Why is the VAZ fuel light constantly on. Driving with a burning fuel light - is there any harm? What to do if the light is on

Should I be worried if the low fuel indicator light on the instrument panel lights up, how much more can I drive and how to save gasoline? We answer in order.

An indication of the need to refuel is usually accompanied by a single beep. Hear this "ding" - start counting.

It would seem, what is there to talk about? Information about the reserve in the fuel tank must be contained in the vehicle's owner's manual. Or even simpler: the trip computer warns of low fuel levels and tells you how far you can drive before refueling. Not always. Others, instead of specific numbers, issue only dashes, forcing them to panic even more.

However, the authors of instructions often limit themselves to general words. For example, "The low fuel warning light comes on when the fuel tank is nearly empty." This is a quote from the Hyundai Solaris and Kia Rio owner's manuals. It even contains an element of drama: "The depletion of the fuel supply can endanger the people in the car." Fearfully…

Low fuel light on

If you have to travel out of town, just in case, keep a small canister of fuel in the trunk. Check that it closes tightly. It is more convenient when it is completed with a watering can for refueling. As in this illustration, for example.

Meanwhile, “drying out” is bad: you can find a lot of unpleasant adventures both for yourself and for the car. For example, burn the fuel pump, which will not have enough cooling. In addition, it will begin to pick up the dirt that is in the tank of any car with high mileage. A lean mixture can damage the catalytic converter. When the engine is running at high speeds, and the fuel mixture stops flowing into it (for example, in a long turn), this can lead to detonation and subsequent repairs. If it takes place in a mountainous area, there is a risk of not overcoming the climb. And in general, any forced stop far from civilization is unsafe. In winter, you can simply freeze, being afraid to leave the car. Think fiction? Alas, it happens. And not only in Siberia and the Far East, but even in the central zone of Russia.

To reduce fuel consumption, turn off the air conditioner. This is a very greedy unit.

In fact, both Solaris and Rio have not so little in reserve: 7-8 liters, as the owners of such cars say. So, maybe it is worth giving such figures, having previously checked? For the concern, this is quite a feasible task. Or has this horror been removed from the instruction manual for the new Hyundai Solaris, which is about to appear on the Russian market? It will be interesting to check when we get to know him.

Similar exercises are found in the instructions of three bestsellers - Renault Logan, Renault Duster, Lada Largus. As a carbon copy: "If the lamp lights up and does not go out, it is urgent to fill the tank with fuel." At the same time, the manual of the related Renault Sandero clearly states - "from the moment the warning light first lights up, you can drive another 50 km."

In the instructions for Lada Vesta there is a mention of a control lamp, and more should be said in the appropriate section, but the link leads nowhere. There is not even such a section as "Vehicle Operation". There are "Introduction", "Driving", "Care" and "Practical Advice". On the contrary, Lada 4 × 4 has specific data (see the table). Same with Chevrolet Niva. It looks like a legacy of the Soviet era. But the Japanese and Europeans (Germans and Czechs) are just as accurate.

Leave the Power mode until better times. Switch to Eco Mode, avoid sudden acceleration and deceleration.

How much gas is in the tank when the light comes on

As you can see, in order to find the answer to the question of how much and how far you can drive "on a light bulb", I studied the operating instructions for the most popular cars in Russia. The data was summarized in a table. Conclusion: the minimum supply of fuel that automakers provide us is 5 liters, in most cases - about 7 liters. This should be enough for at least 90 kilometers when driving on a country road in a B-class car. So it’s not worth panicking when you see a low fuel lamp on or a written warning that the tank is almost empty - unless, of course, you are in the tundra or desert. Get to the gas station.

To find out where the nearest one is, look at the navigator map by turning on POI and filtering by gas station. No navigator - stop to use your smartphone or tablet. A short break won't hurt. Of course, it is better to find a network gas station with high-quality gasoline, but if there is no guarantee that one is nearby, it is better not to risk it and refuel at the very first - minimally. When you get to a decent one, fill up a full tank and dilute fuel of dubious quality. And wait a couple of seconds after turning on the ignition before starting the engine: let the pump pick up normal gasoline.

A common feature of champions in efficiency (among them is the Volkswagen XL1, which consumes only a liter of fuel per 100 kilometers) is impeccable streamlining.

