Are you one of those people who waits until the very last second to get gas? Maybe you forgot to fill up before you made it home, and now you're not sure if you can make it to the gas station. No worries; we are here to help. We scoured forums and reputable sources to find out how far a Jeep Renegade can go on empty. See our findings below.
In most cases, a Jeep Renegade can go an additional 19-20 miles once the gas light comes on. However, this will depend on several different factors, including the following:
- City or highway driving
- Individual driving habits
- Vehicle weight
- Weather conditions
Keep reading to learn more about how these variations affect your gas mileage. We will also discuss how many gallons are remaining when the light comes on, how to calculate fuel remaining, and more.
How Far Can a Jeep Renegade Go On Empty?
When the Jeep Renegade fuel tank hits empty, and the low range light comes on, the average person can drive approximately 19 - 20 miles before filling up. However, this is only an estimate and will vary from person to person and vehicle to vehicle.
City or Highway Driving
One of the first things to consider when your low range warning comes on is whether you are driving in the city or on an open highway.
City Driving
When driving in the city, you will not get the same fuel economy as when driving on an open highway. City driving includes frequent braking, which is bad for your gas mileage.
There is also more idling involved in the city. The more you sit still with your engine running, the more gas you will use without actually going anywhere, thus, taking away from how many miles you can travel before you run out of gas.
Highway Driving
Most people will get better gas mileage when driving on an open highway. There are fewer stops and little to no idling. However, there is an important factor you must take into consideration when determining how far you can go on empty when driving on a highway.
If you are in the city, there are lots of gas stations. However, if you are on the highway, the 20 miles that are left to your tank may not be enough to get you to the next station. Therefore, it is best to ensure you have enough gas to arrive at your destination before hitting the open road.
Individual Driving Habits
It should come as no surprise that your driving habits will influence your gas mileage. Individuals who drive more cautiously typically get better fuel economy than those who drive carelessly. Some things that can negatively influence your gas mileage are as follows:
- Speeding
- Rapid acceleration
- Excessive braking
- Revving the engine
Additionally, if you are one of the many people who crank your car during extremely cold or hot weather before getting in, this can also affect your fuel range.
While your Jeep is idling in the driveway to heat up or cool down the interior, it is burning gas. Therefore, if you forgot to get gas before heading home, it's probably not a good idea to let your Renegade idle in the driveway while the low range indicator is flashing.
Vehicle Weight
Generally, the average miles per gallon applies to the original factory condition of your Jeep. Certain modifications make your vehicle heavier, lessening your average fuel economy. Likewise, you will not make it as far before running out of gas if you are towing something.
Some modifications that make your Jeep heavier are the following:
- Roof racks
- Large tires
- Lift kits
- Light bars
- Winches
Weather Conditions
You may not realize it, but certain weather conditions will lower your fuel efficiency.
Cold Weather
According to The U.S. Department of Energy, gas mileage is lower during the cold winter months. Several factors play a role in this. Did you know that gas stations use a different blend of fuel during the winter months? It's true; this winter mix contains additives that negatively affect fuel economy.
Have you ever noticed that the winter months bring extra wind? This excess wind is not good for fuel economy. When it blows against your Jeep head-on or sideways, it increases the aerodynamic drag of your vehicle, lowering the gas mileage.
Likewise, with colder temperatures comes denser air which also increases the aerodynamic drag of your vehicle.
Hot Weather
Extreme heat just seems to drain the energy right out of you. It takes a toll on your vehicle as well. When it gets too hot outside, your motor can overheat.
Vehicles have a fan that kicks on in hot weather to cool down the engine. While this is good for your Jeep, it's bad for your gas mileage. The same goes for running the air conditioner. Therefore, if you are low on gas, you may want to consider turning the air off until you make it to the gas pump.
Precipitation
Did you know that rain, snow, and ice on the roads can lower fuel efficiency? Rolling resistance is the amount of energy your motor must exert to keep the tires rolling at a consistent speed. Any amount of precipitation on the road increases the rolling resistance of your tires. Since your vehicle is using more energy, it is also using more gas.
How to Calculate Remaining Fuel
Although the remaining fuel range will be different for everyone, there is a way to figure out how much gas is left in the tank. All Jeep Renegades feature a 12.7-gallon tank. As soon as the gas light appears, pull over to fill up.
Once the tank is full, take note of how many gallons you were able to insert. Subtract that number from 12.7 to figure out how much fuel is left when the low mileage warning pops up.
For example:
Your fuel light comes on. You pull into the gas station and put 11 gallons in your tank.
12.7 - 11 = 1.7
In this scenario, you would have 1.7 gallons of gas remaining when the low range light flashes.
One user in a Jeep Renegade Forum suggests resetting your trip meter as soon as the low range warning appears. If you are really brave or have a bit of distance before you reach a station, you can watch the trip meter to discover how far you can drive before running out of gas.
StealyFace65 says,
"In all my vehicles, whenever the light comes on, I just reset trip odometer so I can judge how far I've gone and guesstimate how far I can go. I 've been averaging around 24.5 mpg in my 1.4 manual Latitude, so I figure I can last at least 20 miles if necessary, but I don't plan to intentionally test that theory."
According to another user, you can scroll through the display to find the estimated miles remaining.
Logan5 says,
"On the screen between the instrument cluster you can scroll to a screen that will show the estimated fuel mileage plus the estimated range left on the current amount of fuel."
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the tank size of the Jeep Renegade?
All Jeep Renegades, regardless of year, are equipped with a 12.7-gallon tank.
How much fuel is left when the light comes on?
Jeep Renegade drivers replied to this in the Jeep Renegade Forum. While answers varied, most were between 1.2 and 1.9 gallons with 1.5 being the most popular response. Therefore, you should estimate that your Jeep Renegade has approximately 1.5 gallons of gas remaining when the low fuel light comes on.
How far can a Jeep Wrangler go on empty?
The Jeep Wrangler has 2.8 gallons of gas remaining when the fuel light appears. This typically lasts anywhere from 47 to 58 miles.
Unlike the Renegade, the tank size on Wranglers varies greatly by year model. The 2019-2021 Jeep Wranglers have a 21.5-gallon tank, while the 2011-2018 models feature a 22.5-gallon tank.
A glance of Jeep Wrangler fuel tank sizes through the years:
- 2007-2009: 18.6 gallons
- 1998-2006: 19 gallons
- 1995-1997: 16 gallons
- 1994: 20 gallons
- 1990-1993: 15 gallons
- 1987-1990: 20 gallons
How far can a Jeep compass go on empty?
According to the forums, the Jeep Compass has a 13.5-gallon tank, and there are 2 gallons of gas remaining when the low fuel light comes on. Users report being able to drive about 30-40 miles on empty.
Should you keep driving when the "low fuel" message comes up?
While you can drive for a bit after the warning light appears, it's best not to tempt fate. While we can guess that you have about 20 miles left, there is no guarantee. Driving on empty is also bad for your Jeep.
Sure, everyone gets low on gas from time to time, but letting it happen too often can wreak havoc on your engine, damaging your fuel pump, clogging your fuel filter, and causing your engine to misfire.
In Closing
Driving habits and weather conditions will alter the remaining miles for Jeep Renegade drivers. However, most owners agree that there are roughly 1.5 gallons left in the tank when the low mile warning appears, and this generally buys you an extra 19-20 miles before you run completely out of gas.
Check out these other helpful posts on our blog about Jeep Renegades, and come back for answers to all your vehicle questions: