The low fuel light illuminated signifies that you’re beginning to run low on gas and should refill your car soon. Most drivers are unaware that they ought not to drive for long after the warning light flashes, but the question is, how far can you go on 0 miles to empty?
From 0 miles to empty, the car can go for about 25 to 50 miles (40 to 80km). When driving using a light foot, maintaining a constant speed of 49mph (65kph) and with good tires, then this distance may increase. However, it is best to fill up the car’s tank immediately.
The rest of the article will discuss in detail how far you can go on 0 miles to empty, factors affecting how far the car can drive after the gas light illuminates, and lots more.
Tips will also be provided on improving the car’s MPG to prevent an empty tank and the consequences for the car, the environment, and you.
How Far Can You Go On 0 Miles to Empty?
When the car reads 0 miles to empty, you can drive on for about 25 to 50miles (40 to 80km). The distance may decrease if the car is conveying a heavy load or is simply a heavy car. On the contrary, if your car carries a light load, it can go further.
When the gas light illuminates, many factors decide how far the car can go. These factors are:
1. The Car’s Weight:
when a car is heavy, it consumes more fuel than a car that is light.
2. The Speed of the Car:
As the car uses more gas, the faster it goes. Because of this, the further you can drive from “0 miles to empty” is reduced.
3. The Tire Condition:
The vehicle’s fuel efficiency can be improved when the tires are well-inflated and in good condition.
4. The Style of Driving:
The car will use less gas when driving nimbly and, as a result, will drive further.
5. The Terrain:
The car will consume more gas when plying on curvy and hilly roads than on flat straight roads. The distance, as a result, will be shorter on “0 miles to empty” when plying curvy or hilly areas.
6. Weather Conditions:
The car’s fuel efficiency can reduce when you drive in nasty weather (for example, snow, wind, or rain).
Remember that this gas light comes on at about ¼ tank full. E.g., the gas light will turn on when there is about 2.75 gallons (22 liters) remaining in the car’s tank if the vehicle has an 11-gallon ( that is 50liter) tank.
The miles also will differ from one car to another. After the gas light illuminates, the most popular car models will drive about 30 – 50 miles.
For example, Volkswagen Jetta can go for more than 43 miles. Chevrolet Silverado is capable of going on for about 33 miles when it reaches 0 miles to empty. At the same time, the car Toyota Corolla, which tops the list, is capable of driving for about 47 miles.
Understanding the distance the car can go with low gas can be reassuring.
However, this can negatively affect the car. Dirt will begin to gather in the fuel filter, which will block the filter when you are driving on 0 to empty. In a low fuel situation, overheating can occur.
In adverse situations, the power steering and brakes might be affected when you drive on low fuel. While this might not occur in one or two instances when you drive in low fuel, it should not be habitually done.
However, newer vehicles are armed with equipment that estimates how long you can drive from 0 miles to empty, which is the distance to empty gauge. Using this instrument in place of the low fuel warning light can be a bit tempting. It is advised that you reconsider this approach.
The gauge estimates are based on your car’s fuel efficiency and average mileage at that point in time. You can get stranded if other factors like traffic and weather are included.
You will be endangering yourself if you always keep running low on gas, so don’t.
Ensure that your fuel tank is always at least ¼ full. Equally, before the gauge reads empty, pull over and refill it up, as this will help you save time and stress from damaging your vehicle.
Also Read: What Does DTE Mean in a Car? (Everything To Know)
Is It Risky to Drive When Your Car Says 0 Miles?
The main concern of most drivers when driving on an empty tank is the danger of going out of fuel and getting stranded in a secluded place or on a highway with cars following behind.
Driving with an empty tank most times damages your car pump. You may ask how? At the bottom, some natural fuel dirt and debris will accumulate and damage the pump when it sucks up the debris. When you keep going on low gas, it will subsequently damage it.
This is the more reason why your car tank must, in fact, not be less than ¼ full when driving. However, there is no danger of harming your car if it is an emergency or the very first time, except if you turn it into a recurrent habit.
Except when necessary, like when there is no fuel station close by or you’re not with your wallet, you shouldn’t drive when the zero mark light shows. The engine will be in danger of sucking up debris which poses a risk that is very costly.