We crawl, hobble in the darkness...

How to get to the gas station? Close windows to improve aerodynamics and turn off air conditioning if possible (air conditioning is a serious energy consumer). Turning off the music is pointless, it won't eat much. Leave the headlights on too - otherwise you will save on safety, what you can’t do, no matter what happens. You need to move as evenly as possible, without sudden acceleration and braking, in top gear, at a speed of about 80 km / h (not in settlements). Our editor in 2008 went to St. Petersburg and back on one tank driving a 170-horsepower Volvo.

Cruise control is a good tool for saving fuel. You just need to learn how to use it correctly.

To maintain a certain speed in the middle of the last century, cruise control was invented, it is also a tempomat, which most cars have today. Cars with new automatic transmissions are, in principle, more economical than cars with mechanics - they change gears according to a certain algorithm, and not randomly, and are trained primarily to conserve fuel. But even in modern cars with a manual gearbox (for example, Lada Vesta), “gear shift prompts” (AvtoVAZ’s term) are built in. And even in the ancient Zhiguli there is an econometer that suggests the optimal driving mode. And in foreign cars of the latest generation, as a rule, you can select the appropriate mode of operation of the power unit by pressing the Eco button. Use the maximum available tools. If you can, check the tire pressure and bring it up to the prescribed pressure (the data is on the back of the gas tank flap or on a plate in the doorway). Are you traveling, do you have a box on the roof and a trailer on the tail? To get to the gas station, get rid of both, pick up when the fuel is full.

But in general, we wish you never to see the fuel reserve light on, always fill the tank under the cork, and if you sometimes go out of town, keep at least a five-liter canister with a built-in watering can in the trunk. It is inexpensive, 500 rubles, does not take up much space. If it closes tightly, hermetically - it does not even smell. We do not recommend carrying plastic bottles with gasoline: they are more dangerous than canisters. And the car burns to the ground in a couple of minutes.

And lastly, the instruction manuals are an interesting read. I advise.

Page from the instruction manual Lada 4 × 4 (ex-"Niva"). Everything is clear and very clear.

How much gas is left in the tank when the light comes on

Of course, drivers most often do not allow the gasoline light in the car to light up, which warns of a low fuel level in the tank. This warning indicates that it is time to refuel the car. But should we immediately go to the gas station and fill up the car as soon as possible? How much time do we have before a car runs out of petrol or diesel? Here is a detailed table for many car models that details how much fuel is left in the tank after a low petrol or diesel warning appears on the dashboard.

The table published below is an approximate value for a particular car model. Please note that the data is given for cars produced until 2015 inclusive. Also keep in mind that some values ​​in the table may differ slightly from the actual figures.

But on average, the following values ​​\u200b\u200bare obtained: cars, after the fuel level lamp in the tank lights up, can still drive about 50 kilometers, while SUVs and crossovers, which usually have an increased volume of fuel tanks, can drive on a burning fuel lamp about another 150 kilometers.

Does this mean that car owners can, when a low fuel warning appears on the dashboard, not rush to fill up? Of course not. Especially if you are in an unfamiliar area and have no idea how far the next one will be.

That is, despite the fact that in any car the fuel tank has a certain reserve of fuel, after the lamp is on, signaling a low fuel level in the tank, you should fill up your car as soon as possible and next time do not allow this warning to appear again. Always keep the fuel level in the tank until the fuel light comes on on the dashboard.

Is it dangerous to drive with low fuel in the tank?

Many do not know, but in addition to the risk of being left without fuel, if a low fuel warning is ignored, there are a number of problems that any car owner who often drives on an empty tank can face.

For example, frequent trips on an empty tank can prematurely disable the catalyst in the exhaust system, which will have to be repaired or a new one purchased, which is associated with a huge amount of money.

Including frequent trips with a low level of fuel in the tank can damage the fuel pump. The fact is that the fuel that we fill at gas stations is actually not clean (especially in Russia) and it contains various pollution fractions that settle at the bottom of the tank. When the fuel level is low, we run the risk that such sediment can enter the fuel system through the fuel pump. Especially, . It is at this point that particles of sediment from the tank can enter the fuel pump. With normal fuel levels, this risk of contamination of the fuel system is minimal.

