mention the reserve light. I learnt of the reserve capacity from the Daewoo dealer, and also from my own measurements - I have got up to 70 kms on reserve before running out of fuel.

My 2001 Matiz's owners manual indeed had information regarding reserve fuel light.

Torqueguru · 15th December 2007, 13:50

Yes it is upto 70 kms as per what the Service fellows had told me. And i agree with the threadstarter that this car is really a gem....not only in mileage but also in terms of the engine quality, i have been owning one for 6 years and not a single instance of engine trouble, though issues of rust have surfaced recently.

Torqueguru · 15th December 2007, 13:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayD

My matiz usually runs 60+kms after the reserve lamp glows. And i get a FE of just about 10!!! but dont trust the matiz fuel guage too much as it is not at all accurate.

JayD,
I totally agree with that, i had to get the guage checked once....but only after it betrayed me, that too on the highway in Tamil Nadu where i had to walk 5 kms in the scorching heat to the nearest petrol bunk to get a litre of petrol...phew.

12th December 2007, 23:13	#1
kshastry BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 48 Thanked: 11 Times	Matiz : A dumb question on "reserve fuel lamp" Duh.. a real dumb one! OK, I still drive a Matiz, and love her especially for FE factor (16 km in city, 20 on HW). I usually fill her full and top it off. I won't usually refill till the reserve lamp glows indicating a low fuel in the tank. I am not sure about at what level of fuel does that the lamp turns on? I usually won't take chance, so head for the nearest filling station (usually not requiring to drive more than 5 kms). Can anyone tell me how many KMs can I possibly drive after the lamp glows?
	() Thanks

12th December 2007, 23:21	#2
aah78 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NYC / BOM Posts: 4,660 Thanked: 3,253 Times View My Garage	nope. That's not the wisest of things to do. We understand, that you're trying to maxmize your fuel economy. However, driving till you're running on fumes (so to speak), is bad for the engine. Fuel always contains some impurities / residue which collect at the bottom of the fuel tank. I'm not into techincal terms but as far as my layman's knowledge goes - when you drive till the fuel gauge reaches "E" and beyond, there is a good chance that these impurities might get sucked up by the fuel pump and clog / damage it. Worst case scenario - they pass through the fuel filter and enter the engine - you don't want that! . As per your query - I'm speculating here - you should be able to drive approximately 50kms after your fuel reserve light turns ON, depending on prevailing traffic conditions, ofcourse.
	() Thanks

13th December 2007, 11:48	#3
sumitkalindi BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kolkata Posts: 376 Thanked: 17 Times View My Garage	The best practice is to tank up when the fuel level is low, like 1/4 th of the tank than waiting for the reserve light. The main corcern is impurities, Debris, or water blocking the filter , orgoing to carb and your car getting stuck in middle of nowhere.
	() Thanks

13th December 2007, 11:55	#4
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	Matiz has 5.5 litres in the tank after the fuel reserve light starts glowing.
	() Thanks

14th December 2007, 12:57	#5
adya33 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 1,839 Thanked: 183 Times	You should have first checked owners manual as it clearly says that after reserve light glows you have about 5 to 5.5 liters of fuel
	() Thanks

14th December 2007, 15:28	#7
1000Horses BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 129 Thanked: 21 Times View My Garage	I dont see any issue waiting for low fuel lamp to turnup. Most of the cars have good enough fuel when lights comes up. My car shows up when there is 12 L of fuel there. In way its a good measure for calculating efficiency. But one shd check his car manual for exact figure for reserve fuel.
	() Thanks

14th December 2007, 16:27	#8
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	My Matiz has run 2,60,000 kms and I always drive till the fuel reserve light comes up without any adverse consequences. I find that most useful to calculate FE, it gives excellent results to calculate reseve light to reserve light. Incidentally, teh owners' manual DOES NOT mention the reserve light. I learnt of the reserve capacity from the Daewoo dealer, and also from my own measurements - I have got up to 70 kms on reserve before running out of fuel.
	() Thanks

14th December 2007, 16:58	#9
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,212 Thanked: 15,892 Times	its anyday better to fill up when the fuel guage is at 1/4 th mark. a) This will avoid water and rust in tank being sucked up by the fuel pump. b) Prevents corrosion inside to a great extent since the tank will be splashed around with the petrol. c) Lesser loss due to vaporisation. d) Obvious peace of mind factor and flexibility to make any emergency trip etc. In short it aint worth it to see the orange light guys.
	() Thanks

14th December 2007, 17:16	#10
HotChillyPepper BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bang_a_lore Posts: 628 Thanked: 289 Times View My Garage	Not less than 5 liters u have in your tank when it starts glowing . So approx 50 Kms is safe and 60 Kms you should keep as the upper sealing.
	() Thanks

15th December 2007, 02:23	#11
abhibh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Back in the HOOD near you! Posts: 2,768 Thanked: 39 Times	Ok 1 question reagarding low fuel warning lamp. This lamp glows when the gauge is near the "RED line E" ??
	() Thanks

15th December 2007, 08:16	#12
JayD Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cochin! At last Posts: 3,236 Thanked: 2,568 Times View My Garage	My matiz usually runs 60+kms after the reserve lamp glows. And i get a FE of just about 10!!! but dont trust the matiz fuel guage too much as it is not at all accurate.
	() Thanks

15th December 2007, 13:50	#14
Torqueguru BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 277 Thanked: 165 Times View My Garage	Yes it is upto 70 kms as per what the Service fellows had told me. And i agree with the threadstarter that this car is really a gem....not only in mileage but also in terms of the engine quality, i have been owning one for 6 years and not a single instance of engine trouble, though issues of rust have surfaced recently.
	() Thanks