How Accurate Is Miles-to-Empty?
As reported by A.A.A., unfortunately, the vehicle system has a small error ranging from 6.4percent – 2.8 percent, so they may not be perfect. Hence, the vehicle may splutter sooner than it should if you drive your car to the very last drop. So ensure to top up the tank to at least ¼ tank full if you don’t want to run out of gas.
Refueling it like this helps the driver ensure he has adequate gas in case of any unforeseen delay. It also protects the fuel pump against damages.
Most drivers depend on the miles to empty equipment to determine the time for refueling their vehicle. Others do believe that their car’s estimations are not correct. However, you can just believe and go with the prediction or your experience to determine when to refuel the car.
Also Read: Is ARCO Gas Good or Bad for Your Car?
How Trustworthy Is My Miles-to-Empty Gauge?
In many modern vehicles, the mileage one can go before the vehicle is low on gas is usually displayed in the instrument cluster; this is the Miles-to-empty gauge. Preference is given to this by some drivers instead of following the low fuel warning light.
Even though this is a commendable feature, it is very risky to depend entirely on it as it merely shows an approximation of the distance covered and not the distance to be covered.
This is not trustworthy, as its estimations are based on the average miles you’ve gone. For example, when your engine is running and you’re on a highway or holed up in traffic, the gauge will estimate the distance you’ve gone. Therefore, you may be on an empty tank, while the gauge will show that you have a full tank.
How the Miles to Empty System Works
Most cars have a little gauge known as “miles to empty” on the instrument panel. As its name suggests, the gauge shows the miles you can drive before you run out of fuel. This gauge estimates how much fuel is remaining in the fuel tank and converts it to a range of miles that you can still drive. The gauge normally presumes that the car is performing under the ideal conditions (e.g., no wind, flat road) and using fuel consistently.
Practically, most drivers always encounter certain degrees of wind resistance and don’t drive on perfectly flat roads. As a result, the fuel gauge may display digits of miles, slightly underestimating the actual miles it can drive.
Driving On Empty Gas Tank: Is It That Bad?
In general, it is better not to drive on low fuel.
It is advised that you do not drive your car when the tank is less than a quarter. The reasons why you should not drive on an empty fuel tank are;
1. It Can Damage Your Vehicle
The fuel pump and some other critical components of the car were not made to function without gas. Driving on low fuel a few times might not damage these components, but it reduces the lifespan of these components, which may lead to extra expense in fixing the car when it’s worn out.
2. It Could Leave You Stranded
You risk getting stranded while running some errands or halfway through your journey, and this is not what anyone wants. The car’s engine will be made to stop when faced with an empty fuel tank situation, and you may be stranded when this happens.
This will leave you with the stress of going on foot to the next gas station or making a distress call for help.
This may affect not only you but also inconvenience other users of the road. So pull the car to the side of the road to prevent a traffic situation if the car stops.
3. It Could Cause a Clogged Oil Filter
The car’s fuel tank, over time, does collect dirt and debris, which is really not a problem as it accumulates in the bottom of the tank.
However, the pump will likely draw the debris when it is out of gas and eventually block the fuel filter, and as a result, the fuel flow to the car’s engine will be slow.
4. Engine Misfires
As the car is out of gas, air will be taken in by the pump, and since there is a lack of gas for proper mixture, the engine will misfire.
When this happens, it may seem like the engine has lost its power, hesitating or vibrating. Your engine can be damaged by this and may result in other problems on the roadway.
5. Fuel Pump Damage
Transmitting fuel to the car’s engine is the responsibility of the fuel pump, and the fuel here is used for lubrication and cooling.
Most fuel pumps in cars are lifelong and can very well last the car a lifetime. Nonetheless, the pump may overheat and become defective if you are driving with an empty fuel tank. Hence, a replacement may be required, and the cost of this might go as far as a thousand dollars.
Also Read: Why Does the Gas Pump Keep Stopping? (Solved)
What to Do When You Run Out of Gas?
When you are low on gas, for everyone’s safety, these instructions should be followed;
1. Pullover
Switch on the hazard light if possible and pull over to a safe location off the road. If you feel the fuel in the tank will not take you until you reach a fuel station, you should drive the car to a safe place before the fuel tank is empty.
