In automobiles without a trip computer, it might be difficult to tell how much fuel is left in the tank by looking at the gas tank dial.
There are a slew of variables that go into determining how far a quarter tank of gas can go, including the vehicle’s mpg, tank capacity, number of passengers, and driving style. Here, we’ll take a look at several car kinds and estimate how many miles may be covered on a single tank of gas.
More than a quarter tank of gas can be used if driving conditions are consistent.
Continue reading to learn why you can get away with driving a little bit further than expected on a quarter tank!
How Does The Gas Gauge Work?
Manufacturers purposefully design their gas tank gauges to be erroneous in order to make driving more tolerable for the average driver.
When you’re filling up or about to run out of petrol, the gauge isn’t only inaccurate; it also moves at an unpredictable pace based on how much fuel is left. I’ll split down the gasoline tracking into a few portions, starting with the full tank, in order to better explain what’s going on.
Full Tank
You can expect the gauge to go over the top when you’ve filled it to the brim. For larger cars with larger fuel tanks, a few extra gallons can have the same effect as a full gallon.
You wouldn’t have a full tank of gas by the time you arrived home from the gas station if the gauge was accurately reflecting the amount of fuel in the tank. Owners would believe the vehicle is using more gas than it actually is if the gauge were accurate, according to the manufacturers.
For this reason, the gauge will remain in the full segment for a while, giving you confidence in your gasoline purchase.
Empty Tank
There have been times when we’ve underestimated how far we could go before we ran out of petrol, but the car kept on running for miles and we ended up at the gas station even though we weren’t supposed to.
Actually, this is a built-in safety feature that allows you to find a gas station and refuel as quickly as possible. As the tank size is often linked to mpg, all cars have a range of 20 to 50 miles from a full tank.
Despite the fact that the gas tank sensor is able to account for the vast majority of the fuel in the tank, there is still a significant amount of fuel in the pipes between the pump and the injectors.
Gauge Movement
The gasoline gauge does not appropriately represent the amount of fuel at full, empty, and in between. The gasoline gauge often moves faster in the second half and slows down when the driver approaches the midway point.
It may appear to be a baseless hunch, yet it is in fact true. The drop from 3/4 full to 1/4 empty can be twice as fast as the drop from 3/4 full to full.
At the half-tank mark, the gauge is only accurate since it’s too quick in the second half, and too slow in the first half.
If you’re on a long-distance road trip and don’t have a gas station in sight, you’ll be able to make it to the next one with just a quarter tank of gas.
How Many Miles Is A Quarter Tank of Gas?
A quarter tank’s mileage can only be accurately calculated if a number of variables are taken into account.
Let’s begin by assuming that the driving style and conditions remain the same throughout time. Assume it’s your daily commute to work for maximum consistency.
The size of the gasoline tank is the next issue to address. However, it’s not necessarily true that a vehicle with a large gasoline tank burns more fuel than one that has a smaller tank. We’ll talk about the range of automobiles and see how they stack up against a vehicle that’s most like yours in terms of range.
Toyota Prius
Even though it’s an efficient hybrid, the 2017 Toyota Prius only holds 11.4 gallons of gasoline in its tank. Fuel economy estimates from the EPA are excellent. 58 mpg in the city, 53 mpg on the freeway, and 56 mpg overall.
The Prius can travel 160 miles on gas alone and an additional 25 miles on electric power with just 2.85 gallons of fuel in the tank. With only a quarter of the tank, you may expect a range of about 200 miles.
Ford F-150
23 gallons is the capacity of the Ford F 150’s 3. 3L V6 engine’s fuel tank. For a full-size truck, the gas mileage isn’t terrible at 20 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the interstate, and 23 mpg combined.
It holds 5.75 gallons, so you can get at least 130 miles, but more practically 150 miles of range, if you’re going on the highway or some city driving.
The 5. 0L V8 is a another matter entirely. It has the same 23-gallon gas tank, but it uses more fuel, only getting 21 mpg on the combined highway trip. You’ll only be able to go another 130 miles on a quarter of a tank.
Toyota Tundra
The V8 engine in the Toyota Tundra has been greatly upgraded from its previous reputation as a gas guzzler. The truck’s new gas tank has a capacity of 22.5% more than the previous one. It gets 20 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the interstate, and 22 mpg overall, according to EPA testing.
The Tundra can travel 120 to 140 miles before stalling out with just 5.6 gallons of fuel, or about a quarter of the tank.
Ford Mustang
Ford’s 2022 Mustang has a gas tank of barely 15. 5 gallons, even though the car sports a powerful V8 engine. At 30 mpg on the interstate, 21 mpg in the city, and an overall rating of 24 mpg, this sports vehicle is quite efficient.
As long as you’re careful with the gas pedal, the quarter tank will allow you to travel another 100 miles on just about 4 gallons of fuel.
Honda Accord
The 2022 non-hybrid Accord has a tank capacity of 14.8 gallons, which is more than plenty for the Japanese sedan. Ratings for gas mileage are shown below. 32mpg city, 35mpg highway and 29mpg combined are the mpg figures.
To get 120 to 150 kilometers before it runs out of gas, the quarter tank holds 3. 7 gallons.
FAQs
How Long Does a Quarter of Tank Last?
