Low Fuel Light QUestion..help

So i was driving today and ive never got the gas tank low enough for the low fuel light to come on, so i decided to test it to make sure it still worked. The gauge was basically on the Yellow part of the gas gauge and the car had about 255miles on that tank and the Low fuel light came on. So when i i drove the Pump to fill it up i had to wait a little behind this other guy and the low fuel light went off. When i filled the Car up the car took 14.3 gallons of gas. The fuel tank is a 17.5 gallon tank on a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix SE 3.1 V6(my Car). So i guess it came on when i had about 3 gallons left in the tank, i thought it was supposed to go on at like 1 gallon with about 20miles to go until out of gas. I had about 60miles left in my tank before i would run out with the low fuel light on, that seems a bit high for a low fuel light, just curious here. Any help appreciated thanks

ON a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix SE 3.1L V6 with 111,500K miles on it, when is the low fuel light supposed to come on. Like how many gallons left in the tank when it should come on. Mine came on today at 3.3 gallons left in my tank, i thought it was supposed to come on at like 1 gallon. Any insight??

GaryFenza,

One thread only please on the same issue. Your two threads have been merged into one.

Do you know the answer though??

I'm sure each vehicle will vary just a little. It's according to how the float is adjusted on the fuel pump. If you'd like to adjust it, take out the fuel pump and bend the float rod. Personally, I'd rather have it come on with 3 gallons left. 17.8 miles per gallon does not sound like very good mileage to me.

whered you get the 17.8 miles to the gallon from. Mine gets like 19-20 miles to the gallon

whered you get the 17.8 miles to the gallon from. Mine gets like 19-20 miles to the gallon

255 miles divided by 14.3 gallons= 17.83 mpg

The low fuel light comes on to remind you that you're getting low so you don't run out in the boonies. Imagine if you're on a trip and wasn't paying attention to the guage. Would you really want the light to come on with only 20 miles to go in rural Montana or the Arizona desert? The wolves and vultures would be circling!

There is really no reference as to how many gallons you are supposed to have when the low fuel light comes on. All the OM says is get to a gas station when it does. Now if you have a GTP/GT with the DIC with trip computer when the L comes on steady the manual says something about 40 - 50 miles which could could equate to 2 - 3 gallons left but I would not count on it.

It is not a good idea during the winter time to run too low on fuel and keep the tank filled up as much as possible to alleviate possible moisture contamination in the tank.

Now if you have a GTP/GT with the DIC with trip computer when the L comes on steady the manual says something about 40 - 50 miles which could could equate to 2 - 3 gallons left but I would not count on it.


My '04 GTP OM said that the Low Fuel warning would come on with 2 gallons left in the tank. It was very close to 2 gallons when it came on for me.

My '04 GTP OM said that the Low Fuel warning would come on with 2 gallons left in the tank. It was very close to 2 gallons when it came on for me.

Were we discussing '04 and up models? :confused:

There is no reference in the 2000 - 2001 owner's manual that I can see about the low fuel warning coming on with only 2 gallons left. Unless you have information to the contrary?