We’ve all done it – you had a tough day at work, traffic is horrendous, and your car’s gas light has come on. The idea of swinging into a gas station and filling up seems like just another stressor, so you drive the rest of the way home and figure you will fill it up tomorrow. Once in a while, this is probably OK, but for the most part, when you drive on empty, it isn’t great for your car. Crossroads Automotive in Topeka, KS, explains why.
You Could Get Stranded
This one is pretty obvious. If you drive on empty, eventually you are going to run out of gas. What do you do at that point? You either call AAA or you grab a gas can and get to hoofing it. When compared with the option of simply stopping for gas, neither of these eventualities seems like all that great a choice.
It Could Damage Your Engine
The engine in your vehicle needs three things to function: air, fuel, and electricity. When your spark plugs fire and ignite the fuel in your engine, it makes your car move. When you drive on empty, the spark plugs continue to fire, but without fuel to ignite, the electricity can damage your engine’s inner workings. When you drive on empty occasionally, not much will probably happen to your engine. If you do it habitually, you are looking at some serious damage.
It’s Bad For Your Fuel Line
When you drive on empty, it can do some serious damage to your fuel filter and fuel pump. Your fuel filter serves to keep the sediment and debris out of your engine, and when you drive on empty, that sediment can stir up and overload your fuel filter. A faulty fuel filter can allow that sediment to enter your engine directly, and this can cause major damage. And since your fuel pump is normally submerged in gasoline, if you drive on empty, it is exposed and can overheat. An overheated fuel pump will eventually fail, and then your car isn’t going to make it to the end of the driveway.
We’ve all been guilty of driving on empty, but now you know that it isn’t a great idea. If you frequently drive on empty, bring your car into Crossroads Automotive in Topeka, KS. We can inspect your engine and fuel line for damage caused by driving on empty, and suggest any needed repairs. Make an appointment today!