Fuel Lesson Learned

[MaverickDragon]

The Hybrid's physical tank volume is 17 gallons.

E is A LONG WAY from "running on fumes".
Ford EXPECTS owners to use 13.8 gallons all of the time.

Really.
On most cars, E for empty does not include a varying number of gallons of reserve fuel.
Why would Ford expect an owner to use only a portion of their fuel?
That assertion sounds ludicrous.

Considering that people are all about range in a vehicle, why would Ford state the fuel tank capacity at 13.8 if it can safely hold and use all that additional capacity?

Significant additional range would be available for zero cost, if that were true, but it makes absolutely no sense., which leads me to believe you are mistaken.

This site has a fuel capacity lookup by model.
All 2025 model hybrids have a stated capacity of 13.8 except the Lobo and the Tremor which have a stated 16.5 gallon fuel tank capacity like the Ecoboost models. Why is that?
Did Ford decide that Lobo and Tremor drivers deserve to use the entire tank?

Do you have any reliable sources to back your claim?

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[Chops]

My habit of filling my tank when I get to half empty/full may put more stress on my EVAP System than letting it get down to a quarter full before filling up.

EVAP fumes are higher with more gas in the tank. Might get a bit better mpg too as the truck will be slightly lighter on average.

Won’t ever go past the first click however!

 

[Kenv24]

I'm all in on the 'don't run the level too low' group.
My wife used to run the level low in our 2003 explorer sport trac. The pump would get hot and not re-start in the summer here in Fl.
I replaced the pump, and it never happened again as long as we kept the level at least 1/4 tank.

Oh come on...most of us wave at gas stations with a 1/4 tank in the Hybrid Mav. "See you next week Shell"

 

[Chops]

Oh come on...most of us wave at gas stations with a 1/4 tank in the Hybrid Mav. "See you next week Shell"

But you’ll spend MORE next week. Shell can wait. They know they’ll get your money now or next week

 

[HeyBales]

Really.
On most cars, E for empty does not include a varying number of gallons of reserve fuel.
Why would Ford expect an owner to use only a portion of their fuel?
That assertion sounds ludicrous.

Considering that people are all about range in a vehicle, why would Ford state the fuel tank capacity at 13.8 if it can safely hold and use all that additional capacity?

Significant additional range would be available for zero cost, if that were true, but it makes absolutely no sense., which leads me to believe you are mistaken.

This site has a fuel capacity lookup by model.
All 2025 model hybrids have a stated capacity of 13.8 except the Lobo and the Tremor which have a stated 16.5 gallon fuel tank capacity like the Ecoboost models. Why is that?
Did Ford decide that Lobo and Tremor drivers deserve to use the entire tank?

Do you have any reliable sources to back your claim?

Only had 6 vehicles thru the years - all had a reserve under E of some size. Mazda, Toyota, Nissan, Ford.
Some with a light didn't even turn on until the bottom of E was hit, the light meant 2 more gallons. 1 did the light when it hit E.
I just added 40 miles as failsafe and started noting the cheaper stations.

Get ready for test results to your question.

Here's my fillup history - maybe one tilted scenario in there, usually no more than 10 miles past DTE 0.
You can tell where I was on long road trips - stopping early so no problems with where the next station was.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Really.
On most cars, E for empty does not include a varying number of gallons of reserve fuel.
Why would Ford expect an owner to use only a portion of their fuel?
That assertion sounds ludicrous.

Considering that people are all about range in a vehicle, why would Ford state the fuel tank capacity at 13.8 if it can safely hold and use all that additional capacity?

Significant additional range would be available for zero cost, if that were true, but it makes absolutely no sense., which leads me to believe you are mistaken.

This site has a fuel capacity lookup by model.
All 2025 model hybrids have a stated capacity of 13.8 except the Lobo and the Tremor which have a stated 16.5 gallon fuel tank capacity like the Ecoboost models. Why is that?
Did Ford decide that Lobo and Tremor drivers deserve to use the entire tank?

Do you have any reliable sources to back your claim?

There have been several members here who have driven their hybrid mavericks 50 miles or more after their MTE REGISTERS ZERO! Then putting well over 15 gallons of fuel in tank, maybe 16 or more, I don't remember exactly. They are going for 800+ miles per tank!

 

[Kenv24]

But you’ll spend MORE next week. Shell can wait. They know they’ll get your money now or next week

Yeah, I know…I know… I’m just talking more about the paranoia that everyone has about letting the gas tank get “TOO LOW”. Well, your grandpa never had a hybrid Mav!!!

 

[MaverickDragon]

There have been several members here who have driven their hybrid mavericks 50 miles or more after their MTE REGISTERS ZERO! Then putting well over 15 gallons of fuel in tank, maybe 16 or more, I don't remember exactly. They are going for 800+ miles per tank!

As far as driven past the estimated, that's just infotainment, and a projection based on previous usage because it can't predict the future.
I've got a run where the truck got a 57 mpg average. That is a bit less than 1 gallon for the mileage you noted after the expected run dry estimate.

Driving with a heavy foot and then being very easy on the skinny pedal when you think you are about to run out of fuel may result in much better actual mileage than what was projected.

It may just be that Ford expects drivers to stop at the first click as recommended, and only state the fuel capacity based on what can be reliably used from that fill level.

