# Dashboard "Miles Till Empty" - how accurate? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 4, 2015, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985 "2015-08-04T17:09:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985/121 "2015-08-06T13:33:12Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > My personal-best out of gas situation was in a 1992 Ford Bronco. i.e. a 2-plus-ton vehicle that was very, \*very \*hard to push. And this thing was old enough there was not fancy DTE computer; just an idiot light driven by a flaky traditional Ford gas gauge. The thing had a 35 gallon tank, plus a gallon or so in the (very long) filler neck. > > At the time I lived downtown in a city and never ventured much past the inner-ring suburbs. Gas stations were plentiful and I liked to play it close. Same game as **AnaMen**. The station nearest to my residence was one whole entire inner-city block away from my driveway. > > Anyhow, I ran out trying to stretch a tankful to the station by home. After it died 150-ish feet from the station I rolled into the station driveway and ran out of inertia a few inches short of the pump. I got the hose down and couldn’t \*quite \*reach the fill port. I was literally, really, actually, just about 4" short. Damn. > > There was a slight uphill incline at the pumps and I was still young & strong then. By pushing like mad on the top of the tire (which gives you a two-for-one leverage advantage versus pushing on the bumper) I eventually heaved that behemoth the whole 4" to get the damn nozzle in the fill port. This was back when gas was around $2.50 a gallon the first time. And it still cost $80 to fill the damn tank. > > I think 4" is damn close to the world record for \*almooooost \*making it to the station. Top that. No restarts? Did you even try jostling it? You might have gotten another mile! ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985/122 "2015-08-06T14:41:49Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > 😃 > > As the thread starter I’m reminded of the time I hosted a party where one of the wives was sleeping with one of the husbands (not hers), and it turns out _everyone_ knew but thought they were the only one who did. > > Can I get you a drink? > > ETA: oh, wait. You’re driving, right? Wanna coffee maybe? Make it a double, I’ll push my car home. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985/123 "2015-08-08T09:16:24Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Anyhow, I ran out trying to stretch a tankful to the station by home. After it died 150-ish feet from the station I rolled into the station driveway and ran out of inertia a few inches short of the pump. I got the hose down and couldn’t \*quite \*reach the fill port. I was literally, really, actually, just about 4" short. Damn. > > There was a slight uphill incline at the pumps and I was still young & strong then. By pushing like mad on the top of the tire (which gives you a two-for-one leverage advantage versus pushing on the bumper) I eventually heaved that behemoth the whole 4" to get the damn nozzle in the fill port. This was back when gas was around $2.50 a gallon the first time. So **thats** where the expression [the whole 4"](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=550944) comes from! ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985/124 "2015-08-08T09:18:46Z")
> [@Honey](#): > > I’ve driven a rental car with a readout like that. Unfortunately, it was very accurate. I ran out of gas about 3 miles after it said “0 miles left” 😉 You’re probably not the only one. My guess is that’s why my car stops showing numbers once it gets down below about 15 mile. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985/125 "2015-08-08T14:04:51Z")
Driving home from the hospital with my SO and 1000 things on my mind I got onto a stretch of road with zero stations and zero opportunity to turn around. Looked at the “miles to empty” and it was ZERO. Holy. We called someone on the other side of the stretch to warn them they might have to come help us and just drove. I can tell you I pulled in exactly 18 miles later and was just fine- it was good to know but I never would have pushed that if it weren’t a no choice situation. FWIW I average 30m/gallon ---
**Author:** ![bubba001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f17d59/32.png) [@bubba001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubba001)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985/126 "2015-08-08T22:04:32Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I always end up letting mine run down very low because I’m trying to maximize the number of grocery-store gas points I have before filling up. That can be a pretty expensive. Fuel pumps are located in the gas tank. So to replace the pump, when you ruin it by running low all the time, is very labor intensive. On some pickups, it involves removing the bed. $500 might be a low end for the repair. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985/127 "2015-08-08T23:35:43Z")
> [@bubba001](#): > > That can be a pretty expensive. Fuel pumps are located in the gas tank. So to replace the pump, when you ruin it by running low all the time, is very labor intensive. On some pickups, it involves removing the bed. $500 might be a low end for the repair. Someone upthread pooh-poohed any notion that fuel pumps need fuel that includes a link to an auto-services company that repairs cars and tells consumers how not to have their fuel pumps wear out, thereby cutting its own throat. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985/128 "2015-08-08T23:45:46Z")
How bad would the engine damage be if the fuel truly runs absolutely out? $500 repair bad? $2,000 repair bad? ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985/129 "2015-08-09T00:03:13Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > How bad would the engine damage be if the fuel truly runs absolutely out? The engine isn’t damaged. It just runs out of gas. Replacing a fuel pump that’s inside the fuel tank is what costs a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985/130 "2015-08-09T00:58:26Z")
