My gage has been consistant in it's decline towards "E" with no sudden drops. When it approaches E, the light comes on warning of low fuel and if I remember right it's pretty close to the E mark about the same time the cruising range is at "0". The "reserve" is gas that is "below" the E mark. It's just there with no visible way of knowing other than when you fill up.

I didn't believe for sure that the tank was 17+ until some other posters intentionally ran their TCH dry. I'm not going to do that but at least two others have done it to prove they can get the 17+ gallons in an empty tank and that's good enought for me to feel comfortable. I've never had to go much over 15 gallons on a fill.

I don't typically wait that long anyway to fill up, but I've noticed many on the milage database do indeed go towards 600 miles before fillup. Probably more of a conversation maker than a hatred for stopping for gas??? It is pretty coll I guess to tell your friends you just drove 1800 miles on three tanks of gas. And then tell them it's only a 17 gallon tank!