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Low fuel light after only 10.5 gallons gone???

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klutch9

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hello all, I am new to the forums. I bought my 2007 Focus SE 2.0 PZEV around 3 weeks ago (already did the Stealth CAI mod) ;) But I find that whenever my low fuel light comes on, I can only put 10.5-10.6 gallons in. Are there really 3.5 gallons left in reserve? I know the car has a 14 gallon tank, and I don't have any problems filling it. I know Ford had sent out a TSB regarding difficulty filling the tank due to a clogged vent hose. But whenever I'm done filling, the gauge always reads full.

Another weird thing I have noticed is that once i fill up, the needle only stays on "F" for about 10 miles at the most before the needle starts falling... something that I've never had happen on another car either. Usually you can put a considerable amount of miles on the tank before that needle even budges. Any thoughts? Should I be worried?

I've already ran some Gumout Regane through the fuel system, so if the fuel level sender was somehow stuck before, I'm sure it isn't now. The car only has 21,000 miles on it.
 
#2 ·
That's about average for me. I always thought it had a 13 gallon tank and thought it was 2.5 reserve but just recently I heard we had 14 gallon tanks
 
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#4 ·
Yeah, my car does literally the exact same thing. I don't think it's much to worry about as long as you're aware its going on.
 
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#5 ·
I dont think I have ever put more than 12 gallons in my tank at one fill up before. Which I dont mind, rather have 1-2 gallons in reserve than run out and be stuck somewhere. If I fill up right when the light turns on, the car never takes more than 11 gallons.
 
#6 · (Edited)
My Fuel Tank Size Findings are;

2000 = 13.2 Gal (50L) For ALL SPI + Zetec
2001 = 13.2 Gal (50L) For ALL SPI + Zetec
2002 = 13.2 Gal (50L) For ALL SPI + Zetec
2003 = 13.2 Gal (50L) For SPI & Zetec, 14.0 Gal (53L) for the 2.3L PZEV
2004 = 13.2 Gal (50L) For SPI & Zetec, 14.0 Gal (53L) for the 2.3L PZEV
2005 = 14.0 Gal (53L) For ALL (2.0 and 2.3L)
2006 = 14.0 Gal (53L) For ALL (2.0 and 2.3L)
2007 = 14.0 Gal (53L) 2.0 Duratec Only Engine Option.
2008 = 13.0 Gal (49.2L) 2.0 Duratec Only Engine Option.
2009 = 13.0 Gal (49.2L) 2.0 Duratec Only Engine Option.
2010 = 13.0 Gal (49.2L) 2.0 Duratec Only Engine Option.
2011 = 13.0 Gal (49.2L) 2.0 Duratec Only Engine Option.
2012 = 12.4 Gal (46.9L) According to The Online Specs found Here... http://www.ford.com/cars/focus/2012/specifications/capacities/

There you go, All the info you need.
 
#8 ·
In my 09' I regularly drive till "e". Fill up is usually between 12.3 to 11.6 gallons. The most was 13.1 the least (at E) was 10.8 gal. According to the sales brochure the 08' up has a 13.5 gal tank.

The low fuel light always comes on in my car at 50mi to empty. But in about 25-33 miles says 0 mi to E. Seen that too many times. But have never ran out. I've found that as I put more miles on my car its getting more conservative with th miles to empty.

But I'm one of those that likes to see how far I can make it on a tank. Best 476 mi on 11.98 gals or 40 mpg. Worst last week 305mi 25mpg. F'n blizzard.
 
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#9 · (Edited)
#10 ·
goldsex said:
You'll need to adjust your MPG ratings as your car has a 13.0 gal. tank according to the owners manual.

Put in year, make and model.....
https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenance/owners_manuals/default.asp


I'm going to need to go year by year and post my findings, I will update my Original post stating fuel tank sizes. :thumbup:
Click to expand...
I stand corrected. If I find the sales brochure I"ll scan and post it. Your right the owners manual says 13.0 .

Why would I adjust my mpg rating? What exactly are you referring to?

I figure out my mpgs the same way I always have. Fill up, reset the trip meter, drive, and fill up again. Divide the miles driven by the gallons used. Mi/gal = mpg. The epa mpg rating is for my 09" is 35mpg highway with 5spd.
 
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#12 ·
My fuel light comes on and i can still easily make it the 60 mile round trip to my house in the boonies and back to the gas station. Not that i do that often but sometimes money I have to.
 
#13 ·
You think that's bad On my 2000 Taurus I can go 100 MORE miles after my gas light comes on and I still have 1 Gal. in the tank when I fill up! :lol:
 
#14 ·
my light comes on at exactly 10.8 gallons used (2007 2.0). sometimes sooner when im on the highway and go up a big hill, i guess the fuel sloshes away from the sensor
 
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#16 ·
Yeah, same here. Just shy of 11 is the most I've pumped in. I'm not sure how the fuel tank is on the Focus, but I wouldn't really push it past the light though. Even if you have 3 gallons left, you can still stall out on a steep hill when fuel stagnates where fuel pump can't access.

You can have enough gas to go 50 miles, but you can still be stuck on a steep red light, then stall out, then not able to start until you level the car out or add gas.

You can get a numeric read out of fuel gauge using the dash diagnostic mode. Turn car off, then hold the tripometer reset button down, turn the key to on and continue to hold the button. The cluster will say "test". Now, you can push the button repeatedly and it will get you to something that reads f ###, which is the unfiltered fuel sender signal (it will jump around as fuel slops around).

You can start the car up and drive around like that if you want. When full, mine reads ~230.
 
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