{
  "id": "running-on-fumes.upkeep",
  "term": "running on fumes",
  "sense": "upkeep",
  "pos": "noun",
  "status": "review",
  "level": 16,
  "arena": "emergent systems",
  "domain": "everyday language",
  "style": "folk",
  "definition": "maintenance that continues only because the thing has not yet crossed the wall where lack of resource ends its window, though the work to replenish that resource has already stopped",
  "folk_gloss": "continuing to function despite being very low on energy or resources",
  "emergence": {
    "components": [
      "maintenance.upkeep",
      "resource.material",
      "window.range",
      "wall.range-end"
    ],
    "interaction": "running on fumes",
    "novel_properties": [
      "energy.capacity",
      "parameter.condition"
    ]
  },
  "examples": [
    {
      "text": "The International Space Station maintained orbit at 400 km altitude until 2024, though reboosts ceased six months prior.",
      "domain": "engineering"
    },
    {
      "text": "Detroit's streetlights remained functional in 2011 on failing circuits after repair budgets ended in 2008.",
      "domain": "institutions"
    },
    {
      "text": "A 2020 Tesla Model S drove 50 miles past its rated range, drawing from residual battery charge after the meter hit zero.",
      "domain": "computing"
    }
  ],
  "relations": [],
  "used_by": [],
  "forms": [
    "run on fumes",
    "running on fumes"
  ],
  "closed": false,
  "provenance": {
    "author": "phrases:qwen/qwen3-235b-a22b-2507",
    "date": "2026-07-29",
    "confidence": 0.7,
    "sources": [
      "folk phrase — invisible maintenance"
    ]
  },
  "canonical": "https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-running-on-fumes.upkeep"
}