I don’t understand the thinking of some posters who believe that they are saving time by letting the tank run empty compared to someone who keeps it half full. It takes exactly twice as long to fill the whole tank as to just fill half. Everyone who drives spends the same amount of time filling the tank, regardless of how much you’re putting in at each stop. The only difference would be the time spent pulling into the station and up to the pump, which can’t be more than a few seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985/131 "2015-08-09T01:47:30Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > How bad would the engine damage be if the fuel truly runs absolutely out? > > $500 repair bad? > > $2,000 repair bad? Run a direct injected engine flat out of fuel and you might airlock the injection lines making the engine very difficult to start. It also might not start on all cylinders. This might require a trip to a repair shop to rectify. I do not subscribe to the theory that running the gas tank low will cause a premature failure of the in tank pump. See my comments up thread. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985/132 "2015-08-09T02:23:42Z")
> [@Arrendajo](#): > > I don’t understand the thinking of some posters who believe that they are saving time by letting the tank run empty compared to someone who keeps it half full. It takes exactly twice as long to fill the whole tank as to just fill half. Everyone who drives spends the same amount of time filling the tank, regardless of how much you’re putting in at each stop. The only difference would be the time spent pulling into the station and up to the pump, which can’t be more than a few seconds. It takes more than a few seconds to scan your credit or debit card, enter your zip code, wait for approval, and wait for your receipt, plus while you are there, someone in your vehicle will want to go to the bathroom or buy a soda, (often, even waiting until you are done pumping gas to even get out of the car) and your few seconds have added up to ten or more minutes of extra time wasted beyond the time for the pump to run at every stop. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985/133 "2015-08-09T03:35:51Z")
^^ But you won’t run out of gas. Especially if giant tripod machines attack. Notice that _they_ won’t run out of gas. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985/134 "2015-08-09T14:38:08Z")
From a self-defense and personal safety point of view, it is recommended to not let your tank get less than half full. That eliminates one possible incident of putting yourself at risk. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985/135 "2015-08-09T15:04:12Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > From a self-defense and personal safety point of view, it is recommended to not let your tank get less than half full. That eliminates one possible incident of putting yourself at risk. If things get all MadMax-Zombiefied it’s no-holds-barred and all bets are off. Not a prepper. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985/136 "2015-08-10T02:39:29Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > From a self-defense and personal safety point of view, it is recommended to not let your tank get less than half full. That eliminates one possible incident of putting yourself at risk. You’re putting yourself at greater risk of being jumped/carjacked every time you stop for gas. Twice the stops = twice the risk. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985/137 "2015-08-10T20:45:45Z")
> [@AnaMen](#): > > It takes more than a few seconds to scan your credit or debit card, enter your zip code, wait for approval, and wait for your receipt, plus while you are there, someone in your vehicle will want to go to the bathroom or buy a soda, (often, even waiting until you are done pumping gas to even get out of the car) and your few seconds have added up to ten or more minutes of extra time wasted beyond the time for the pump to run at every stop. In the interest of this thread I timed how long it took me to get gas the other day. I started the timer turning into the station and stopped it as I turned out. I always pay at the pump. It took me 0:04:03 and I pumped 14.7 gallons. My tank holds 16.6 so I could have gone longer, but it was a convenient opportunity. In any case, even if I’d needed to fill up I feel like I still would be in and out of there in less than 5 minutes, which is a pretty slim margin of time build up “hours saved” over the course of a year if someone pushes off getting gas far enough to risk running empty vs gassing up at a half tank. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985/138 "2015-08-10T20:55:45Z")
> [@AnaMen](#): > > You’re putting yourself at greater risk of being jumped/carjacked every time you stop for gas. Twice the stops = twice the risk. Where are you buying gas that carjacking is a big concern??!? When you buy gas by your choosing, you get to pick the station and the time of day, and can go somewhere else if it looks shady. When you run out of gas, you’re stuck in whatever neighborhood at whatever time of day/night, with whatever risks there are in that situation. If there are shady-looking people around, well, I believe you were the one who termed it “fascinating.” ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985/139 "2015-08-10T20:59:06Z")
> [@AnaMen](#): > > You’re putting yourself at greater risk of being jumped/carjacked every time you stop for gas. Twice the stops = twice the risk. Either you’re exceptionally paranoid or you’re just making stupid shit up to support an unsupportable position. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985/140 "2015-08-10T21:04:10Z")
> [@SmellMyWort](#): > > In the interest of this thread I timed how long it took me to get gas the other day. I started the timer turning into the station and stopped it as I turned out. I always pay at the pump. It took me 0:04:03 and I pumped 14.7 gallons. My tank holds 16.6 so I could have gone longer, but it was a convenient opportunity. In any case, even if I’d needed to fill up I feel like I still would be in and out of there in less than 5 minutes, which is a pretty slim margin of time build up “hours saved” over the course of a year if someone pushes off getting gas far enough to risk running empty vs gassing up at a half tank. It might have been more helpful to know how much time was spent doing everything _but_ pumping gas. You spent 4:03 from turning in to turning out, but how much of that was spent pumping gas, and how much was overhead? It’s weird to me that some people here think anything less than half a tank - enough fuel for most cars to travel a couple hundred miles - is “far enough to risk running empty.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dashboard-miles-till-empty-how-accurate/726985.md?page=8)