The amount of fuel left in your truck tank is one of the most important things to know when driving. It’s easy to know how far you can travel on a full tank of gas, so you are pretty safe to get anywhere.
However, how many miles can half a tank get you? This can be different as some of this will be the last bit of the tank where the fuel pump can’t get the last drops. This means the second half of the tank has less usable fuel than the first half of the tank.
For example, if you were to do a 200 miles round trip, you may not make it home before your fuel gauge shows the gas light and reads an empty tank or your fuel pump starts sucking up dirt from the bottom of the tank.
It’s important to remember, added to this, driving style, the make and model of your car, the size of your fuel tank, and the terrain you are traveling. Also, if you are using your air conditioner as you drive, these use more gas, so your fuel consumption increases.
In our guide, you can learn more about coming up with an average mpg figure to calculate how long half a tank of gas last. By the end, you’ll know how long does half a tank of gas last, no matter what your fuel gauge tells you. (Learn How Many Gallons Of Antifreeze Does A Dodge Ram 1500 Hold)
Understanding Gas Tank Capacity
This rating estimates how far a vehicle can travel on a single gallon of fuel (such as highway or city driving) based on specific driving conditions. For instance, most cars with a 25-mpg city rating should be able to travel 25 miles on a single tank of gas when driving in a city, with highway driving returning more miles per gallon.
Using this information, you may estimate how many miles you can travel on half a tank of gas. You should be able to go around 375 miles on a full tank of gas if, for instance, your car has a 15-gallon fuel tank and gets 25 mpg in cities (15 gallons x 25 mpg = 375 miles).
As a result, you ought to be able to go about 187.5 miles on a half-tank of gas (375 miles divided by two equals 187.5 miles). It’s important to remember an estimate is nothing more than a rough idea.
Tire quality, the condition of air filters, and the terrain you are driving on are just a few factors that might impact a car’s fuel efficiency. Also, small vehicles can go further than a larger truck. While trucks have more power, they also have more weight and wind resistance.
Your driving habits can also have a significant impact on fuel efficiency. For instance, braking suddenly, hitting the gas pedal hard, and speeding affect your mpg.
Tracking your fuel use over time is one approach to gaining a more precise idea of how many miles you can travel on half a tank of gas. Keep a record of your driving distance and how much fuel you use.
Thanks to this, you can then figure out your actual mpg rating and have a better idea of how far you can go on half a tank of gas. (Learn How Does A Torque Wrench Work)
What Affects How Far Can Half A Tank Get You?
Several factors can have an impact on how far vehicles can go on a full tank or if you have enough fuel in your half tank of fuel.
Traffic
How many miles a full tank of gas can go depends a lot on the traffic on the highways. The engine will consume more fuel, and the mileage will decrease if there is a lot of stop-and-go city traffic.
Oil
Additionally, the engine’s oil condition has an impact on mileage. The engine will work harder and consume more fuel if the oil is filthy or of poor quality.
Road Conditions
How many gallons per mile a car uses can also depend on the state of the roads. The vehicle will get more miles out of less fuel if the roads are smooth and well-kept. The car will, however, need more fuel to go over obstacles like rough or pothole-filled roads.
Gas Tank Size
How far a car can go on a tank of gas can depend on the size of the gas tank. Greater gas tank capacity results from a larger gas tank. For instance, a car with a 45-liter tank will use more fuel than one with a 65-liter tank. The larger tank can hold more fuel, allowing the vehicle to go farther between fill-ups.
However, much of this is in relation to the type of vehicle. Larger vehicles have larger tanks and engines but fewer miles per gallon.
Fuel Injectors And Air Filters
The engine receives its fuel and air through the fuel injectors and air filters. The engine may consume more fuel than necessary if these parts are clogged with debris or aren’t working properly.
Temperatures
Both hot and cold weather can impact mileage. Because the engine must work harder to keep its temperature in cold weather, more fuel may be consumed. The engine doesn’t have to work as hard in hot weather to pull in the air since the air is less dense. The car will consequently consume less fuel.
