Is it OK to drive with an empty gas tank? In a word, no, but there is more to it than that. We understand. You had a long day at work, you’ve already been sitting in traffic on your way home, and you’ve still got a lot to take care of between now and when it is time to go to bed and do it all again tomorrow. You notice that your gas light is on and you don’t have much left in the tank. You just want to get home, so you drive past the gas station, knowing full well that you are low on gas and will have to fill up in the morning. But is this good for your car? Again, no. But the experts at Keeton Auto Repair in Overland Park, KS, want to explain why driving on empty isn’t a great idea.
You Could Run Out Of Gas
How humiliating. Running out of gas is not only bad for your ego, it is also pretty terrible for your vehicle. You get the embarrassment of standing on the side of the road, waiting for a tow truck or AAA to come bail you out, and you know full well all you had to do was stop at a gas station when you just didn’t feel like it. But running out of gas is bad for your car too. Your engine is designed to have gas run through it for the combustion it produces, and without it, it can simply lock up.
Your Car Is Designed To Have Gas
Without gas, your fuel line and fuel system, as well as your engine, don’t know what to do with themselves. Your fuel pump, for example, is designed to be submerged in fuel, and when you drive on empty, it can misfire and eventually break down. Driving on empty also stirs up the sediment in your fuel tank, which can find its way into your fuel line and eventually your engine, which can cause major damage. If you drive on empty once, not much will probably happen, but habitual driving on empty can cause some major damage.
Make An Appointment
If you are guilty of driving on empty and are worried you might have caused damage to your vehicle, the team at Keeton Auto Repair in Overland Park, KS would be happy to take a look and let you know. If there is damage, we can get things fixed up in a jiffy. Make an appointment today and don’t forget – get gas when you need it.
