Here's how far the 10 bestselling cars and trucks can drive on an 'empty' gas tank (2024)
Warning: Driving your vehicle on low fuel or an empty tank can damage your ride or even lead to a crash.
The fuel gauge in your car or truck is lying to you.
Automobile manufacturers build in about a gallon (3.8 liters) of reserve fuel beyond the "empty" line. They also warn about low fuel long before a vehicle runs out, sincethey know that people procrastinate — especially when it comes to forking over money.
But those manufacturers arelooking out for drivers: Running out of fuel can leave youstranded or cause a crash on the road, andcan also damage expensive auto parts.
Ed Mosher is a retired automotive repair specialist and engine performance expert — and the father of a co-author of this story."The really important thing, especially with newer cars, is that they have an electric fuel pump, and fuel is used to cool that pump as it works," he told Business Insider. "So if the weather is hot and you run low on fuel, you risk burning out a fuel pump real quick."
Advertisem*nt
Cold weather can also be problematic if yourfuel runs low.
"The air inside the gas tank can form condensation, and that could foul the fuel with moisture," said Mosher. "This can cause fuel injector-firing problems, ice crystals around the fuel pump, and driveability problems. It happens rarely, thanks to additives in the fuel that basically keep it from freezing. But it's a risk."
Either way, replacing a fuel pump can cost about $1,000 to $2,000, he said.
Automobile manufacturers rarely disclose how far their makes and models can go when the low-fuel warning light kicks on or the fuel gauge dips past "E". Nevertheless, enough people have risked damage and accidents to find out.The website TankOnEmpty.comcollects data and stories from drivers in an attemptto answer those questions, according to Digital Journal.
Advertisem*nt
Here are the reported averages from the site's users on how far the bestselling cars and trucks of 2016 can drive after the "low fuel" light turns on:
Skye Gould/Business Insider
Of course, theway the site collects data isn't ironclad, since anyone can contribute and skew results — intentionally or unintentionally. Also, people who brake frequently and accelerate rapidly burn a lot more fuel than someone who uses cruise control and drives within the speed limit.
But given the lack of scientific studies out there, this issome of the only data available— and it covers dozens of other makes and models.
“Typically, it will light up when the tank is below 10% to 15% of its capacity.” In general, after the gas light comes on, Muñoz says it's safe to drive about 20 to 30 miles in a smaller vehicle or up to 50 miles in a larger vehicle.
On average, you can drive around 16 hours on a full tank of gas, but your results will vary. However, you can calculate how many hours you can drive on a full tank of gas in your used car or truck. For example, you get 25 MPG and have a 25-gallon tank. That means you can drive 625 miles.
Usually when you see the gas tank needle point at E, your car probably has about 2 to 3 gallons left, if you keep driving, a warning light will be on, telling you that the gas tank is almost empty.
When your engine doesn't have enough fuel, it can cause cylinders to misfire. But the biggest risk is if you're traveling at high speeds and RPMs, your car's computer will request a richer air-fuel mixture to prevent damage to the engine. If the fuel pump cannot deliver enough fuel, it can cause an engine knock.
So if your fuel light goes on, your service station Chattanooga Ford dealer can confidently tell you that your vehicle will be able to drive an additional 30 to 50 miles with the light on when you are in search of a gas station.
If you've been searching to find out how long you can drive on an empty tank, you should know that driving on an empty tank can actually be bad for your car. The reasons that you should not drive on an empty tank include: It can damage your vehicle's fuel pump. Your fuel filter may be damaged.
Green Car Journal named the Ram 1500 Eco Diesel the 2023 Green Truck of the Year. At 29 mpg, the pickup boasts best-in-class 4×4 highway fuel economy, and with a massive available 33-gallon fuel tank, it also claims the longest 4×4 highway driving range — a stunning 950-plus miles on a single tank.
The answer to how many miles you can drive with an empty gas tank totally depends upon the model of the car you drive. It depends on the fuel efficiency and gas tank capacity. However, 30-50 miles is a distance you may be able to drive in most modern cars after the fuel gauge starts indicating empty.
As for range, yes you should be able to go a fairly good amount longer once your estimated range hits 0 miles. I think on my old TLX there was an estimated 30-60mi more range. That's a game I wouldn't want to play though for the reasons above and for my stress levels. You can go 40-50 miles after it says 0.
Once the fuel light comes on, the average distance you can drive your car is usually around 49 miles. When the indicator hits zero, you won't be guaranteed any more miles, but it's likely you'll squeeze a few more out of the tank…
The less fuel in your tank, the greater the risk of running out completely in a bad spot. While different experts have different suggestions, it's typically agreed that drivers should refuel their vehicle when they have anywhere between a quarter of a tank or half of a tank left for maximum efficiency.
Not having to drive can save you time and money on fuel, but letting a car sit for too long can cause maintenance issues. Among them: dead batteries; rusted brakes; dried-out and leaking seals; and insect or rodent infestation. Any of these issues can make your car become a lot less valuable, and less safe to operate.
Here's what researchers found: On average, the fuel economy display of the vehicles tested showed a relatively low error of 2.3% as compared to the fuel economy measured by the dynamometer. However, individual vehicle error varied greatly, ranging from −6.4% to 2.8%.
Here are some insights based on the search results: According to a Quora post, the government mileage rate is $0.52 per mile. If you are driving at 5 miles per hour, it would cost $2.60 to drive for 1 hour. If you are driving at 50 miles per hour, it would cost $26.00 [1].
It should fire up almost immediately, though there may be a bit of lag or cough as air clears from the injector nozzles. If your check-engine light comes on after you've restarted the car, don't just assume it's a hangover from the stalling and your computer's just harmlessly waiting for you to clear the codes.
Introduction: My name is Stevie Stamm, I am a colorful, sparkling, splendid, vast, open, hilarious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
