You're a very responsible vehicle owner. You always rely on a professional to perform maintenance and you never miss an insurance payment to ensure continuous coverage. However, when it comes to your fuel tank, you often like to put matters into your own hands. Yes, the needle is resting on "E", but you're confident you can keep driving. This represents just one of many misconceptions when it comes to gas. Knowing how to decipher fact from fiction can prevent you from being stranded on "E."

Trusting Your Mile Range

Always remember, the mile range indicator until an empty is just what the name suggest, a range. This figure does not represent the exact number of miles you can drive before you run out of gas. If you fail to keep this in mind and you continue driving, it will literally only be a matter of time before your fuel runs out.

The reason for this is that these systems are not designed to take into account the driving conditions you are dealing with. Traffic, wind speed and terrain are just a handful of the factors that determine the rate at which your vehicle burns fuel. Don't try to keep driving based on the range; pull over and fuel up.

Coasting

There has long been a myth that you burn less gas when your vehicle is coasting than you do when in drive. This prompts some drivers to switch to neutral when their gas is low. This is inaccurate. Coasting doesn't just not save fuel, but it's also dangerous.

When your vehicle is in neutral, it burns about the same amount of gas as when your vehicle is idle at a stoplight. So the idea that coasting is somehow fuel-free driving is simply inaccurate. In terms of danger, if you need to quickly change lanes or accelerate, you will be unable to do so when your vehicle is in neutral.

Stay Safe in the Event You're Stranded

If your fuel does run out, safety should be your primary concern. Avoid getting out of your vehicle and walking to get gas, unless you're fortunate enough to run out of gas at the gas station. Otherwise, it's best to contact a roadside assistance service for gas delivery. From lurking predators to hectic traffic conditions, there are a number of dangers that come along with exiting your vehicle. Stay put and wait for help to arrive.

You can avoid being stranded on "E." Don't let misconceptions lead you to an empty tank.

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