2. Call for Help
When you have pulled over in a safe location, you can then call family or friends for help. Another option is that you can equally call roadside emergency service providers. Also, if these are options you don’t like, you can call a tow company or the local police when faced with a non-emergency situation.
Frequently Asked Questions – How Far Can You Go On 0 Miles to Empty?
How many miles can you run on 0?
How long can you drive from 0 to empty? You can drive an average of 15miles before you find your first fuel station. Notwithstanding, this does not mean you will not be faced with a low fuel situation, as this greatly varies from one car to another and the kind of fuel efficiency system in place, but usually, we have a 5 to 25 miles range.
How many miles do you get after gas 0?
The question which logically follows after your low-level fuel light flashes is how far can I go before the engine shutdown? On this, there is no strict measurement; each vehicle illuminates the light when the fuel remaining in the car’s tank reaches different amounts – however, it is generally about 30 – 50 miles.
How many miles can I drive on empty?
The general rule is that before the gas light illuminates, most vehicles have like 2½ gallons remaining inside the tank. Therefore it depends on the number of miles you can cover based on each gallon. One can probably be within 30 to 60 miles.
How far can you go on 0 miles to empty f150?
If the gauge indicates 0 miles to empty, you can still drive the F-150 between 35 to 80 miles. When the trunks indicate E, its fuel is down to about sixteen of its total capacity.
How far can you go on 0 miles to empty Camry?
Generally, suppose you are driving a new model of a gasoline-powered Camry. In that case, the estimation means it is possible to go around 42 miles on average, as the meter indicates empty.
What does 0 miles mean on a used car?
On most clusters, The zero miles are saved up as a hexadecimal array of “F.F.,” and it runs down in reverse as miles add up. A defective EEPROM often will output all F.F. Therefore, primitive odometer software (on older vehicles) views all F.F., which will lead to it showing “0”. The miles will never be added because the software cannot communicate to the defective EEPROM.
How accurate is the empty distance?
Averagely, the car’s tested indicated an error of 2.3 percent on the fuel economic display. But car error significantly varied and ranged between 6.4 percent – 2.8 percent in the test.
How far can you drive on 0 miles to empty Ford Fusion?
How long can the Ford fusion drive on empty? Seem like a general question. You will observe if you have driven this car for a long time that the gas light illuminates between 35 to 80 miles until the tank runs out of fuel.
How far can a Jetta go on 0 miles?
When the needle points at empty, Jetta’s average car owner should envisage driving for like 44.62 miles based on 141 test entries.
How far can a Ford go on Empty?
For instance, when the low gas light illuminates, the car can drive for about 35 to 80 miles, while the Nissan versa car can go for another 104 miles.
How far can you go on 0 miles to empty Mazda?
A well-known factor in determining this is the car’s fuel economy. Driving style, weather, and road conditions are the other factors. A Bob Baker Mazda staff gave an estimate that Mazda cars can drive for another 30 – 50 miles when the low gas light comes on.
How far can a Honda Accord go on Empty?
The warning light illuminates at also 2.6 gallons with the Honda Accord. However, you can still drive for another 70 – 93 miles.
How far can a Nissan Altima go on 0 miles to empty?
As suggested by a report, if you normally fail to remember filling your fuel tank, then the car you need to drive is the Nissan Altima, as it can drive for about 81 – 114 miles upon the flashing of the low gas warning light.
Conclusion – How Far Can You Go On 0 Miles to Empty?
Getting a low fuel warning light or, worst still, getting stuck in a secluded area because the car is getting low on fuel or the tank is empty is not something anyone wants.
On some occasions, this happens to the majority of vehicle owners. You can be unfortunate to find yourself in such a scenario with no fuel station close by and no spare cash.
When such happens, it’s important to understand the distance you can drive on 0 miles to empty to prevent such an ugly experience. Some cars can drive for like 30 miles, while others can go for 47 miles.
This variation depends on factors like the car model, traffic, weather conditions, and your car driving habits. Driving without gas is never a good idea. Equally, there exists no certain method of ascertaining the distance you can go with no fuel unless you try it with the car.