Despite the lower gas mileage, a quarter of a tank of gas will last longer in the city. There is a very narrow window of time in which you can expect to run out of fuel if your speed is 80 miles per hour or more.
It’s possible to drive for three hours on a tank of gas at a pace of 25 to 35 mpg in the city, even if driving on the open road can be up to 50% more efficient.
What Is 1/4 of a Tank of gas?
In the first bracket below half tank, the 1/4 mark is located at a 45-degree angle from its center. The 1/8th tank mark and the 1/4 tank mark can be found at the tank’s base.
To indicate low gasoline, some automobiles use a distinct color for the 1/4 down, while others simply use a special color for the 1/8th down and the 1/8th down. Typically, the last quarter of the gas tank holds between 3 and 5 gallons of fuel.
Is it Bad to Drive on a Quarter Tank of Gas?
Because the gasoline pump will start sucking up the trash at the bottom of the tank if the fuel level drops too low, driving on a quarter tank is fine.
What are the Three Quarters of a Tank?
The line that divides the right side of the fuel indicator represents three quarters of a tank. Three-quarters of a tank’s worth of fuel can range from 8 to 16 gallons, depending on the tank’s capacity.
What is 7/8 of a Gas Tank?
There are only seven eights in a petrol tank, therefore you’ll have to visualise where the line would be. In most cases, the gas tank is 7/8 full when the indicator reads 3/4.
How Often Should You Get Gas?
The amount of gas you use determines how much you have to pay for refueling. Because fuel stabilizers fade and tanks corrode, don’t store gas in the tank for more than three months. According to the findings of this study, storing it in Sta Bil or Seafoam will keep it fresher, longer.
Is it Better to Fill Up at Half a Tank?
The fuel evaporates at a lower pace when the tank is only half full, according to some research. As far as I can tell, the fuel is going to evaporate regardless, and the remaining exhaust fumes will be used as fuel and filtered in the EVAP.
It’s not a good idea to let the fuel pump scrape the bottom of the tank, so filling up at half-way is preferable. While it’s possible to refuel at one-quarter or even somewhat less of a tank, there’s no harm in doing so.
What is 1/8 of a Tank of Gas?
The first line above empty on the gasoline gauge is tinted red or orange to alert you to refuel as soon as possible when you’ve got one-eighth of a tank left. In most vehicles, 1. 5 to 3 gallons of fuel are contained in an eighth of a tank.
How Far Can You Drive on a 1/8 Tank of Gas?
60 to 90 miles can be driven on 1/8th of a gas tank in a 24-gallon gas tank car that gets 20 miles per gallon. The fuel in the fuel system and the erroneous fuel gauge are the key components.
How can I Check my Fuel Level Without a Gauge?
If your fuel gauge is broken, you’ll have to guess how much fuel you have left based on your vehicle’s odometer reading. Fill up your vehicle’s tank to the maximum level recommended by the manufacturer. If you estimate your car’s mpg and reset the temporary odometer, you may keep track of how much fuel is left by referring to the distance traveled.
For those who don’t know how much gas their vehicle uses, fill it up to the brim and drive for 100 or 200 miles. Return to the gas station and refuel, paying attention to the amount of fuel you purchased this time. The average mpg can be found by doing some simple math. An app like Fuelio can also help you with the calculations.
How Far Can I Drive on an Empty Tank?
You have between 20 and 50 miles of range remaining when the fuel gauge reaches the empty level. Fuel pump and injector damage can occur if a vehicle is driven on fumes, yet it is possible to do so under certain circumstances.
How Many Miles Do I Have When the Gas Light Comes On?
After a certain number of kilometers, usually more than a hundred miles, the dashboard light will indicate that it is time to refuel. The maximum driving range for vehicles with refueling warnings activated at 1/8th of the gas tank is commonly regarded to be 50 to 100 miles.
How Long Can You Drive With 0 Miles to Empty?
You have between 20 and 50 miles remaining on your journey when the range on your trip computer drops to zero.
Failure safety mechanisms are designed to prevent drivers from becoming stranded at the side of the road in potentially dangerous situations, as discussed in this article.
How Many Miles Does 1 Gallon of Gas Get You?
Miles per gallon (MPG) is a unit of measurement for a vehicle’s fuel efficiency. When driving a pickup truck, you’ll be able to travel between ten and twenty miles. With a gallon of gas, a family sedan can go 30 miles. But with a gallon of gas, a hybrid can go 50 miles.
How Accurate is the Empty Distance?
Using an erroneous empty distance, the driver is given a few more miles to cover the trip. Most vehicles have a range of 10 to 30 miles, while others may travel up to 50 miles before needing to come to a halt.
How Many Gallons of Gas is $20?
As the price of gasoline fluctuates on a daily basis, it is currently at an all-time high of $4 per gallon, equating to only $20 for five gallons.
Summary
Depending on the type of vehicle, a quarter of the petrol tank will give you between 100 and 200 miles of range. For the most part, passenger automobiles can travel 600-700 miles on a single tank, so going 200 miles over the quarter-way mark isn’t out of the question.
Avoid letting the gasoline gauge dip below 1/4 if you want to save money on fuel. This is because the fuel pump and the fuel system can become clogged with all the grit and dirt at the bottom of the tank.