How far can you drive an empty car in the UK?

The low fuel indicator may seem a little ominous. We never want our car to almost run out of gas, but it happens nonetheless. It's common knowledge to visit a gas station before the gas tank drops below the ¼ mark, but still, we're all guilty of running out of steam sometimes.

Since this has most certainly happened to you and is likely to happen again, it is important to know how far you can drive when your car is almost out of gas. The low fuel warning light comes on at different times for different vehicles, so it can be helpful to know exactly how much fuel is actually left in your gas tank and how many miles you can drive before your vehicle comes to a sudden stop midway. road.

Part 1 of 3: Is it dangerous to drive with the low fuel warning light on?

When the low fuel warning light comes on, we tend to think only of the fear of running out of gas before we get to the gas station. The thought of your car coming to a stop on a busy road or in the middle of nowhere is rightfully scary. But that's not the only thing you should be concerned about when driving a car on exhaust fumes.

The reality is that driving a car when it is almost out of fuel can damage the car. Harmful contaminants such as debris and metal shavings tend to settle to the bottom of the gas tank and can enter the engine when you run on empty fuel. This can result in engine damage and wear. Also, if you run out of gas while the engine is running, you risk permanent damage to the catalytic converter.

Your biggest concern when driving on empty should be running out of fuel in a dangerous place, but it's also important to be aware of the potential damage to your vehicle.

Part 2 of 3: How much can you trust your vehicle's empty track distance?

Empty gauge distance (often referred to as the range indicator) is a feature of almost every modern car that gives you a rough idea of ​​how many miles you can drive before you run out of fuel. For many drivers, the distance to the fuel gauge is mentioned instead of the fuel gauge because it represents the amount of gasoline in the tank in terms of practical use, and not just the fill level.

However, the distance to a blank gauge can only give a rough indication of how many miles are left in the gas tank, because the calculation of the number is based on the average mpg. Every car gets different fuel economy depending on the conditions, as highway versus city, traffic versus open roads, aggressive versus leisurely driving will have a marked effect on fuel efficiency. So if a car says there are 50 miles left in the gas tank, that estimate is based on the average MPG over the car's lifetime (or in some cases, a certain number of miles recently driven), not the MPG that the car currently has. receives.

Because of this, the empty tank distance sensor is a great tool when your tank is almost full or even half full, but should not be relied upon for accuracy when your fuel tank is almost empty.

Part 3 of 3: So how far can you go on empty?

Many factors affect how far your vehicle can go without fuel. Most importantly, the figure varies from car to car, but your driving style and road and weather conditions can also play a role. However, most people are more than surprised to find out how few miles their car can go after the low fuel warning light flashes and stays on.

Here is a list of when the check engine light comes on and how many miles you can drive after turning it on for the top 50 best selling cars in the United Kingdom in 2015.

• Attention: The point at which the low fuel warning light comes on is listed as "Not Available" for some models. For these vehicles, the light only comes on based on the distance from the empty gauge, and not on a specific amount of fuel left in the tank.

Like all drivers, you will probably find yourself driving with your low fuel warning light on at some point in the future, frantically searching for the nearest gas station. When that time comes, it's important to know how far you can go. Be sure to check your car in the table above so that you are properly prepared for a low fuel situation, and if you feel like your car is burning gas faster than it should, you should definitely schedule an inspection with a trustworthy mechanic.