How Far Can You Drive Your Vehicle on Empty? When your Gas Light Comes On?

Driving your vehicle on empty might not be the ideal thing to do. 

However, at times, it may become a necessity in times of emergency.

It is important to know in advance how many miles your vehicle can cover on a nearly empty gas tank.

And it is nice to know that you have a few more miles to get to a gas station rather than letting your hairs turn gray.

Wondering if your vehicle will be stuck on the side of the road.

Illustrated above is the lowest number of miles you have left in a vehicle makes when your fuel indicator light comes on. If you want to know the averages keep on reading below.

Your vehicle, irrespective of model and type, is different from others, so your job is to know your vehicle inside out before taking any risk.

Some of the factors you need to consider are; the type of car you drive, your car’s age, the size of your fuel tank, the level of traffic on the road you are traveling, and other factors.

If you need to find your make and model of vehicle quickly, there is a table of contents to the right. 

How far can you drive on empty by vehicle?

Below are common vehicle types in the United States with the amount of gas remaining with the approximate number of miles you could drive.

If you drive with very low fuel you could ruin your fuel pump. For some vehicles this is a costly replacement.

Chevrolet

Chevrolet vehicles average from 2 to 2.5 gallons remaining when the fuel warning light comes on.

The miles remaining is from 25 to 84 miles

Model	Gas Remaining	Miles Remaining
Cruze	2 Gallons	55 - 84
Equinox	Not Available	50
Impala	2 Gallons	44 - 62
Malibu	2 Gallons	50 - 72
Silverado	Not Available	25
Traverse	2.5 Gallons	42 - 60

Ford

Ford vehicles are pretty straightforward.

Each has approximately 1/16 of a tank left when the fuel light comes on.

And all vehicles have 35 to 75 miles remaining.

If you’ve got your sights set on a compact car like the Ford Focus, it’s a safe bet you’re looking for something with great gas mileage.

For a Ford Fusion, a driver has about 35 to 80 miles left.

Model	Gas Remaining	Miles Remaining
Edge	1/16 of a Tank	35 - 75
Escape	1/16 of a Tank	35 - 75
Explorer	1/16 of a Tank	35 - 75
F-150	1/16 of a Tank	35 - 75
Focus	1/16 of a Tank	35 - 75
Fusion	1/16 of a Tank	35 - 75
Mustang	1/16 of a Tank	35 - 75
Transit	1/16 of a Tank	35 - 75

GMC

GMC has very little data about remaining miles when your fuel tank is empty.

It would be safe to assume you have at least 25 miles left with most GMC vehicles.

Model	Gas Remaining	Miles Remaining
Sierra Denali	4 Gallons	64 - 90
Terrain	Not Available	50

Honda

Honda vehicles range from 1.9 to 3.0 gallons remaining in the tank when on empty.

Depending on vehicle size, a Honda vehicle will have 45 to 70 miles before your vehicle needs more gas.

For Instance, Families on a road trip in the 2022 Honda CR-V may want to use the EPA-estimated highway fuel-economy rating and multiply 1.4 gallons by 34 MPG.

Model	Gas Remaining	Miles Remaining
Accord	2.6 Gallons	70 - 93
Civic	1.9 Gallons	59 - 80
CR-V	2.3 Gallons	62 - 78
Odyssey	3 Gallons	57 - 84
Pilot	2.5 Gallons	45 - 62

Hyundai

Hyundai vehicles have very little data about remaining fuel in the tank when on empty. 

According to the data I’ve studied about Hyundai vehicles, it appears they can go approximately 25 miles before Hyundai car putters out.

Model	Gas Remaining	Miles Remaining
Elantra	Not Available	30
Sante Fe	Not Available	40
Sonata	Not Available	40

Jeep

Jeep vehicles can go at least 45 miles before adding gas to the tank.

Depending on the model, each has 2 to 3 gallons of fuel remaining.

A 2022 Jeep Liberty 4wd gets up to 16 miles per gallon in the city, up to 20 miles per gallon on the highway.

Model	Gas Remaining	Miles Remaining
Cherokee	3 Gallons	66 - 93
Grand Cherokee	3 Gallons	66 - 90
Patriot	2 Gallons	46 - 60
Wrangler	2.8 Gallons	47 - 58

Kia

Kia vehicles are pretty much in the same boat as Hyundai.

A Kia Forte, on the other hand, runs up to 32.08 miles on average.

It would be safe to assume you have approximately 25 miles remaining in most Kias before needing a fuel-up.

Model	Gas Remaining	Miles Remaining
Optima	Not Available	30
Sorento	Not Available	40
Soul	Not Available	30

Mazda

Mazda vehicles aren’t as popular as they once were but have a solid 2.3 to 2.6 gallons in the tank when your fuel light comes on.

And 67 to 90 miles are left before a Mazda is completely dry.

Model	Gas Remaining	Miles Remaining
3	2.3 Gallons	69 - 94
CX-5	2.6 Gallons	67 - 91

Nissan

Nissan vehicles last the longest when your fuel light comes on.

Depending on the model, each has 2 to 3 gallons leftover in the tank.

Plus, it should be able to go 60 miles before hitting the gas station.

