Don’t Get Tricked By The Gauge

One of the most important things to think about when you’re driving is safety – this is something we all know, right? If we don’t, then that’s a whole different problem. Part of that focus on safety is making sure that you have enough fuel in your vehicle to keep it going. There are several negative consequences of driving without enough fuel… and while you may think that we’re being alarmist, well, we’re not. Take a look and see for yourself why you should never let your tank get below 1/4 full.

First of all, running on empty (or close to empty) will make your fuel pump burn out and die long before it’s supposed to. Every part in your vehicle has a life expectancy, but you reduce that by driving on empty with your fuel pump. The gas that it pulls through acts as a coolant, and when there’s not enough gas to pump, it starts sucking in air. The air creates heat, which makes the pump burn out. It’s an expensive repair, too, so that’s one word of warning for you.

Secondly, your fuel gauge isn’t completely accurate. How accurate can it be without offering you a precise digital readout? And when it’s moving around and expanding with heat? Don’t trust the “E” if only for the fact that you could have 50 or 0.5 miles left in your tank, and there’s only one way to find out which it is. Never let your tank get below a quarter full, especially in the winter.

The last thing is just as important as the former two. Sediment collects at the bottom of every single gas tank, and when you’re low on gas, the only fuel your engine has to use is the stuff with all the gunk in it. That gunk gets stirred up and sent through your fuel lines and fuel injectors and clogs up the works very effectively. So, if you make a habit of driving on empty, then you’re not cleaning out your gas tank (I am the kind of person who would try to sugarcoat it that way), you’re necessitating a full engine flush way sooner than you’d normally need to get one… which is generally never.

Fill up your tank when you’re down to a quarter tank of fuel left. You’ll thank me when your vehicle purrs like a kitten for the rest of its life.