What happens to your car when you run out of fuel?

Yes, they will still work but will require a much greater amount of manual force.

This has happened to me and trying to steer the car was extremely difficult. But it was possible. I just had sore arms for the next few days.

Not much different then the days before power steering and power breaks (the Dark Ages of the automobile, when I first started learning how to drive LOL).

The answer is: “It depends.” I will give you a general idea.

Most modern cars have in-tank fuel pumps. The pumps rely upon the flow of fuel for lubrication and cooling. If you run the pump dry and keep the ignition on for more than about a minute you can damage/destroy the pump.
If it happens when you are driving you can still pull the car off the side of the road by coasting. The brakes will take more foot pressure to stop but tey will work just fine. Steering will be very easy as long as you are still moving. Once you stop it will be difficult to turn the wheel.

It is best not to let the tank run dry. That one stupid mistake cost my son $300.

Don’t do this! This is dangerous! Don’t read anything below this line! (Enough disclaimers?)
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If you are worried about it and want to see what happens, stop the engine in a controlled environment when you are prepared. You can run the experiment on a quiet piece of road or in a big parking lot.
Drive the car normally and then turn the ignition key back one click to cut ignition and stop the engine. Immediately turn it forward one click to make sure your steering wheel does not lock. (Practice turning the key one click when you are sitting still in a parking space.) Notice how quickly the car slows down due to engine braking. If you want to roll farther you can slide the transmission lever into Neutral. While you are moving turn the steering wheel. See how easy it is to turn? It will get difficult when you stop.
Push on the brake pedal. Notice how hard it is? It will stop you but you have to work a little.
Do it once and you will not be afraid.
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Nore: Do not read or do anything written above this line.

Thanks guys.

The main reason I asked is that the low fuel light on my car has come on, but I live about 30KM from the nearest fuel station. I THINK there should be enough fuel in there when the light comes on to get to the station, but I wanted to know what would happen if I did take the risk and came up short.

Thanks again.

Good luck. Don’t damage your fuel pump! If the engine stops just admit defeat and turn off the ignition. Don’t keep cranking in the hope that some miracle will happen.

Let us know what happens. This is a caring place and some people worry. ;-)

I saw a special on this (20/20 I think) and they took cars out to see how long they would go after the low on gas light came on. Most car manuals say about 10 miles maximum but their test showed that most of the cars they tested went an average of 50 more miles after the light came on.
I have a Honda accord and the dealer told me to get gas immediately when the light comes on as it will only go 6 miles before running out. I don’t let it get below ¼ tank so I will never know if this is true.

On our Honda Fit the dealer told us that we would have approximately a gallon of fuel left in the tank once the light came on. That would get us about 30 – 35 miles depending on the diriving conditions.
In my old Ford truck I can get about the same once the needle drops below the empty line which, based on the gas milage, means I have a couple of gallons left in the tank.
While my wife hardly ever lets hers get below ¼ tank like @chyna I let mine drop down toward the empty line on a semi-regular basis.

you’ll lose all your power assists, but no big deal, people drove without them for years. First thing to do is nothing. Stay in your lane. let the car roll and be very very smooth and light if you have to steer. Flashers or signal if you can safely, and let the speed come down a bit. Feel the brakes out lightly at first, then slowly brake and pull off the road. The worst thing you can do is sudden movements. Know where the emergency brake is but don’t touch it unless it’s your last resort. I learned a lot by practicing in parking lots with the emergency brake. The back end of the car comes around in a hurry.

The ABS is controlled electrically, by the battery when the engine (alternator) stops running. The steering is designed to still steer although without power assist. It’s a safety thing.

Do not try experiments while driving, like turning off the engine. The steering and ABS will work as I previously described, but if you turn off the key while driving you will have no ABS and the steering column will lock creating one hell of a driving hazard!

I once drove over 80 km after the fuel light had come on, and still didn’t run out. You should be fine for 30 km. In general, you want to keep enough fuel in your tank that you never see that light, but there is a fair bit left once it goes on.

