Can a Mercedes-Benz still drive when the fuel gauge reaches 0?
2 Answers
When the fuel gauge of a Mercedes-Benz shows a remaining range of 0, it can still continue to drive for a certain distance. Method to estimate how long you can drive when the remaining range shows 0: When the fuel gauge reaches "0", fill up the tank and note the number of liters added. When the fuel gauge shows "0" again, the remaining fuel in the tank equals the total tank capacity minus the liters added during the previous refill. Then, based on your average fuel consumption while driving, calculate how many more kilometers you can drive. Therefore, when the fuel gauge shows "0", the remaining distance you can drive equals the remaining fuel when the gauge shows "0" divided by the fuel consumption per 100 kilometers multiplied by 100 kilometers. What to do when the remaining range shows 0: Control your speed appropriately, promptly turn off high-power electrical devices, avoid congested roads, and maintain smooth driving to minimize braking. It is not recommended to wait until the fuel warning light comes on before refueling.
To be honest, when most Mercedes-Benz dashboards display zero fuel, there's actually a small reserve left in the tank. This is a safety redundancy designed by manufacturers specifically for emergencies when owners need to find a gas station. It's hard to say exactly how much farther you can go. My old C-Class once drove about 15 kilometers on city roads after the gauge hit zero, but a friend's GLC barely lasted 10 kilometers on the highway after reaching empty. It mainly depends on your speed, whether the AC is on, if you're going uphill, and your tire pressure. I recommend refueling as soon as the warning light comes on. Squeezing out the last drop is particularly damaging to the fuel pump, and Mercedes fuel pump repairs aren't cheap. The fuel pump relies on gasoline for cooling and lubrication - overheating and burning out from prolonged low-fuel operation is a common failure.
