Anyone using the trip computer for "Distance to Empty"?

I just took delivery on a new 2013 F150 and will be using it this summer for towing my boat. The DTE function is of particular interest. So far I read that the computer stores history for non-towing economy and history for towing. I can select either from the Vehicle Settings for calculating DTE.
How does it determine if a trailer is connected? Do I tell it by selecting the appropriate history?
I have serge brakes, not electric in case it's detecting electric brakes.

I also have a concern for the distance of the average consumption. The book says 500 miles. That's useless. It needs to be about 40 miles. I can be traveling in the plains and go into mountainous terrain within 500 miles which would make a considerable difference in consumption. Also wind load can change. You may have a tail wind today and the next morning have a head wind.

I'm stating all this without any experience with the F150. Just trying to get a handle on what to expect. I expect to have accurate DTE to zero miles and the engine still running. I have more than once rolled up to the pump with one mile left in the tank. Fewer fill-ups per year saves time.

Anxiously waiting for your experience.

Love the truck so far, 300 miles. Still looking for something I don't like.

Dave

 

I have run mine down to 10-15 miles left plenty of times...1 mile to go seems a little extreme

 

i've taken mine down to 30km didn't want to trust the estimate....wife took her fiesta past by at least 50km and still made it home with some left..

 

Running your tank down that low is BEGGING for trouble. First off gasoline is the cooling agent for the fuel pump sooooooo just saying. Also if there is any moisture in the tank guess where it's going. I try not to run mine down lower then 1/4 tank especially in cold weather. I seriously doubt the DTE is going to be accurate enough to trust running it down that far imo.

Bottom line it's a pretty accurate estimate because my GF ran mine down to it showing 20 miles left. I WAS NOT thrilled with her doing that btw. Based on the amount of gas it took there was about 3 gallons left. So I'd say it was pretty accurate….. Good luck if you're going to run it down to 1 mile………. I'd be carrying a 5 gallon gas can if that's the plan.

 

Once I hit 100 miles to empty I fill up






.

 

You expect too much. How do you want a computer to predict the future of your driving. How should it know you are getting off the interstate and will be in city traffic soon? It is reactive, not predictive. It is very good on long trips on the interstate or if you make the same drive every day.

One tow truck bill or the inevitable fuel pump replacement due to continually running the fuel level low and overheating the pump will more than wipe out any savings in your time unless you bill at several hundred dollars an hour. In which case you should hire chauffeur so you can work while you ride.

When you get to 1/4 tank, start looking for gas.

 

Also keep in mind that you have an exceptionally long tank. I can't remember which end the pump is located but if you drive for a long time on a slope with too little gas you will run out even though the tank may have 3-5 gallons in it. This has happened. If gas is pulled to the opposite side of the tank as the fuel pickup you have a problem.

 

I've only had my truck since Thanksgiving, but I NEVER put gas in it unless I'm under 20 miles to go. I've ran it to -10 miles to go, but that's as much as I've pushed it. I've also used it around nice and flat central NC, but also on a trip to IN through hilly WV and it was still pretty accurate. I ran it down to 6 miles to go while in WV and didn't run out.

I would imagine it builds in a few gallons of extra gas, and I also think it recalculates your DTE based on your current MPG rating. I could be wrong, but based on my 3 months of experience (and about 5,000 miles) that seems to be the story.

 

Best I can tell it uses a weighted average of instantaneous mpg, last few hours, and historical average. I think the last few hours is the bulk of the weighting and instantaneous and historical account for maybe 40% or less. It is not, in my experience, very fast to react. Maybe within 50 miles of a major change in mpg.

 

Sounds like you need to hire a NASA engineer to sit in the passenger seat to do calculations. THE DTE readout isn't going to help you.