Did you know that over 800,000 people run out of gas and become stranded virtually every year? While some car owners have made it a habit to always run their gas tank empty, others suffer this ordeal because they lack proper preparation for their long trips.
How many miles can you drive on empty? To be honest, answering this question can be tricky because the outcome depends on your vehicle’s make and model. This is because some vehicles are designed to travel farther than others, even without fuel, particularly the hybrids.
If you drive a gasoline-only vehicle, and your fuel gauge is currently traveling towards “Empty,” or it has hit that mark already, don’t panic. Let’s see how many miles you can still go before finding a gas station to refill.
Read Also: How Does Self-Service Gas Station Work? – Pros and Cons
How Many Miles Can You Drive On Empty?
Most vehicles can still attain around 30 – 45 miles or more when their fuel gauge shows “Empty.” This is simply because the gas tank is designed to retain about 10% – 15% of fuel before it triggers the empty sign from the fuel gauge on the dashboard.
Most cars are designed to last between 200 and 400 miles on a full gas tank. In that case, the gauge will eventually display empty once the fuel level runs down to around 10 percent of the full tank. In other words, the car can still go a little further in that state.
For instance, the Chevy Silverado can travel 33 miles after the gas light comes on. Meanwhile, if you’re asking, “How many miles can you drive on empty in Toyota Corolla?” Smaller vehicles like Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Jetta can drive for 47 miles and 43 miles beyond the “empty” mark, respectively.
If you drive a Camry and you’re wondering, “How many miles can you drive on empty in Toyota Camry?” You can be sure of traveling between 40 miles and 45 miles.
Usually, modern vehicles are built with more advantages than their older counterparts, and one of those benefits is the ability to go farther on empty than the old ones. The Toyota Corolla thrives on this advantage.
For those asking, “How many miles can you drive on empty in a Honda Accord?” The odds are somewhere around 70 miles – 93 miles. This range is pretty much different when it comes to measuring how far Ford vehicles can go on empty.
For example, if you’re wondering, “How many miles can you drive on empty in Ford Fusion?” The vehicle can attain about 35 miles – 80 miles. In any case, always ensure to avoid the struggle of finding a gas station before your fuel runs out completely.
Learn to refill your gas tank at the recommended intervals. It will save you a lot of stress and embarrassment in the long run. Meanwhile, an awareness of the consequence of running your car on empty will help you appreciate this advice more.
Read Also: How to Siphon Gas in Emergency: A Step-by-Step Guide
What Happens When Fuel Tank Is Empty?
When a gas tank is empty, the car’s engine will automatically start to suck in the air alongside the little quantity of fuel remaining in the tank. This is what eventually causes the car to stall and most likely keep you stranded on the road.
In some cases, tiny particles in gasoline can find their way into the fuel pump and clog the component. When this happens, it will suddenly damage the fuel pump and further affect the fuel gauge readings.
Constantly driving on an empty tank is a bad habit that can damage your car faster than you ever expect. That’s why professional auto technicians always advise that you maintain at least 1/4 of your gas tank’s full capacity.
Maintaining a safe gas quantity level will help protect your fuel pump and save you from being stranded suddenly. However, if you’re used to always refilling when your fuel gauge displays “empty,” you will need to develop a new habit of going straight to the gas station once the gauge hits 1/4 of the gas tank’s full capacity.
Read Also: Can You Mix Ethanol and Non-ethanol Gas in Car?
FAQs
Q: How far can you drive your car on empty?
If you’re asking, “How many miles do I have left when my gas light comes on?” You can be sure of traveling to a distance of about 30 miles – 45 miles once your car’s fuel gauge says “Empty.” However, some cars may go farther up to 50 miles or more, depending on the type of car.
How far you can drive on empty really depends on your car’s make and model. Meanwhile, there are two significant factors to look out for: the car’s gas tank size and the car’s fuel capacity.
Q: Can you drive on 0 miles till empty?
Yes, you can drive on 0 miles till empty for about 30 miles – 45 miles. Some cars may go a bit farther or less, depending on the car’s make or model. However, ensure to avoid situations that put you in a tight corner, putting you at risk of being stranded on the highway due to low gasoline.
