When you are young and financially challenged, you tend to develop this habit of stretching everything to the limit. Like following a measly budget and hope you won’t die of starvation. Or wearing the same set of clothes until somebody notices. But perhaps one that we can really relate to is running your car on empty.
Let’s admit it. We’ve done this at least one in our lives. We always tell people we do it for the excitement but the truth is that our paycheck arrives in 2 days and you have nothing left.
As you get older and hopefully your finances improve, you rarely see the gasoline logo light up. But running on empty is still a fear we have to face especially when we like to go on long drives.
The thing about long drives is that the big distance between point A to B means a lot of things can happen. From reroutes to breakdowns and even jams. While a lot of resources on your phone and online can help you get a good idea of how much gasoline you need and where you can top off, at one point you might really run on empty.
But is running on empty really bad? How far can you drive your car on empty when the light on your Nissan, Lexus, Toyota, or Infiniti when the empty light is flashing? Let’s find out.
How Long Can You Drive Your Car on Empty?
For those unfamiliar with the term, running on empty means you are running your car even if the fuel gauge is at “E” or empty and the gas tank warning light is on.
Normally, cars have a reserve tank for such occasions. This means that while the main tank is empty, the reserve tank provides your car with the last few drops of fuel needed. Manufacturers also made it a point to “trick” car owners by dropping the gauge to empty even before the main tank dries out. This is because they know people like to put things off and that includes going to the gas station.
How far you can go on empty really depends on the type of car, the conditions, and the way you drive. For example, according to tankonempty.com (a website that tracks how far one can go on empty by gathering experiences from car owners) an Infiniti M35 can run up to an average of 48.33miles before the car stops. You can enter in your vehicle’s details to find information on your exact make and model.
Running on Empty and Why It’s Bad
While you may feel like MacGyver going all smart and risky in running on empty, it can do serious damage to your car.
For starters, running on empty means your car is literally scraping the bottom of the fuel tank. As your car ages, debris accumulates at the bottom. For older cars with metal tanks, this means deposits from the deteriorating tanks as well. Any debris or gunk that has settled at the bottom will be sucked up. The debris can either damage your fuel pump or force you to change your fuel filter sooner than expected.
When you run on empty, it’s often your fuel pump that gets the most stress. The fuel serves as a coolant and lubricant for the fuel pump for certain models and when you run out of fuel, this means your fuel pump might overheat and wear out.
Another thing to worry about is the car’s catalytic converter. When your car stalls as a result of running on empty, your exhaust system suffers. The catalytic converter is usually the one that gets the most damage, and you may end up replacing it.
Ask any mechanic or car expert and they will tell you that running on empty is a big no-no. The aim is to always have at least a quarter of the tank at all times. Aside from having the peace of mind knowing you still have enough to reach a gas station, it’s also a great way for you to show your car you appreciate it.
Fast and Friendly Atlanta-Area Auto Service at T3 Atlanta
T3 Atlanta’s mechanics are the best in the area for Nissan, Toyota, Infiniti, and Lexus cars. If you have questions (like how far you can go with an empty tank, for example), don’t hesitate to visit our shop. Our team of experts will be ready to answer your question and service your vehicle if needed.
Winter is coming. Are you and your car ready?
Check your tires – We put this first because this is probably the easiest. Regular tires won’t work on icy roads so you should start switching them with your winter set. But before you do that, check your winter tires if they still have the proper tread depth. No point using them when they can’t even perform properly. Lastly, make sure to constantly check your tire pressure. The cold can cause the pressure to drop at times so check your tires visually before you get on the car and watch out for the tire pressure light.
So you already know where you plan to go and you have all the information you need, but that’s not enough for you to get on the road. You still need a couple of things to make the road trip a success.
Depending on where you plan to go on your fall road trip, the weather can get a bit crazy. You might be enjoying a sunny afternoon drive but it can get a bit wet and cold after an hour. Make sure you bring clothes that can protect you in case it gets too cold or too hot.
Music is a must-have on any road trip. Instead of packing a binder of CD’s, download Spotify. This app offers millions of songs and podcasts to keep you and your road trip companions entertained whether your trip is three-hundred or three-thousand miles long.
Are you a spontaneous traveler? The REI Co-Op National Parks Guide might be your new best friend. This free app contains maps and sightseeing information about many of the country’s National Parks with new park information updated regularly.
Audubon’s Bird Guide app is the perfect, palm-sized field guide for anyone who wants to try bird watching on their next road trip. The app makes it easy to explore what kind of birds are nearby so that you know what to look out for.
TripIt is the ideal travel companion for hardcore planners. This app creates an all-in-one itinerary for you to make your trip as smooth as possible. All you need to do is forward your travel information – that includes hotels, travel, and even restaurants – to their dedicated submission line, and TripIt does the rest.
Unless you own an electric car, GasBuddy is a road trip essential. With this app, all you need to do is enter in your location and it does the rest, finding the closest gas stations to where you are as well as prices. That way, you don’t have to be uncertain about where the next gas station is or be surprised by prices.
Located in Northern Georgia, the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is a must-see destination for sightseers, bird watchers, hikers, and fall foliage photographers alike.
No fall foliage list is complete without mentioning the Blue Ridge Parkway. This scenic road starts in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and winds 469 miles all the way to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
Heavy traffic in the morning can spell significant delays and plenty of people in a rush to get to school or work. Book extra time to get where you’re going so that you won’t need to worry about being late for the bell if you encounter heavy traffic.
Emails, texts, calls, choosing the best song for your morning ride, and even reacting to street directions all demand a part of your attention. However, the most important thing you need to focus on is the road.
Keep your gas tank at least half full. Even though it might mean an extra trip to the gas station, you will never have to worry about running out of gas when you’re stuck in traffic on the freeway.
Depending on where you live in Atlanta, your neighborhood may have a lot of cyclists and pedestrians on the road. Be sure to share the road when you’re behind the wheel.
This tip ultimately comes down to a personal preference. Slip-ons and sandals are ideal for long drives, but some people live in their sneakers. Whatever your footwear of choice might be, you’ll ideally want to avoid shoes that constrict or cut into your skin to help make your drive as comfortable as possible.
By keeping snacks and other trip essentials within reach, you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle when, two hours into your trip, you realize that you need a charging cable for your phone or GPS.
Stopping and stretching helps keep you alert, which is important when it comes to late-night or even overnight drives. When you push yourself past your limits on a marathon drive, your reaction time and alertness decrease, which can be a dangerous combination for yourself and other drivers on the road. Stay safe and rest when you need to; that’s what rest stops are for.
During cold weather and snow, salt is added to the roads to help prevent freezing and ice. While this makes roads safer to drive in the short term, salt can corrode the undercarriage of your vehicle. Corrosion takes time to cause significant damage, but when it does happen, it can lead to expensive repairs. Having regular car washes can help prevent the buildup of salt so you can avoid corrosion down the road.
Regularly replacing your vehicle’s fluids is an essential part of preventive maintenance. Keeping up with this part of car ownership helps prolong your vehicle’s life. Spring is the perfect time to check your vehicle’s fluids.
Don’t panic. The worst thing you can do when your brakes fail is to panic. When you panic, you are far more prone to lose control of your car and the situation, leading to a far worse outcome and possible personal injury. Whether you are stuck in traffic or driving down the highway when your brakes fail, keeping a cool head will ensure the safety of yourself and drivers around you.
A catastrophic loss of brake fluid is the most likely culprit when it comes to brake failure. In this case, the amount of pressure in the brake line is unable to engage the piston that presses against the brake pads.
Delis
Nuts and/or trail mix