So if you don’t want to ruin yours, then refuel your car regularly and on time, without bringing the fuel level to low values ​​\u200b\u200bthat lead to a burning lamp on the dashboard.

Is the range on the vehicle's on-board computer accurate?

Many car owners often rely on the readings of the vehicle's on-board computer, which shows you the possible range. Therefore, some drivers bring the car to a low fuel level, relying on the on-board computer indicator, believing that the specified range is true.

Also, many drivers, when a warning about a low fuel level appears, immediately look at the readings of the on-board computer in order to find out how much more the car can drive on the fuel that is left in the tank (power reserve).

But, unfortunately, the range is not accurate, as it is only based on the averages of your past road movements.

The fact is that the car's electronics will not be able to show you the true range, as it cannot take into account your current driving conditions in real time, which affect the consumption of gasoline or diesel fuel.

For example, if you were driving on the highway before the low fuel warning light appeared on the dashboard, and now you are stuck in a traffic jam, the range displayed on the on-board computer is actually incorrect, since this indicator is calculated using driving on the highway, where fuel consumption is actually much less than in dense city traffic.

So don't count on a low fuel warning to keep you going for a very long time.

So how much fuel is left in the tank from the moment the fuel light comes on on the dashboard, and how many miles can you still drive before the fuel is completely used up?

If the answer to the first question can still be quite simple, then how much further distance you can drive on an empty tank after the fuel lamp on the dashboard of the car lights up is very difficult to say for sure, since it depends on the actual fuel consumption of your car at a certain moment time.

And consumption depends on many factors, ranging from your driving style and weather conditions, as well as ending with the rubber installed on the car and the road surface.

We have already, which disclosed in detail information about the power reserve on an empty tank. .

The same article complements the previous one, and also expands useful information for motorists.

Here is a detailed table by car models that shows you in detail how much fuel is left in the tank in your car after the low fuel warning light appears on the dashboard. Also from the table you will find out how many distances on average you can drive after an empty tank warning.

Table of the remaining fuel in the tank after the lamp on the dashboard lights up

(by brand and model)

Yes, sometimes we can find ourselves in a situation where we can’t refuel our car on time. In this case, in any case, sooner or later a warning will appear on the tidy that gasoline or diesel will soon run out.

We advise you not to ignore this vehicle electronics warning. But there is no need to panic. You still have time to find a gas station to fill up your car. Thanks to this table, you can roughly find out how much fuel you have in the tank, as well as how much the car's range is after the appearance of a lamp signaling a low fuel level in the tank.

It would seem, what is there to talk about? Information about the reserve in the fuel tank must be contained in the vehicle's owner's manual. Or even simpler: the trip computer warns of low fuel levels and tells you how far you can drive before refueling. Not always. Others, instead of specific numbers, issue only dashes, forcing them to panic even more.

However, the authors of instructions often limit themselves to general words. For example, "The low fuel warning light comes on when the fuel tank is nearly empty." This is a quote from the instruction manuals. It even contains an element of drama: "The depletion of the fuel supply can endanger the people in the car." Fearfully...

What threatens the "light bulb"

Similar exercises are found in the instructions of three bestsellers - Renault Logan, Renault Duster, Lada Largus. As a carbon copy: "If the lamp lights up and does not go out, it is urgent to fill the tank with fuel." At the same time, the manual of the related Renault Sandero clearly states - "from the moment the warning light first lights up, you can drive another 50 km."

In the instructions for Lada Vesta there is a mention of a control lamp, and more should be said in the appropriate section, but the link leads nowhere. There is not even such a section as "Vehicle Operation". There are "Introduction", "Driving", "Care" and "Practical Advice". On the contrary, Lada 4x4 has specific data (see the table). Same with Chevrolet Niva. It looks like a legacy of the Soviet era. But the Japanese and Europeans (Germans and Czechs) are just as accurate.

Stop panic!

As you can see, in order to find the answer to the question of how much and how far you can drive "on a light bulb", I studied the operating instructions for the most popular cars in Russia. The data was summarized in a table. Conclusion: the minimum supply of fuel that automakers provide us is 5 liters, in most cases - about 7 liters. This should be enough for at least 90 kilometers when driving on a country road in a B-class car. So it’s not worth panicking when you see a low fuel lamp on or a written warning that the tank is almost empty - unless, of course, you are in the tundra or desert. Get to the gas station.

