What Is the Impact of Running Out of Gas?

On the recent hit show, Gold Rush Alaska, miner Greg Remsburg committed an auto no-no. While driving a dozer clearing a new swath of land, Remsburg, ran the diesel engine dry. While your first thought may be that being stuck out in the bush without a gas station may be the biggest problem, the impact of running out of gas can’t always be fixed by just adding in more petrol.

In addition to the inconvenience and embarrassment of running out of gas, the problems you could experience depend on the model and year of your auto.

Clogged Fuel Injector

Fuel injectors became the primary fuel delivery system in autos, replacing carburetors since the late 80s. Fuel injectors improve provide more dependable starting of your engine, a smoother and more dependable engine response during quick throttle transitions, improved operation in temperature extremes, better mpg, and longer intervals between scheduled maintenance.

When your tank runs dry, it can suck up contaminants that build up in your gas tank, resulting in a clogged or dirty fuel injector. A dirty fuel injector can cause your auto to experience lean misfires, rough idling, a loss of power, hesitation on light acceleration, and higher pollutant emissions. Don’t add insult to injure by refilling your tank with cheap gas.

Jammed or Burned Out Fuel Pump

Your fuel pump supplies fuel to your carburetor or fuel injection system. Older vehicles will have a mechanic pump delivering low pressure fuel to the carburetor while newer models will have an electric pump pushing high pressure fuel to the fuel injection.

Running your tank to “E” can create two problems for your fuel pump. First, as with the fuel injector, if you pull contaminants into your fuel pump, they can cause your pump to jam. And when your pump jams, your engine will overheat and burn out. Second, pumps need fuel to help keep them cool and lubricated. Without fuel, your pump will burn out.

How Much Gas Is Ideal?

While running out of gas may seem silly, when gas prices spike, you, like many other drivers may decide to see how long you can go on your current tank of gas in hopes that prices will come back down before you reach “E”. So what’s the lowest you should let your tank get before you refill if you want to maintain a healthy auto t? Ask your trusted mechanic and see what they say. Most will tell you that you shouldn’t let your tank go below ¼ full.

Just as letting you auto run out of gas can cause you some problems, driving without a warranty can lead to high repair costs, too. If your manufacturer’s warranty is about to expire or has expired, don’t leave yourself at risk of paying for high repair costs when auto components fail prematurely. Get a quote today on one of our A Rated vehicle service contracts. You may be surprised how low our monthly fees are and all of the extra benefits that come with our plans.

American Auto Assurance