Tire Conditions
Low rolling resistance is needed for adequately inflated and treaded tires to maintain a particular speed, which uses less fuel for the car. The car will consume more fuel if the tires are underinflated or have bald tread because of the increased rolling resistance. (Read Corroded Battery Terminal Symptoms)
How To Calculate Fuel Tank Gas Mileage
Using the odometer and a few simple math steps, you can calculate how much gas your car uses. This is how:
Get Odometer Miles Traveled
Your car’s odometer keeps track of how many miles you’ve driven.
You can reset the odometer at the start of a period to know how many miles you have driven and then recheck it at the end. You will receive an accurate reading of the miles you have driven.
- Subtract the number of gallons required to fill the gas tank from a distance traveled. (You can also see how much gauge movement there is for the miles you have driven)
- Divide the miles you have traveled by the gallons it took to fill your tank.
For instance, you would need to divide 400 by 10 if you needed 10 gallons of gas to fill up at the gas station, and your odometer indicated that you had traveled 400 miles.
Your car’s average miles per gallon or the gas mileage of your car.
Which Cars Travel The Furthest On One Tank Of Gas?
When you compare fuel efficiency, there is more to it than just being able to drive carefully. Some cars are much better than others.
Here’s a quick breakdown of fuel-efficient cars you can find.
- Toyota Prius: Up to 51 mpg in the city and 48 mpg on the highway.
- Honda Civic (Hybrid): Up to 44 mpg in the city and 47 mpg on the highway.
- Toyota Camry (Hybrid): Up to 43 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway.
Although it is good to know the most efficient, it helps to know the least efficient as nicely as if you want to save money on your gas station expenses.
- Chevy Sonic: A rough 26 mpg in the city and around 34 mpg on the highway.
- Ford Focus: Around 27 mpg in the city and about 35 mpg on the highway.
- VW Jetta: A poor 25 mpg in the city and expect a low 34 of gas mileage on the highway.
How Far Can I Drive On An Empty Gas tank Fuel Gauge?
With a full tank, you won’t be concerned about driving anyplace. Having a full tank isn’t always achievable, though. You might be curious how far you can go once your car’s fuel gauge reaches empty if you’re taking your average mpg.
The tank isn’t empty when you see the fuel warning light or the gauge says it is, but you shouldn’t place too much trust in it. On most vehicles, you’ll have between 10 and 15 estimated percent of your fuel left, which equates to 30 to 50 miles of driving before you discover a gas station.
How To Calculate Driving on Empty Distance
Suppose you don’t mind a little math, which can undoubtedly fluctuate, and those averages are too hazy for you. In that case, there is a technique for obtaining more accurate figures for your vehicle.
You’ll require the following two pieces of the vehicle information to complete this exercise:
- Vehicle Miles Per Gallon (MPG)
- Fuel Tank Capacity of a Vehicle (FTC)
Although you are aware of the mileage your car achieves, you might not be mindful of the size of its fuel tank. You can look for that in your owner’s manual “specifications” section. (Read Whats Power Steering Fluid)
It should be stated in gallons that your car has once it shows empty.
Math’s To Determine Distance on Empty:
Three straightforward calculations must be completed in the correct order to calculate the driving distance on an empty tank of gas.
1. Calculate Gas Left
The amount of gas left in the tank is the first thing you need to know.
The formula to determine the Remaining Gas (RG) is as follows: RG = FTC x 10%
Use your vehicle FTC number:
14.8 x .10 = 1.5
This shows when your vehicle reaches “empty,” you still have a gallon and a half of gas.
2. How Many Miles Left?
Converting the remaining gas into the remaining miles is the next thing you should do (RM). This will reveal how far the fuel in your car will take you.
The formula for determining the Remaining Miles is as follows:
RM = MPG x RG
Using the vehicle mileage figures as input:
33 x 1.5 = 49.5 Miles Left
A gas station must be located within 49.5 miles of where you are.
3. Compare RM to Gas Station Distance
Internet access can help to find a gas station online. With this information, you can reduce your remaining miles by the distance to that gas station (GSD).
The formula is as follows:
RM – GSD =?
Keeping with this vehicle example, the formula shows you can get to the nearest gas station with 9.5 miles to spare if the closest one is 40 miles away and your fuel tank starts showing empty:
49.5 – 40 = 9.5