It may well also be that additional fuel can be added over that, and if folks want to risk flooding their evaporative capture, they are free to go right ahead. That doesn't mean it's prudent.

 

[Chops]

. Well, your grandpa never had a hybrid Mav!!!

Gramps would not be caught dead in a Maverick Hybrid. He preferred a straight 8 with a 3 speed manual

 

[Carlitos_92]

It may just be that Ford expects drivers to stop at the first click as recommended, and only state the fuel capacity based on what can be reliably used from that fill level.

It may well also be that additional fuel can be added over that, and if folks want to risk flooding their evaporative capture, they are free to go right ahead. That doesn't mean it's prudent.

So you are completely ruling out the obvious possibility that people are filling their tanks over Ford's stated capacity, WITHOUT fueling past the first click?

 

[Waterick]

Really.
...........
All 2025 model hybrids have a stated capacity of 13.8 except the Lobo and the Tremor which have a stated 16.5 gallon fuel tank capacity like the Ecoboost models. Why is that?
Did Ford decide that Lobo and Tremor drivers deserve to use the entire tank?
.........

The Lobo and Tremor are EcoBoost models and actually have the larger tank. They are not hybrids.

 

[HeyBales]

As far as driven past the estimated, that's just infotainment, and a projection based on previous usage because it can't predict the future.
I've got a run where the truck got a 57 mpg average. That is a bit less than 1 gallon for the mileage you noted after the expected run dry estimate.

Driving with a heavy foot and then being very easy on the skinny pedal when you think you are about to run out of fuel may result in much better actual mileage than what was projected.

It may just be that Ford expects drivers to stop at the first click as recommended, and only state the fuel capacity based on what can be reliably used from that fill level.

It may well also be that additional fuel can be added over that, and if folks want to risk flooding their evaporative capture, they are free to go right ahead. That doesn't mean it's prudent.

Just in case you haven't gotten it yet - this has nothing to do with filling up to the capless top - as if the tank is only 13.8, you can't reach some bottom part, and therefore must be filling 2 gal up a filler neck somehow past multiple clicks of the pump.
And nothing to do with DPE (Distance Past Empty).
Shoot, for all we know this was designed to cut a few more pounds out of base weight with full tank, to allow better gas mileage, same as 0W-20, undercharging battery (likely), ect.

This has to do with the tank is bigger than you think and is stated, of a usable amount, doing exactly as you described.
Just means there's an easy failsafe around town where it's easy to get gas, don't even have to be concerned when it says 0, and you can wait until near that favorite station that's always 5-10 cents below the others, and top tier gas.
Except perhaps in the winter, and stuck on roads is common. We probably all know our areas well enough.

Just because it's stated it's possible and therefore should cause no concern if you go low - doesn't mean you can't fill early. Just no need to pretend 13.8 is it, and dangerous to go lower, to allow filling higher.

Hybrid.

EB.

Did they just happen to use the same picture in the shop manual? Or the same tank in the truck?
Or close enough to the same tank?

https://ebay.us/m/i4xRc3

https://ebay.us/m/wyZQkb

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Just in case you haven't gotten it yet - this has nothing to do with filling up to the capless top - as if the tank is only 13.8, you can't reach some bottom part, and therefore must be filling 2 gal up a filler neck somehow past multiple clicks of the pump.
And nothing to do with DPE (Distance Past Empty).
Shoot, for all we know this was designed to cut a few more pounds out of base weight with full tank, to allow better gas mileage, same as 0W-20, undercharging battery (likely), ect.

This has to do with the tank is bigger than you think and is stated, of a usable amount, doing exactly as you described.
Just means there's an easy failsafe around town where it's easy to get gas, don't even have to be concerned when it says 0, and you can wait until near that favorite station that's always 5-10 cents below the others, and top tier gas.
Except perhaps in the winter, and stuck on roads is common. We probably all know our areas well enough.

Just because it's stated it's possible and therefore should cause no concern if you go low - doesn't mean you can't fill early. Just no need to pretend 13.8 is it, and dangerous to go lower, to allow filling higher.

Hybrid.

EB.

Did they just happen to use the same picture in the shop manual? Or the same tank in the truck?
Or close enough to the same tank?

https://ebay.us/m/i4xRc3

https://ebay.us/m/wyZQkb

DUH!!!! They used the same tank in the Hybrid. The hybrid has a pressurized tank and the top requires room for the pressure to be built in when it has its 1.2 reserve plus it's 13.8 expected useable volume.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Do you have any reliable sources to back your claim?

Dozens and dozens. Many on this site.
I "think" you can read it on your own. But will you?

You're welcome to your opinion.
You're not alone but in a very minority.

Why not drive til the truck stops ONE TIME and refill and see what happens?

I'll bet you what you paid for your truck at least 16 gallons goes in on level ground.

 

[HeyBales]

DUH!!!! They used the same tank in the Hybrid. The hybrid has a pressurized tank and the top requires room for the pressure to be built in when it has its 1.2 reserve plus it's 13.8 expected useable volume.

Exactly.
The same. And fuel shutoff via splash-back is going to act the same on both. Fill points are the same on both.
So not a shocker to get the same amounts into the tank possibly - depending on how low one goes.
Hybrid claims empty earlier than EB - so really the space at the top is going to be the same for that pressurized.

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