Low fuel light on 92 1.6L

[Maddenv1]

So i got my first mazda back in june, and every time my low fuel light comes on, it only takes about 9 gallons to fill it up. I looked up the specs on my car, and it says i have a 13.2 gallon tank. In the book from the factory for my car, it says the low fuel light comes on when i have 1.7 gallons left. Anyone else have this problem?

[wytbishop]

Does the fuel gauge read accurately? It could be the float isn't floating any more or just a blown switch on the float arm. Either way just go to a JY and grab a fuel pump asssembly from a wreck and that should solve your problem for about $10.

[Volones]

Mine does the same thing. I get around 9.5 - 10+ gallons depending on how long I drive with the low fuel light on. I don't mind as it helps me calculate my mpg more easily.

[Maddenv1]

Ok, but i have the numbers correct right? It is a 92 1.6L SOHC if that makes a difference. I can deal with it as long as i know that when my low fuel light comes on that i still have about 4 gallons left, which in my car is about 120 miles.

[onlytrueromeo]

There is no way the car has a 13.5 gallon tank...its got an 11 gallon tank - 10 gallon w/ 1 gallon reserve...I know this because I've run the car dry before and had to coast to a gas station on fumes...lol.

This was on my RS...if the GS is different (which I doubt) I have not tested that yet.

[Maddenv1]

Sorry, online manual says it's 13.2 gallons.

[Volones]

Maddev1, the online manual does indeed say 13.2gal, but I've never trusted that. I've used 10.7gal but it scared me to go that far with the low fuel light on. What I've heard is that although the tank does have a 13.2gal total volume, you will not be able to fill it up totally with gasoline, as it needs to have part of that volume available to air when the fuel expands due to high temperatures. I'm not going to throw any numbers or percentages around, but I expect the 11gal would be a much smarter number to use for your calculations.

Cheers,
Vol

[onlytrueromeo]

When I filled it up with the 11 gallons, the gas wouldn't drain down anymore, so I physically couldn't add more.

[Dark_Rider2k3]

I never really thought about this, but now that you've mentioned this I haven't had to fill her up as high as the manual says she is.. and to think i've been plugging 13.2 into my GPS for a while now .

makes more sense though.. I get to the low fuel light, and go fill up, and i'm not even near 10 gallons