To find out where the nearest one is, look at the navigator map by turning on POI and filtering by gas station. No navigator - stop to use your smartphone or tablet. A short break won't hurt. Of course, it is better to find a network gas station with high-quality gasoline, but if there is no guarantee that one is nearby, it is better not to risk it and refuel at the very first - minimally. When you get to a decent one, fill up a full tank and dilute fuel of dubious quality. And wait a couple of seconds after turning on the ignition before starting the engine: let the pump pick up normal gasoline.

Often it is girls who ask me seemingly elementary questions, but important for them. One of these is how many kilometers gasoline will last if the light comes on. To be honest, I wanted to submit this information for a long time, but a little from the other side, namely, why shouldn’t you empty the car’s tank, that is, drive almost to a dry state! In general, we read a lot of useful information ...

To begin with, I would like to say that the tanks have changed, they have evolved along with the cars, and the point here is not the metal tank itself (although they now have plastic ones), it's all about its filling, namely the method of supplying fuel.

How fuel is supplied

If we recall the recent past, namely carburetor engines, then the tank often served as just a container for gasoline, into which a pipe was installed for pumping fuel into the system - it went to the very bottom, which made it possible to pump out fuel to the maximum. But the injection was carried out using a special mechanical gasoline pump, it had no electrical parts at all, and it received energy from the mechanical operation of the engine. The most important thing is that the fuel pump was located on the engine, remember this!

A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since those times, now the design has changed dramatically.

Injectors and an electronic fuel supply and ignition system have tightly entered our lives. Now there is no longer a mechanical fuel pump - it is electric and, moreover, it is located in the tank, and not on the engine.

If you look at this solution, then two birds with one stone were killed at once - firstly, there are no long lines to the pump, and secondly, they removed the overheating of the electric motor by immersing it in gasoline - after all, it seriously heats up during operation. After that, he already supplies fuel to the highway, and only later to the fuel rail.

What does this icon mean and why is it on?

The icon is made in the form of a gas station, in order to make it clear that you need to go there. And it burns red, or yellow, maybe orange - because it signals a danger, namely because of the low fuel level. After a certain mileage, you simply stop, so urgently “fill up” the tank.

It should be noted that in modern cars, this is, as it were, a double meaning, not only about a low fuel level, but also about possible breakdowns, about this a little lower.

About the light bulb and tolerances

Many manufacturers indicate the fuel supply in the operating instructions for the car, others in the characteristics on websites or dealer networks. To be honest, there is simply no single norm! It all depends on the shape of the tank and its design, but there is an unspoken standard:

Usually about 5-7 liters of fuel remain, and this is enough for about 50-60 kilometers. It all depends on the size of the engine and your driving style. I would also like to note that the more you let your car idle, the less mileage will remain. I think this is logical.

To be honest, I measured on my car, once (I just don’t advise you anymore, why you will understand further) - I have about 60 kilometers. It is also worth noting that, purely constructively, there are, as it were, two divisions on AVEO.

The first is when “LOW” is written, one stick on the tank scale is lit, then it will be enough for about 70 km.

The second is when the "lamp" also lights up - then it just remains for 50 kilometers.

By the way, on many cars, the inscription may be lit, and not the refueling icon.

Why not empty the tank?

The fuel level drops, the pump tries to pump the remains with force, its body is completely exposed and begins to heat up. This has a very negative effect on it, if you want - then such overheating can be the cause of its failure.

Remember the simple truth - do not reach the dry tank! This negatively affects the fuel pump. As soon as the lamp lights up, you need to immediately go to the gas station, fill in the fuel.

And in a good way, make it a rule for yourself not to even reach the lamp, as soon as the fuel level has dropped, but the lamp is not on yet - we are going to a gas station. Thus, the pump will always be in gasoline and cool normally.

Now we are watching a short video.

This concludes, but the article is easy, but useful for beginners. Read our AUTOBLOG.

To inform the driver about the amount of fuel in the car tank, a fuel level indicator is installed on the dashboard. By itself, it is not particularly noticeable, and in order to exclude the possibility of a complete consumption of gasoline or diesel fuel, there is an additional signal lamp on the dashboard, indicated by a schematic representation of a gas station.

