Posted on 10/19/2023
You are not likely to read this in an owner’s manual, but driving “on fumes” can result in a premature death of the fuel pump and need for fuel pump replacement. Women’s Car Care Seminar by AC Delco recommends that you stop for gas any time the tank is less than 1/3rd full. Personal safety experts advise keeping the tank at least 1/2 full at all times, so if there is an emergency, you can travel considerable distance without stopping for gas. If you’ve seen stop-and-go traffic and gas lines in hurricane zones, you know that this is good advice. The technical reason not to drive with a near empty tank is that the fuel pump is cooled by being immersed in the fuel tank – if the fuel is low, then the fuel pump is not cooled to the proper temperature, which accelerates its demise. If the fuel pump has to draw the last of the fuel, it will also ingest moisture and any deposits from the bottom of the tank (gasoline is lighter than water, so moisture and a ... read more