Model	Gas Remaining	Miles Remaining
Altima	3.0 Gallons	81 -114
Rogue	3.0 Gallons	78 - 99
Sentra	2.0 Gallons	60 - 80
Versa	2.6 Gallons	80 - 104

Toyota

Toyota cars have approximately 1.6 to 4 gallons left in the tank.

Depending on the model, you should be able to go 50 miles before running out of gas.

Model	Gas Remaining	Miles Remaining
Camry	2.6 Gallons	65 - 91
Corolla	2.0 Gallons	60 - 84
Highlander	2.9 Gallons	58 - 72
Prius	1.6 Gallons	76 - 81
RAV-4	2.4 Gallons	58 - 74
Sienna	3.0 Gallons	54 - 75
Tacoma	3.0 Gallons	63 - 75
Tundra	4.0 Gallons	60 - 72

Ram, Subaru, & Volkswagen

A Dodge Ram has 3 gallons remaining and should be able to go 60 miles.

This is approximately the same for all other Dodge trucks.

Subura cars have 2.6 gallons remaining and can go 60 miles before they need a refuel.

A Volkswagen Jetta has 1.8 gallons left in the tank and should be able to go 57 miles.

Make	Model	Gas Remaining	Miles Remaining
Ram	1500	3.0 Gallons	63 - 87
Subaru	Forester	2.6 Gallons	62 - 83
Subaru	Outback	2.6 Gallons	65 - 85
Volkswagen	Jetta	1.8 Gallons	57 - 85

You don’t want to make it a habit of running your vehicle on empty.

Your fuel pump uses the gas to lubricate it.

When you drive with supra-low fuel in the tank, it could decrease your fuel pump’s longevity. 

For some model vehicles, replacing the fuel pump can cost a few hundred dollars. 

The Negative Effects of Driving on Empty

Disappointment in a time of emergency:

There is a limit to which a vehicle running on empty can take you in a time of emergency.

Running out of gas at the odd hours or wrong places can be problematic. 

Vehicle Accident:

Running out of gas can lead to a fatal accident in the event your car stops abruptly on a freeway.

Other vehicles can also crash into your vehicle if it happens at night.

Failure to keep up with appointments:

You obviously won’t make appointments if your vehicle runs out of fuel.

Fuel Pump & Catalytic Converter

Damage	Cause
Damage to catalytic converter	Running out of gas can cause damage to your catalytic converter leading to additional expenses.
Fuel pump damage	Debris in the fuel can damage your fuel pump when you drive your vehicle with low amount of fuel in your tank. The fuel in your tank lubricates the pump.

Gas Indicator Light

The majority of modern vehicles come with a gas indicator light on the dash.

The distance to empty gauge gives an approximation of how many miles a vehicle can travel before running out of gas.

Relying on this approximation can be a dangerous practice since the calculation is based on the average miles.

It would be best if you took precautions here because your calculation may not be accurate.

5 Things To Do if You are Low on Fuel

Drive 35 – 45 MPH

Vehicles are most efficient at this speed, according to Cars.com.

Nix the Air Conditioning

Vehicles will use less fuel with the A/C off.

Kill Accessories

If you are using your stereo or phones are charging, turn them off.

Roll your Windows Up

Roll up your windows to conserve energy.

This will help if you have to travel long distances.

Keep Your Cool

Over 1 million drivers run out of gas each year.

If you are a little embarrassed, don’t worry about it.

Use your phone GPS and find the nearest gas station.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far can I drive when my fuel light comes on?

It is going to depend on the make a model of the vehicle. Not every car gets the same miles per gallon (or mpg).

If you were driving a 2004 Toyota Highlander, your gas light will come on about 22-27 miles before you hit your last gallon of gas in the tank. While if you were driving a more modern 2016 Jeep Compass, your gas light indicator will come on about 23-30 miles before you hit your last gallon of gas.

Most modern vehicles should be able to go 25 miles before running out of gas completely.

How much reserve fuel does a car have?

It depends on the make and model of the vehicle.

Most vehicles are going to have at least 1.9 gallons left in the tank.

Modern cars have, on average, 2 to 3 gallons of reserve.

Is it bad to drive your car when on empty or the fuel light on?

You could ruin the fuel pump when you drive with the fuel light on.

The debris at the bottom of the tank could get sucked into the pump.

Also, the fuel pump needs fuel for lubrication.

When you drive with the fuel light on, the fuel pump isn’t completely covered by fuel and is not lubricated.

Should you wait until my tank is empty to fill up?

No, you shouldn’t.

It is best to fill up when you have 1/4 of a tank or more of gas.

If you wait to fill up when your gaslight comes on, you are possibly running the pump dry.

How much does it cost to replace a fuel pump?

It is going to depend on the make and model of the vehicle.

The average cost to replace a pump is $400 to $600.

If your vehicle has a pump access hatch in the trunk, it could cost less.

In conclusion, when the fuel light comes on you have about 2.5 gallons of gas left, which means that your car’s fuel efficiency is the biggest factor in how long you can drive until your car gives out.

Sources

https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-far-can-you-drive-your-vehicle-on-empty
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