Yahoo Autos Question of the Day: How far can you drive on E?
It’s easy to estimate how far your car will go even after the fuel gauge says it’s empty.
Question: How far can you drive in an average car once the fuel gauge reaches E?
Answer: Some people – like hypermiler Wayne Gerdes – aren’t worried at all when their gas gauge reads “E”. The rest of us, however, should be more concerned.
Of course there are many factors that will determine how far you can go after hitting empty: The car’s fuel efficiency; weather conditions; terrain; and driving habits. But in a General Motors car, which includes Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac, there’s typically about 8 percent of a full tank left when the gauge hits center-line empty, said Gordon McAllister, a system engineer for quantity indication.
GM rigorously tests gas-gauge parts to be sure they meet required tolerances. However, if those gas-tank components that help measure the fuel level – items such as a float arm, resistors and sensors – come in on the lower side of the allowed tolerances, there’s a chance that there’s even less gas available than that typical 8-percent level, he said.
So how far can you go in on empty? Well, if you know the gas mileage your GM car gets and how much gas your tank holds, you don’t have to be Dr. Michio Kaku to figure it out. Multiply the total tank capacity by .08, then multiply that answer by the miles per gallon you car achieves.
