We are all guilty of it. You’ve had a long day at the office, traffic is terrible, and with political strife at home and abroad, you’ve got a lot on your mind. Stopping for gas seems like a huge chore, so you figure you can drive on empty and worry about in the morning. At Auto Service Kingston in Kingston, ON, we urge you to reconsider if this sounds familiar. Did you know that when you drive on empty, you can actually be harming your car? It’s true. Read on for more.
You Could Run Out Of Gas
This is a no-brainer. If you drive on empty, eventually your car is going to run out of gas. At that point, your choices are either to call a tow truck or strap on your walking shoes and grab a gas can. Neither seem all that great of options when the alternative is simply stopping and filling up your car with gas. When you drive on empty, running out of gas, though, might be the least of your problems.
Your Car Needs Gas To Function
Your car’s engine needs gas to function properly, as it relies on gas, air, and electricity to run properly. If you drive on empty, your spark plugs are firing at nothing, whereas they should be igniting the gasoline. In the short term, this can cause engine stuttering, but in the long term, it can be the cause of serious engine damage.
It’s Bad For Your Fuel Line As Well
When you drive on empty, you deprive your car’s entire fuel system of what it needs. Your fuel filter can become overloaded with sediment from your gas tank, and if it fails, that sediment will make its way into your engine. The fuel pump suffers as well. It is normally submerged in gasoline, so when you drive on empty, it can overheat. Eventually, it will fail, and you’ll be looking at some steep repair costs.
At Auto Service Kingston in Kingston, ON, we understand that sometimes you just don’t want to stop for gas. But chronic driving on empty can spell big problems for your vehicle. If you do this often, bring your car to Auto Service Kingston. We can check your entire fuel line and engine for damage, and suggest any needed repairs or replacements. Even though we all do it, it doesn’t spell good news for your car when you drive on empty.