In reality, this little orange light does not mean immediate fuel failure, but rather entry into a reserve zone designed to avoid unpleasant surprises. It remains to be seen how many kilometers it is still possible to travel without risking breakdown?
10% of total tank capacity
According to several consistent sources, the majority of manufacturers calibrate the warning light to approximately 10% of the total capacity of the tank. This generally represents between 5 and 8 liters of fuel remaining, giving an average range of between 50 and 120 kilometersdepending on the type of vehicle and driving conditions.
Because in practice, this autonomy depends on a large number of parameters. A small petrol city car often consumes less than an SUV or a diesel sedan, but its tank is also smaller. Speed, road type and driving style also play a major role. On the highway, at steady speed, it is possible to extend the reserve a little. Conversely, in town or in the mountains, the remaining autonomy can drop by half. Hybrid and micro-hybrid systems sometimes offer a few extra miles of respite thanks to energy recovery.
Not a bonus but a margin of safety
Frequently rolling on the bottom of the tank is risky. The remaining fuel is then located in the area where impurities, sediments and sometimes traces of water accumulate. These elements can clog the pump, fuel filter or injectors, ultimately causing costly malfunctions. Some mechanics also point out that running out of fuel can damage the fuel pump, especially on diesel engines where lubrication is done by the fuel itself.
Manufacturers therefore voluntarily leave a margin, but they do not guarantee the accuracy of the range calculator once the warning light is on. On many cars, the on-board computer even stops displaying the remaining kilometers as soon as the level falls below a certain threshold. It is a way of reminding the driver that this area of uncertainty must remain exceptional. The wisest thing to do is to consider that once the orange light is on, there are at best around fifty reliable kilometers remaining, and to plan to fill up at the next station.
As you will have understood, the orange fuel light does not immediately announce a breakdown, but it marks the end of the room for maneuver. On average, you can still travel between 50 and 120 kilometers, sometimes a little more depending on the vehicle and driving conditions. Driving regularly on the reserve, on the other hand, remains a bad habit which wears out the mechanics and increases the risk of breakdown. It is therefore better to anticipate when it will be full, rather than playing with the gauge.
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