Driving on empty: How far your car can go with the gas light on

[awfarley]

I think this is a perfectly reasonable question.

My estimated mileage reads down to about 50 miles until my light comes on, and yes I don't keep my gas above 1/4 or 1/2 tank at all times like some. Regardless of whether or not you'll damage your pump, slack up guys geez.

I would imagine you could go about 50 miles if you were driving on the interstate around 70mph, at least in a V6.

PS: I've never ran out of gas though lol

[skibik]

I guess I have never tried. My last car I was going to put a can of gas in the trunk and try it but the thought of trying to put a few gallons of fuel in it with a funnel put me off of the idea. I would like to try it with my LT but again the thought of trying to put gas into it with a can and funnel is just not a pleasing idea.

It is not hard on the fuel pump to do it once or rarely. What is hard on the pump is leaving the key on after you have run it dry. GM had there head up there backside when they built my Monte Carlo, when you had the key in the accessory position the fuel pump would turn on and build pressure and of course it shut off but that is just a stupid design.

Dean.

[AlohaBR]

Originally Posted by knitetrain05

Does anybody know? Did you run out of gas? This could be fun and informative so, Lets do it like this. List your type of car LT, SS, ZL1 ect. and how many miles did you get out of your car before it died or dam near.

To be informative....the warning comes on @ 50 miles to empty.
For reasons beyond my control I have pushed it to 43 miles into that.
Have not run out of gas in 30+ years.
V6, manual Camaro LS

[TRWhite]

I'm in a 2LT, and I hit the low fuel mark at the 30 mile fuel range. And I am averaging 24 mpg combined.

[Stingray]

From experience.... approx 10 miles tops for me once that low fuel warning lit up my DIC.

[RollaMo]

Originally Posted by knitetrain05

because its not a perfet world. people run out of gas. the point is how far can you go BEFORE YOU RUN OUT OF GAS (AND YES, FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT LOVE THEIR FUEL PUMP..DAMAGE IT) This thread it ment to be informative and learn on the poor souls that Have ran out of gas. We learn from mistakes. info is power...OH BOY

So, you like to run out of gas?

I am not sure why anyone would even want to try.
Fuel pump damage or not (and more than likely it won't burn up), there really isn't any reason for trying.

It costs exactly the same amount of money to run around on a full tank of fuel as it does to run around on empty.

And unless you live out in a very rural area, you are within a few miles of a gas station most of the time.
I've been driving for 43 years and I've never run out of gas.

[tjk_art]

I have an LT.

If you look at your fuel range when you start getting low, the "low fuel" normally comes on around 30 miles left .

[Fiveg56]

Originally Posted by upflying

http://www.chryslerkcar.com/

LOL!

[awfarley]

I forgot to mention...

I have pushed mine past the red bar that marks empty lol. I drove on the red mark for probably around 20 miles and finally made it to a gas station. It was late and we were on some very lonely backroads at night

[myold88]

I've only had that warning come on once and that was on the mid-atlantic caravan
to Valdosta almost 3 years ago. I just fill up again when I get to about a 1/4 tank.

[Cheveey57]

How hard can you kick yourself before it hurts?
I never let any of my cars go below a half a tank. But I'd advise Going below a 1/4 tank or you'll suck up all the crap from the bottom of the tank. OR.....Wait for it................................................ .you also risk damaging your fuel pump.

[ckaram]

Wasn't there a Seinfeld episode like this? Kramer and the car sales guy on a quest to see how far it would go before running out of fuel?

After you run your own car out of gas, make sure you post and let us know how far you went...

[midnighter]

I've never seen mine go on.

[JAX CAMARO]

40 K on a car and wondering how many miles before U run out of gas!
Yea, Yea, Yea we get part of the point of the thread and I see some of the answers you were looking for, now put on your big boy pants and read the other points !