It's The Dreaded Empty Fuel Tank Light! How Low Can You Go?

We know, stopping to fill the tank in the middle of a busy day is a pain. It’s easy to ignore that little light and tune out the annoying chime, assured that you still have “plenty of gas.”

Just how much is “plenty”? It varies from car to car. A company called Your Mechanic did some tests and found that the distance you can go after receiving the warning can be as little as 30 miles or as much as 100 miles before you’re walking to find a pump.

But running out of gas on a deserted road isn’t the only hazard of running low; it’s also bad for your fuel pump. The fuel pump is submerged in fuel, which keeps it cool and running smoothly. If it runs dry, it can overheat and result in an expensive repair. We recommend that you keep your tank at least one-quarter full at all times to prevent damage to the fuel pump.

Emergency preparedness experts recommend not letting the level go below about a half tank. In case of an emergency evacuation, you want to be out on the road getting your family to safety, not lined up for hours at the only open gas station in town.

Yes, it’s a pain to stop for gas more often, but that five minutes out of your day can result in the savings of hundreds of dollars in repairs, and maybe even save your family’s lives.

Fill ‘er up!