When the light comes on, the light informs that there is critically little gasoline in the tank and it will be enough to cover a short distance. The fuel level warning light is made so that the driver notices in advance that there is not enough fuel in the tank and drove to the gas station.

The signal light can be considered a useful addition to the fuel gauge. The fact is that the sensor readings are not always accurate, there are certain errors (due to the configuration of the tank, the position of the car and a number of other factors). Therefore, the sensor can show an “empty” tank when it is ¼ or 1/5 full, depending on the volume of the tank (which is 10-15 liters). This can be confusing for the driver, because the gauge needle shows "0" both at 10 liters and at 1 liter of gasoline in the tank.

Types of indicator, principles of operation

On cars with carburetor systems, the signal lamp was powered by a potentiometric one, that is, the sensor and the lamp are connected. The principle of operation is very simple - when a certain level of gasoline is reached, the potentiometer slider connected to the float closes the lamp power contacts. At first, the contacts close intermittently (affects the splashing of gasoline in the tank), so the indicator flashes, but with greater fuel consumption, the lamp contacts become permanently closed.

In modern cars with an injection power system, the sensor and indicator are separated. The signal lamp is powered by its own sensor mounted on the pump housing. The main element of the signal lamp sensor is a thermistor placed in a metal bulb. The principle of operation of the "lamp-sensor" circuit is based on a change in the resistance of the thermistor due to temperature.

Everything works like this: voltage is applied to the thermistor, which causes it to heat up. The fuel acts as a coolant for it, it removes heat, maintaining the temperature of the sensor. If the gasoline level drops below this sensor, the temperature of the thermistor will rise, which leads to a change in its resistance. As a result of the change in resistance, the lamp lights up.

The indicator built on the basis of a thermistor is good because it is not connected to the fuel level sensor and works independently of it. This makes it possible to notice a decrease in the fuel level even when the fuel gauge is not working.

How far can you drive with a light bulb on

Now about how much gasoline remains in the tank if the lamp lights up and how long it lasts. This indicator differs for different models. On average, automakers set a reserve per 100 km of travel. That is, the light comes on if there is between 5 and 10 liters of gasoline left in the tank, depending on the model. But this does not mean that after the signal lamp lights up, the driver will travel 100 km. The distance that can be driven on a reserve of gasoline is affected by driving style, road conditions, engine load, etc. That is, one driver will drive 80-90 km on reserve, and the second will only be enough for 30-40 km. Therefore, you should not hope that you will drive a long distance on the remaining fuel in the tank. When the indicator lights up, you should immediately head towards the gas station.

How to drive if the petrol light is on

It happens that the gasoline light on the dashboard lights up, and you still need to drive a considerable distance to the gas station. And in this case, measures should be taken to ensure that the reserve is enough before refueling. For this you need:

1. Choose a path with a minimum number of stops. Keep in mind that 5 liters of gasoline is not enough to start the car and get to the gas station. You need at least 10 liters so that the pump can fully pump the power system and ensure a stable supply of fuel. If there is less gasoline, then the fuel pump will “drive” air due to a lack of gasoline, because of which the engine will not be able to work stably.
2. Choose a speed mode at which gasoline consumption is minimal (70-80 km / h).
3. Reduce the load on the on-board network, leaving only the necessary electrical equipment on.
4. Close the windows, park behind the truck on the track, this will reduce air resistance to a minimum.

These measures will allow you to drive a greater distance on the remaining fuel.

What threatens a small amount of gasoline

Note that it is better not to allow the amount of fuel to decrease to the level when the warning light comes on. If for carburetor cars a small amount of fuel does not have any negative consequences, except for the likelihood of an unexpected cessation of movement and a “walk” with a canister to a gas station, then this phenomenon is dangerous in injection cars.

The problem is that the fuel pump in such machines is placed in the tank and the fuel for it is the coolant. If there is not enough gasoline, then due to overheating, the pump motor may fail. The "snatching" of air by the pump also does not bring anything good.

Another problem is that at a low level, the fuel pump pumps fuel "from the bottom" of the tank, where debris and dirt accumulate. This leads to clogging of the fuel inlet filter, causing the pump to work under increased load, which increases the likelihood of failure.

Video: The light bulb came on, how long will the fuel last?