Warning! Driving On Low Fuel Can Damage Your Car
Published July 17th, 2017
Australians are fed up with the constant rise in petrol prices — and it’s perfectly understandable why so many drivers cannot afford to constantly fill up, and tend to stretch each drop of fuel as long as possible.
But the problem is, a low fuel level is bad for your car.
What happens when you drive your car on almost-empty?
- Your engine
When you drive your car on low fuel you are unwittingly allowing your fuel pump to become exposed. This will ultimately lead to your car overheating, since the fuel pump is designed to remain submerged. Also, driving your car to the furthest it can possibly go,may lead to sediment deposits to appear in your tank, which can cause blockages and eventual engine failure.
- Your drive
The quality of your drive can be compromised by low fuel levels. Should your tank run so low that it begins to dry out, it will have a domino effect, causing your brakes to fail, your power-steering to crank up and, in some cases, a total loss of control over your vehicle. Therefore, we strongly recommend filling your car once it hits the quarter-tank mark.
- Your pocket
Besides your car being susceptible to damage by the effects of driving with low fuel, it also affects your pocket. Conservative figures suggest around $500 in savings per annum for drivers who fill up at the appropriate times. Ironically, it seems the best way to save on petrol costs is to fill up, rather than drive as far as you can with low fuel.
Interestingly, it was also observed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission that there are particular days for various states and territories throughout Australia upon which filling your car is significantly cheaper.
Here are their findings:
- Melbourne saves on Fridays.
- Perth saves on Wednesdays, but loses on Thursdays.
- Adelaide saves on Thursdays and Fridays, but should avoid the petrol station over the weekend.
- Sydney and Brisbane share the lowest prices for fuel on Thursdays and Fridays, but should be wary over the weekend.
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