If you are about to leave on a long trip to see your family over Christmas and return in the New Year, then this article is for you. Seeing the fuel gauge needle creeping towards empty should spur you on to refuel as soon as possible. Read on to find out why it is important to not drive on an almost empty tank.1
Causing too much wear-and-tear in the fuel pump1
Fuel lubricates the fuel pump as it flows through it. When it flows through the pump sparingly due to a near-empty fuel tank, lubrication is not as adequate as it should be. This causes the fuel pump to wear out over time. Driving continually on an empty tank could cause premature damage to the pump, as well as heat it up.
Sludge in the fuel tank1
With time, all kinds of impurities settle out at the bottom of a fuel tank, where they collectively form sludge. The danger is that if the car is running on empty, some of this sludge may get sucked up by the fuel pump and enter the sophisticated engine, blocking up the fuel filter and fuel injectors. This, in turn, may affect engine performance and fuel economy.
The engine may pump air1
Instead of the fuel pump pumping fuel, air may pass through it, which may damage it through lack of lubrication and heat build-up. In addition, other engine parts that require fuel may also be affected.
What would happen if your car suddenly stopped? 1
Running your car on fumes may prove to be a stressful gamble, as it could stop working at any time. This may be reasonable on a farm road, but not if you are in the middle lane of a busy highway during rush hour. Not only has the engine died, but there will be no power available for steering as well as braking. This renders the car completely ineffective and dangerous, especially at high speed.
Avoid any panic1
Panicking in the middle of heavy traffic can affect your driving performance and may make you prone to causing an accident. Heavy traffic is already stressful, so why to add to it by taking chances with a near-empty tank?
How can we avoid driving on a near-empty tank? 1
Make sure that you refuel when the car’s tank is half-full to have peace of mind. Why wait until it is empty? It is essential to read up in the car’s manual what mileage you still have left when the needle reaches a particular point near the empty sign. This will give you the necessary information you need to reach your nearest garage in case of an emergency.
Breaking down anywhere can be most stressful, but if you know you can rely on a 24/7 roadside assistance and towing service, you’ll have peace of mind. Contact PMD for more information on this and their affordable car insurance products, including unique benefits like fixed premiums* and a reduce to zero excess*. T’s and C’s apply.
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This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.