Vehicle: 2010 LX-570. I purchased this vehicle 3 months ago and love it! But I have a nagging issue that perhaps someone could shed some light on.
Fuel tank capacity per the brochure is 24.6 Gallons. When the low fuel red light comes on, my vehicle computer shows that DTE (Distance to Empty) is only 8 miles. (seems to me like Lexus designed this vehicle with an usually low reserve). A couple of days ago on my way to work the low fuel red light came on. By the time I got to a gas station (I doubt I drove 8 miles since the red light came on) my car's computer was showing distance to empty = 0 miles! But when I filled the car with gas, the most I could fill up was 19.3 gallons! I understand that some fuel will always remain at the bottom of the tank and is therefore "Not Usable". But 5.3 gallons of "Un-Usable" fuel represents 22% of the tank's capacity. Is this normal? What are other LX-570 users experiencing? Other things to consider about this issue: 1) On all my previous Lexus cars (this is my 5th) the car's computers show average MPG for this tank and average MPG for the life of the car. This car only has average MPG for this tank, but no average MPG for the life of the car. (Why?) 2) From day one it appeared to me that the driving range from full tank until the low fuel red light is very low. If only 19 gallons of fuel are truely "Usable", no wonder. 3) Is the fuel tank design so bad that only 19 gallons are truely usable? 4) If so, it explains why the low fuel red light comes on with only 8 miles left to go. (If they left enough fuel in reserve for 40-50 miles like most other cars, we would have to refuel even more frequently). By the way, knowing that the fuel reserve is so low forces me to constantly worry and monitor my fuel situation. In reality, I end up fueling when the car reaches a 1/4 tank or so, just to be on the safe side! (Which means even more frequent fuel stops) Any comments will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