If you’re contemplating, “How far can you drive on 0 miles to empty in Toyota?” The odds are around 30 miles – 47 miles. After that, good luck if you’re able to find a fuel station to refill the tank as soon as possible.
Q: Do cars have extra gas after empty?
Of course! There is something called reserve in a vehicle. It means even when the vehicle reads empty, it may not exactly be. Some vehicle manufacturers build in a gallon of about 3.8 liters or more of fuel reserve above the empty line.
Vehicle manufacturers also designed the fuel gauge to give signals about low fuel levels long before a car runs out of fuel because they know that people find it hard to bring out money to refill their fuel tank often.
Q: Can you drive on an empty tank?
Although it is possible to drive on an empty tank, it is a bad driving habit to maintain. However, if you’re running low on gasoline and there is a nearby gas station around, you can drive down to refill your tank quickly.
Meanwhile, you must avoid driving on an empty tank no matter the situation. This is because dirt or particles are most likely to store in the fuel tank, and driving on an empty may cause them to sink to the bottom of the tank and damage the fuel pump.
Q: How accurate are miles to empty?
Most vehicles’ miles to empty guide are inaccurate, revealing an error of about 2.3-percent. In fact, according to AAA Motor Club, the error varies between 6.4-percent and 2.8-percent.
Many drivers rely on miles to empty to determine the time to refill their gas tank, but others also believe that vehicle estimates are incorrect. However, you could trust the fuel gauge forecast or your driving experience in knowing when to refill. Whichever way is okay!
Q: How many miles is the reserve tank?
Some vehicles can travel up to 30 miles – 50 miles or more on reserve before the gas tank becomes empty. Vehicles like Nissan Altima can travel between 81 miles and 114 miles if you’re asking, “How many miles can you drive on an empty Nissan Altima?”
Typically, when your vehicle is on reserve, it doesn’t mean that the tank is really empty. This is because manufacturers designed a “margin of safety” in most vehicles so that people don’t become stranded before they realize that their gasoline has been exhausted.
Q: How much gas is left when the light comes on?
Usually, most vehicles are designed to have about 2.6 U.S. gallons (9.83 liters) before the fuel light comes on. This is simply “injury time” because neglecting the signal from the dashboard may be detrimental in the long run.
Therefore, it is very important to take note of your car’s fuel gauge signals at all times. Also, ensure to develop the habit of topping off your gasoline once it reaches 1/4 of the gas tank’s full capacity. This will save you a lot of trouble instead of contemplating, “How many miles can you drive on empty?”
Q: How do cars know how much gas is left?
Cars are manufactured with fuel level sensors (fuel gauges). This component helps to determine the level of fuel available in a car’s gas tank per time. It is built with both a sensing system (the sender) and an indicator (the gauge).
Therefore, the fuel gauge helps a driver to know how much gas is left in the gas tank so that they can top it off regularly and avoid being stranded unexpectedly due to an empty gas tank.
Q: What to do if you run out of gas and have no money?
If you suddenly run out of gas and have no money (cash) to pay for a refill at a gas station, you can use your bank’s mobile app or a credit card to pay for a refill. However, if you’re completely broke without a dime anywhere, you may want to beg another customer to help you out.
Other options include calling a friend on the phone for rescue, especially if you’re too shy to plead with someone at the gas station. Meanwhile, some folks could use collaterals (like their license) to buy gasoline and pay cash later. In any case, avoid this occurrence at all costs.
Final Words
Now that you know it is not advisable to drive on empty, ensuring to refill your tank always before setting out for a long trip is one attitude you must cultivate as a car owner. However, if you’re stranded and wondering, “How many miles can you drive on empty?” Firstly, don’t panic.
Remember, “Empty” does not really mean empty! In that case, ensure to find out whether you can access a gas station around and drive straight to refill. Nevertheless, if you are unsure of any, carefully find a safe place to park. Then, call a friend for rescue ASAP.
If you’re lucky, you could find someone who’s willing to help you buy gasoline in a gallon and bring it to you wherever you are currently.
