Sorry if this has already been discussed but I searched and couldn't find a thread on it. The Honda site says the gas tank should hold 15.9 plus gallons but I can usually only fit 11 plus? What am I missing here?

http://www.hondacars.com/models/specifications.asp?ModelName=Element

Under mileage and capacities.

BTW: I'm getting a little over 21 mpg, but I have a leadish foot and drive with the AC all the time. Been getting that since I got it a few weeks back. I'm pretty happy with the mileage.

If you drive until you sputter to a stop from running out of gas, you will be able to put in 15.9 gallons. Other than that, the fuel gauge is pessimistic.

I do believe that the low fuel light comes on at 11.9 gallons or 4 gallons left of gas.....I noramlly fill up once the light pops on and normally put 12.2 gallons in..... I am getting about 20-21 mpg, so I guess I could go about 80 more miles before actually having to fill up, but unless I am in a dire situation I am not going to test it out.

I often wondered the same thing, but I'm too chicken to ever actually test it. I just assumed the guage was set to bottom out around 12 gallons, leaving you a bit of room in case you live in Montana or somewhere there isn't a gas station every 4 or 5 miles...

I usually get around 21 or 22 mpg, and I haven't tried any of the little tricks (tire pressure, new exhaust, a little fan mounted on the roof facing backwards, etc..) so it could probably improve somewhat. But when you used to drive a 16 mpg POS S-10, 21 mpg is pretty darn good.

Oz

Aloha,
I wonder what I'm doing different than everyone else, I'm getting over 30 mpg, most of it is freeway miles and usually over 65mph, interesting. round trip home to work is 104 miles :twisted:

Your coconut milk must be fermented! I've never heard of another Element on planet Earth getting 30 miles per gallon. Or else there's some magical road you commute on that's always downhill with a tailwind. Coming and going.

Maybe Dive Hawaii means 30 gallons per mile... no wait, that would be a HUMMER's average mileage. :wink:

Man I'm glad I have an E. 20-22 ACTUAL mpg really isnt bad for an SUV. The numbers on the stickers are inflated for the Detroit auto makers anyway.

On Clark Howard the other day a woman was complaining about 15 actual MPG on her Odyssey and she was thinking about trading it in because she expected better... IT'S A MINIVAN! That's darn good mileage.

But back on subject... at the dealer they told me that Honda (for all models) sets the gas light to come on when you have aprox 30 miles to go before you will run out of gas.

That 30 mile thing can't be right because I almost always drive 30 miles after the light comes on and I only fill up with about 13 gallons of gas. I think it comes on somewhere around the 4 gallons left mark, like what was said before. It does come on early compared to my old car, but it doesn't hurt to fill up when you get to that point. Believe me, you don't want to run out of gas on the road...not a fun experience! :lol: :oops:

re-up from my last reply::

yup checked again, usually fill gas when the low light comes on and get in just over 10 gallons (filled her today). That gets me 3 round trips to work and home @ 104 miles per day= just under 30 mpg. I donno maybe it is downhill all the way (my wife always says that it's all downhill after 40)

Aloha

Sometimes it feels like that (the downhill part), but whatever you do, don't believe EVERYTHING.

Dive Hawaii,
I didn't mean I didn't think you got 30 mpg. I was talking about the comment before my post about when the low fuel light comes on, you have 30 miles until you run out of gas. That is what can't be right. Sorry if you misunderstood.
That's awesome that you get such good mileage!!

I get low gas light at about 230 miles and can only get 11 to 12 gallons in tankupon refueling,which is an average of about 20 mpg in mixed driving.I think the fuel gauge must be incorrect .Anyone else noticing the same thing? Thanks

That is completely normal :wink: