A woman says she regularly keeps driving even after her car tells her she has zero miles left in the tank.
TikTok user @lilcorrii shared a photo of her dashboard reading “0 miles to Empty,” with the fuel gauge sitting on empty.
That apparently doesn’t bother her much.
“Ever since my homegirl told me that you got 30 miles after 0, baby, I be cruising,” she says. “I ain’t never stopped.”
@lilcorrii says she does “calculations” in her head to estimate how much gas she has left and keeps driving until she absolutely has to stop.
In other words, the dashboard may say zero, but she doesn’t treat it like zero.
As of this writing, her video had more than 274,200 views.
How Far Can You Really Drive After ‘0 Miles To Empty’?
Seeing “0 miles to empty” doesn’t necessarily mean the tank is literally bone dry, according to various car experts. But it also doesn’t always mean every driver has another 30-plus miles to work with.
AAA tested in-dash “miles-to-empty” systems and found that the estimates can change significantly depending on speed, acceleration, and other driving conditions. The calculation is typically based in part on recent fuel economy, which suggests that the number on the dashboard can shift as driving habits change.
And that’s what makes @lilcorrii’s mental math risky. AAA actually warns drivers not to rely too heavily on the “miles-to-empty” range display. In fact, to avoid running out of gas completely, it recommends refueling once a car reaches a quarter of a tank.
Some vehicles do still have fuel left when the display reaches zero or stops showing a remaining range. Hyundai, for instance, tells owners that “distance to empty” is only an estimate and can differ depending on driving conditions, habits, and the car’s condition. Its system stops displaying a numerical range below roughly one mile (or, one kilometer) and tells drivers to refuel immediately.
But there’s also a mechanical reason not to make a habit of running the tank that low. AAA says modern fuel pumps are often mounted inside the gas tank and use the surrounding fuel to help stay cool. Repeatedly driving with very little gas can make the pump run hotter and increase wear, potentially leading to an expensive failure.
And of course, the most immediate risk is simply getting stranded.
People Encourage Driver To Stop
Many viewers were less amused by @lilcorrii’s “ghost miles” strategy than she was.
“You tearing up your fuel pump, girl,” one person wrote.
That got her attention.
“Omgggg I didn’t know this mess up your car. I’ll stop, I think,” @lilcorrii replied.
Others were just as blunt.
“It’s not good on the car though,” one said.
“Best way to [expletive] up a car,” added another.
One viewer joked about the supposed extra range.
“She meant 30 MINUTES until yo engine lock up,” they quipped.
Another had a more practical warning.
“Girl, you only use those ghost miles as a last resort. You don’t do this casually. You will run out of gas in the middle of the road, and it is not fun. I am speaking from experience,” they said.
Some commenters were firmly on the opposite end of the spectrum.
“I don’t even go under 100 miles,” one person admitted.
Another had a suggestion for the friend who apparently started all of this.
“Make sure she pick you up,” they commented.
Motor1 contacted @lilcorrii via TikTok direct message. We’ll be sure to update this if she responds.
