READER'S ROCK LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE VOL 2 ISSUE 4 NOVEMBER 2014 Vol 1 Issue 11 May 2014 | Page 64

Running on empty: How far can you really go?
Corolla
tops
the
list
at
47
miles.
(BPT)
-
Whether
intentional
or
purely
circumstantial,
it's
likely

that
most
experienced
drivers
have
seen
the
low-fuel
light

illuminate
their
vehicle's
dashboard
at
least
once.
For
some

drivers,
the
fuel
light
is
a
source
of
anxiety
as
they
search
for

the
closest
gas
station.
For
others,
it
can
be
a
bragging
right,

proudly
boasting
how
far
they
push
their
gas
tanks
to
the

limit.
It's
no
secret
that
an
automobile
can
continue
to
run
after

the
fuel
light
comes
on,
but
should
drivers
rely
on
the
extra

mileage
it
allows?
For
traveling
musician
Chris
Jones,
30,
of
Sioux
Falls,
S.D.,

seeing
the
fuel
light
on
his
dashboard
usually
comes
as
no

surprise.
Jones,
a
professional
graphic
designer
during
the

week,
travels
with
his
band
across
North
and
South
Dakota,

Minnesota,
Nebraska
and
Iowa
nearly
every
weekend
of
the

year.
“I'm
constantly
driving
across
the
Midwest
with
my
band,

and
I
run
low
on
gas
more
often
than
I
should
admit,"
Jones

says.
"It
seems
the
gas
light
always
comes
on
when
I've
just

passed
the
last
gas
station
for
miles.
Considering
the
areas

where
I
travel,
I
get
pretty
nervous
about
running
out
of
gas

on
the
side
of
a
remote
highway.
It's
not
a
good
feeling,
but
I

think
we've
all
been
there."
It's
likely
most
drivers
would
agree
that
the
fuel
light
often

comes
on
at
inopportune
times.
Stuck
in
traffic
on
a
freeway;

running
late
for
an
important
appointment;
or
driving
on
a

country
road
with
no
towns
or
gas
stations
in
sight,
is
when

drivers
decide
to
push
the
fuel
gauge
past
the
'E'
signal.
Some
popular
car
models
can
make
it
between
30
and
50

miles
after
the
fuel
light
goes
on,
according
to
a
study
by

Pick
Analysis.
The
average
Chevrolet
Silverado
will
continue

for
about
33
miles
beyond
empty.
Smaller
cars
like
the

Volkswagen
Jetta
average
about
43
miles
and
the
Toyota

Knowing
how
far
a
vehicle
can
drive
with
low
fuel
may
be

reassuring,
but
the
effects
of
low-fuel
driving
can
be

damaging
to
the
car.
"When
you're
running
low
on
gas,
it's
best
not
to
push
your

luck,"
says
Neil
Hoff,
a
refined
fuels
specialist
with
CHS,
which

supplies
more
than
1,400
Cenex
branded
gas
stations.

"Stopping
to
fill
up
before
your
gas
gauge
hits
'E'
could
save

you
stress,
damage
to
your
car
and
time
spent
on
the
side
of

the
road."
Hoff
explains
that
by
allowing
a
car
to
run
on
empty,
dirt
and

contaminants
are
more
likely
to
become
suspended
in
the

fuel
and
block
the
fuel
filter.
When
fuel
is
extremely
low,
the

fuel
pump
is
no
longer
suspended
in
fuel
and
can
overheat.

In
some
cases,
low
fuel
can
even
affect
power
steering
and

brakes.
To
avoid
an
expensive
trip
to
a
mechanic,
Hoff
advises
taking

a
proactive
approach
to
fueling,
advising
drivers
to
always

keep
at
least
a
quarter
tank
of
gas
in
the
tank
at
all
times.

Running
out
of
gas
in
heavy
traffic
is
not
only
inconvenient

but
also
dangerous,
so
Hoff
recommends
fueling
up
before

getting
on
highways
or
major
roads.
Also,
becoming
familiar

with
where
gas
stations
are
along
a
driving
route
will
also

help
prevent
running
out
of
gas
on
long
trips.
Always
keep
a

gas
can
in
the
trunk
in
case
of
emergencies.
"Keeping
your
car
fueled
is
cheaper
and
safer,
in
the
long

run,
than
driving
on
empty,"
Hoff
says.
For
more
helpful

automotive
information,
gas-saving
tips
and
to
learn
how
to

nominate
someone
to
win
free
Cenex
gas,
visit

www.tanksofthanks.com.
"I
think
we
all
know
someone
who

is
always
running
on
'E',
so
why
not
make
it
easier
for
them

and
nominate
them
for
a
tank
of
free
fuel?
They,
and
their

car,
will
thank
you."