But make sure you have your cell phone with you and charged, just in case. And the number for CAA. :)

^^^ and if you do see the light, go towards it. ^^^

@kritiper. On GM cars (and most oteres) the steering column will lock only if you are TWO clicks back from the run position. One click back “just” turns off the engine by cutting ignition and fuel delivery. It is precisely what you would feel if you suddenly had an engine failure like a stall.

When my sons were learning to drive I had them practice that in the school parking lot.
I wanted them to understand and be prepared if their engine ever cut out suddenly. With a modicum of practice they learned to not panic and try to slam the car in park or turn the key to the LOCK position and wrap themselves around a pole. We even did it on the highway, straight as an arrow no traffic anywhere is sight. Get up to speed. Put on your flashers; Slip the car into Neutral; Turn off the ignition and continue to coast and stop on the side of the road. They could do it easily.

One son went on to earn his private pilots license (VFR, IFR) One of the many maneuvers they learn and test is a stall. In another test the instructor turn off the engine and he must restart it. Those are scary but once you know you can handle it, you know.

All I’ve ever been told about my car, because it is a diesel, is to never, NEVER let it happen. It has a mechanical fuel pump that needs to have all the air purged out of it and apparently a lot of nasty things happen. My automatic transmission will continue to turn the engine to keep the power steering and vacuum pump going (I assume) but as serious as the mechanic was about the fuel situation, I don’t let it get less than ¼ tank.

@majorrich Your fuel pump uses fuel for cooling and lubrication. That is bad enough. But there is one more complication with diesels, air in the fuel lines. They must be purged if they ever run dry. There is probably a bleed valve not unlike a tire schrader valve somewhere to do it – but why risk it? Just keep the tank at least 1/8 or a ¼ full. It shouldn’t kill anyone to do that. It’s so easy.

Thanks everyone. The vehicle is a petrol 2005 Toyota Camry (automatic). A quick google suggests that I should get about 60km from the car now that the light has only just come on.

One more last and probably silly question. Can I extend that distance a bit by turning off accessories such as the radio or air con, or reducing speed?

Thanks.

Where are you that your speed limit is 110! haha
Speed limit is 65–75mph in most of the U.S. You use the term “petrol” so I am assuming you are in Briton or somewhere else in Europe.

Open country roads and highways in Australia have a speed limit at 110.

I don’t know what that is in US terminology.

edit – 68.35 according to google.

Reduced speed makes a huge difference. Slow down to 85 kph from 110 kph and you will cut wind resistance almost in half. The radio is insignificant.

Also, your fuel filter will become clogged with the crap on the bottom of the tank.

I have an 07 Camry and I believe you’re good.
I’ve driven 30 – 40 miles with the gas light on and never gave it a thought. I live between 2 towns and there is frequently a 20 – 35¢ per gallon price difference.

And yes, slow down for economy.

Pop in more often, will ya?

@LuckyGuy I wouldn’t trust anyone to turn off the engine while on the road and do it correctly. I don’t know how many times I have instructed drivers “Do not start the engine. Just turn the key to the ‘engine run’ position. It is the position where all of your dash lights will come on.” And they start the damn engine!

Well, i got to the fuel station.

Thanks everyone

@Fathdris Thanks for letting us know you made it. I can sleep now. :-)
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@kritiper Did you see my comment waaay up there? I wrote : ” (Practice turning the key one click when you are sitting still in a parking space.)”
I find it incredible that people don’t even know all the stops on the ignition key. They turn it every day and without thinking. If they took the time to do it once while concentrating about it they would be so much better equipped to handle emergencies.

Some (most) of the newer vehicles have the entire start sequence programmed. The key does not make the connections. It merely tells the electronic control module that the operator put it in a certain position and the ECM does all the work. That is why the car will start even if the person just bumps into the start position. Sometimes you can hear the engine cranking even after the key is backed away from the crank position. This is particularly noticeable in cold climates where it might take 3 seconds of cranking before the car starts.
You don’t even need to be in the car to start it. Just reach in the window and bump the key. Crank, crank, crank,. Bingo! It starts! Magic!
Everyone should try this experiment and spend two minutes learning all the switch positions and what they do.