Every driver occasionally lets their gas tank get low enough to trigger the low fuel warning light. Even though we all know it's best to keep your gas tank ¼ full, we still let it run low from time to time. Knowing how far you can drive on an empty gas tank will help keep you from getting stuck on the side of the road.

Before letting your car run on empty again, it’s worth knowing just how many – or how few – miles you can actually drive after the light comes on. It’s also smart to know what else is at stake when you let your gas tank run to near depletion.

1: Is it dangerous to drive with the low fuel warning light illuminated?

The primary concern when driving on empty is the possibility of running out of fuel and getting stuck on the road, which is not only a hassle, but also a potentially dangerous situation. You may break down on the freeway, where the surrounding cars are traveling upwards of 70 MPH, or you may break down on a blind turn on the highway, where a vehicle could rear end you especially in a place like Lagos-Ibadan expressway, 3rd Mainland et al.

That said, driving on empty can also do damage to your vehicle. If you do run out of gas, you can do damage to your catalytic converter, which may then need to be repaired or replaced as a result. Even the simple act of driving with a low amount of fuel in your tank can damage your fuel pump, as any debris or contamination in the gas (which naturally settles at the bottom of the tank), will be sent through your fuel pump when the tank is nearly empty. You’re not going to ruin your car the first time you drive it with the low fuel warning light on, but it’s a harmful practice to do regularly.

2: How trustworthy is the distance to empty gauge?

Most modern vehicles have a distance to empty gauge on their instrument cluster, which provides an approximation of how many miles can be driven before the car runs out of gas. Many people prefer to use this feature in lieu of the low fuel warning light, figuring that if the gauge says there are 20 miles left, then they have 20 miles before they run out of gas.

However, this is a dangerous practice, as the distance to empty gauge only offers a rough approximation. This approximation is based on the average mileage that you have attained while driving your vehicle, which means that it may not be very accurately relative to your current driving conditions.

For instance, if most of your driving is done on the highway, then your distance to an empty meter is probably not very accurate when you’re stuck in traffic. So while the gauge provides a fairly accurate approximation when your tank is relatively full, it shouldn’t be used to figure out your exact number of miles remaining in the tank when you’re running on empty.

3: How far can you drive on empty?

Exactly how far you can drive on empty depends on your vehicle, your driving habits, and road conditions. However, you may be surprised to see how few miles you actually can drive once the low fuel warning light comes on.

Note: For vehicles with “Not available” listed for the point at which the warning light comes on, the light is triggered based on the distance to empty calculator having the listed number of miles remaining.


Source:
http://www.autoreportng.com/2017/04/driving-on-empty-tank-you-may-need-this.html

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http://www.autoreportng.com/2017/04/driving-on-empty-tank-you-may-need-this.html

Informative!

I have nothing to say, the eediots below should say something

Immediately I see that indicator, I become paranoid... Start checking for the next filling station.

The funny thing is that commercial driver's don't even have regards for the signal.

Me: Oga, your fuel is almost empty
Driver: empty ke, I can still drive to Ore and back to Lagos with this fuel.

4) You will need these items

Whenever ur Fuel light comes on .u still have up to complete 5litres of Fuel in ur reserve
So manage it well

I got to knownthus when i do change my Faulty Pump inside my Tank

Pls how many litres is a gallon?

loved21:
I have nothing to say, the eediots below should say something

Nawa for u oooo

I am on low tank currently, will refill my tank as I step out.

Driving on reserve is not actually good. It should not be an habit to avoid damage to your fuel pump especially with all these bad fuel in Nigerian filling stations.

.

A litre of fuel =145 naira
1000 naira will get you only 6.7 litres of fuel
E no go beta for CHANGE

While I might not exactly drive like vin diesel but boy can I relate to this.

...

good tips,but for me am great full I never drive on an empty tank, hallelujah

Dude above got lying issues... probably doesn't even own a car in real life

How can you leave out Mercedes Benz and BMW. The write up isn't complete. 'We can't do without Mercedes'

jeromewins22:
So much more for an happy ending, kudos! view won slip .

ya idiot ole...mod ban dis guy na..scamming under your eyes..na only snake,bbb,tonto ona sabi

AutoReportNG:


That said, driving on empty can also do damage to your vehicle. If you do run out of gas, you can do damage to your catalytic converter, which may then need to be repaired or replaced as a result. Even the simple act of driving with a low amount of fuel in your tank can damage your fuel pump, as any debris or contamination in the gas (which naturally settles at the bottom of the tank), will be sent through your fuel pump when the tank is nearly empty. You’re not going to ruin your car the first time you drive it with the low fuel warning light on, but it’s a harmful practice to do regularly.

This is totally false and un true. Pls over filling of engine oil is a major culprit in damaging catalytic converters, also, Running Rich on Fuel could deposit soot on cat which would block the filterates, then mechanical damage such as impacts could crack or break the catalytic converter.
Do a proper research pls before posting online.

Thanks

Some years ago a pastor claimed to have driven his car for over 200 km on an empty tank and his gullible shepple believed him

Godfullsam:
A litre of fuel =145 naira
1000 naira will get you only 6.7 litres of fuel
E no go beta for CHANGE

When the pump price was #86, I'm ALWAYS on full tank but these change na wah oh. I bought #500 fuel from Filling Station to avoid being stranded on the road. That same day Road Safety still booked me. My drivers' license is still in their office.

Buhari...... Na so e be for your side? There is God oooooo

Imagine #145 per litre. Smh.

Thank God 3 litre is a significant amount on my minibus

jeromewins22:
So much more for an happy ending, kudos! view won slip .

Wonder when thus bluddy scammers will be bootwd iuta NL.....or is some oga at the top receiving roger ?

Its really dangerous!! It slows the speed of the car and at one point, it begins to jerk. Been driving on yellow sign since the fuel price increase.... Though its a company car. The Indians are the most wicked people to work with. They give u a company car and ask you to fuel it yourself. Imagine? I spend average of 3k per day on the vehicle. Planning on dumping that car this month end. Mthchewww!

yeah. .. right

I don't even have a car and am reading this... It is. a sign...

cook

Actually, this can damage fuel pump... Happened to me once. I don't go empty... But used to be near empty... After I changed fuel pump, I became even paranoid on 1/5th of Full tank

Me and driving on E have been 5&6 this past week o. Na yesterday I put 2k5 fuel as happy Easter for the car.

patrick2015:
How can you leave out Mercedes Benz and BMW. The write up isn't complete. 'We can't do without Mercedes' Falz

"We came through with our Mercedes"