Jun 19, 2008

Don't Run Out of Gas

In these days of rocketing fuel prices, you might be tempted to drive your car until it is running on fumes. But you should be aware that such a plan might not be a good idea. Motorists who allow their vehicle's fuel tank to run near empty not only risk being stranded on the road but also damaging expensive car parts.

Aside from being hazardous and inconvenient, running your vehicle’s fuel tank dry could present costly mechanical problems down the road, according to Steve Mazor, manager of the AAA Texas’ Automotive Research Center. Operating your vehicle on low may cause sediment in the bottom of the tank to clog the fuel pump pickup, the fuel filter or the fuel injectors, he added.

“Letting the vehicle's level of fuel run down to empty may cause the electric fuel pump inside the tank to overheat,” Mazor said. “The cost to replace this one component alone can be $500 or more in parts and labor.”

Vehicles using diesel fuel have additional needs after running out of fuel. A special “priming” procedure to get fuel to the pump may require the services of an automotive technician, which is another costly procedure.

Some tips for motorists include:

• Keep an eye on the fuel gauge; don't let your vehicle run down to less than a quarter of a tank.

• Be alert when your mileage drops, so you can take corrective action to restore your vehicle's fuel economy. A drop in mileage likely indicates a problem.

• Don't touch or pump the gas pedal repeatedly when trying to start a vehicle that's run out of fuel. With today’s engines, this can only do harm.