How far will your car go on empty?
It will keep going— for a little while.
Sometimes the prospect of handing over another $50 at the gas station is enough to let the needle on the gas gauge fall a little closer to that big E for Empty. Once the warning light starts glowing, though, driving turns into a white-knuckled affair.
Just how far can you go with the gas light on?
The distance you can travel without the engine sputtering to a stop differs from car to car, and is based not only on the car’s gas mileage but on how the car maker has calibrated the gauge. In some vehicles, the warning light is triggered when the tank dips below two or three gallons — in others it may go on when there’s less than a gallon left to burn. Adding complexity to the calculations you may find yourself making along some lonesome stretch of highway, gas mileage varies depending on how fast you’re driving, tire pressure, how well tuned the engine is, and a host of other factors.
More from MSN Living: Top 2013 tech trends
So how do you know? Easy! You don’t.
However, you’re not the only one to wonder, and you can gain some insight into your car’s post-warning-light performance over at TankonEmpty.com. After a drive from Michigan to New York, founder Justin Davis launched the crowdsourcing site, where users contribute to a gas-light database for various makes of vehicles (by model name and make, though not by year). For every searchable vehicle, TankonEmpty offers minimum, maximum, and average distances.
More from MSN Living: The best tech for your home this year
The most active car on the site this morning (with 332 people adding stats) is the Pontiac Aztek, which boasts an average distance of 62.26 miles on empty. Next most active is the Honda Accord, with an average 46.87 miles. The hybrid Toyota Prius currently logs in at a 54.89-mile average, according to data from 73 users to date, while a Chevy Van would be expected to konk out about 23 miles sooner.
Though the maximum distances can easily run around 99 miles, don’t be too light-hearted when the warning goes on — the minimum cited for many of the same cars is just one mile. As Davis warns, the info on his site is “just for entertainment” and shouldn’t be relied on for any trip planning. Even if you’re running out of fuel, don’t check it while you’re driving. Oh, and don’t pull over to check, either — starting and stopping uses up more gas.
The nation’s average price for regular gasoline reached $3.52 per gallon this week, the highest on record for early February. Do a quick calculation based on your monthly fuel usage and you may very well find that the total gasoline expense over the life of your car can exceed its original sticker price. We’re all too familiar with pain at the pump — but what about the pain of not filling up?
More from Daily Dose:
Can animals predict weather?
Life found above Earth
Facebook can’t get you fired
Love content like this? Friend us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and find us on Pinterest
Photo: Tetra Images/Getty Images
inspire: live a better life
-
Who should pay for a same-sex wedding?
Miss Manners touches on the financial requirements of same-sex in-laws for a wedding celebration.
-
100 ways to save money
Saving money only requires a few things: common sense, observation and self-restraint. It’s not always fun – especially in our consumer-driven society – but it’s always wise. So with a little research and some good old-fashioned inside-of-the-box thinking, we present 100 ways to get your spending back on track and your savings account flush with capital.
-
Ordinary people doing extraordinary things
You don’t have to be a saint or a genius to do something great. Here are 20 inspiring stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
-
14 Gifts Under $100
Adorable, original gifts to delight dads, grads, and newlyweds (plus they're under $100!).
-
9 summer solstice traditions
Happy summer solstice, the celestial event celebrating the longest day and shortest night of the year. Here are 9 summer solstice traditions:
-
I thought we had a good time on the first date
Miss Manners shares how to handle the next steps after a first date...gone wrong.
-
What do I do when I blank on someone's name?
Miss Manners advises on how to navigate the potentially embarrassing situation.
-
9 simple ways to de-stress at home
When there's no time to escape to the spa, create your own oasis at home. Here are nine ways to help you decompress in the comfort of your bedroom.
-
Help: I only have 6 invitations for my graduation
Miss Manners offers advice on what to do when you don't have enough invites.
-
30 Is NOT the New 20. But Is That Bad or Good for Us?
Clinical psychologist Meg Jay recently gave a TED talk that may make 30-somethings or almost-30-somethings break out in a nervous sweat. Here’s her main message: You know how you’re always hearing that 30 is the new 20? Phew, right? Wrong!
-
When children suffer from a family feud
Miss Manners talks about how to handle separated parents and extended family who don't get along.
-
My step-child is causing me heartache
Miss Manners on how to handle a stressful situation involving a step-daughter, an ex-son-in-law and a grandchild
