We here at Autoworks in Kittery ME completely understand. It’s been a long day at the office, traffic is snarled, and you just want to get home. You see that your gas light is activated, but you figure you can make it until tomorrow morning without stopping to fill up. So you cruise past the gas station and head directly home. But is it really OK to drive your car on empty? Honestly, driving on empty every now and again isn’t going to hurt your vehicle, but if you make a habit of it, it could cause some major problems. So the pros at Autoworks in Kittery ME explain why it probably isn’t a great idea to dive without gas in your vehicle.
You Could Run Out Of Gas
This one is obvious; you drive on empty and eventually, you will completely run out of gas. Can you imagine the embarrassment, not to mention the expense, of having to call a tow truck and wait – just because you didn’t feel like stopping and filling up? This is a risk you take when you choose to drive on empty, so be aware a 5-minute stop and fill could avoid an hours-long ordeal.
It’s Not Great For Your Engine
Your engine is designed to have gasoline causing combustion, so without it, you get misfires. Your spark plugs don’t know what to do with themselves when they don’t have fuel to ignite, and over time, if you continue to habitually drive on empty, you are going to be looking at some real problems. Misfiring spark plugs can cause a chain reaction of damage in your engine, so you’ll want to make sure you keep gas in your car to avoid this.
It’s Not Good For Your Fuel Pump Either
Your car’s fuel pump is designed to be submerged in gasoline and push it to your engine. When you drive on empty, your fuel pump is dry and can misfire or even malfunction and break down completely. This is no routine or inexpensive repair, so make sure to keep at least ¼ of a tank in your vehicle at all times.
Make An Appointment
If you are guilty of habitually driving on empty and want us here at Autoworks in Kittery ME to take a look at your fuel line, engine, and gas tank to make sure you are damage-free. And if you simply want to avoid these problems in the first place, just stop for gas on your way home. You’ll be glad you did.