Have you ever wondered why you should keep your gas tank a little more topped up than you thought you should? It turns out that there are some good reasons to keep tabs on your gas levels, because it can save you some wear and tear on your car. Here’s some information you can use from Cool Green Auto.
Keep Your Car’s Fuel Filter Operating
The big thing to know about your gas tank is that it’s not the cleanest place in your car. There’s a lot more sludge in there than you would expect, which is why the gas goes through the fuel filter before heading through the fuel lines to the fuel injectors in the engine. When you make it a habit of driving around low on gas, that means more sludge is getting picked up by the fuel pump and sent through the fuel filter. That can clog things up pretty fast.
Keep the Fuel Pump from Running Hot
When the gas levels are low in the tank, that can leave the fuel pump uncovered at points. That wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for the fact that the gas around the fuel pump helps to keep the fuel pump cooler. So, when the gas tank is low consistently, that means that the fuel pump runs hotter than it’s supposed to run. That can shorten its lifespan quite a bit.
Avoid Misfires as Much as Possible
Another issue when you run around often with the gas levels low in your car is that the car’s ECM might expect specific amounts of gas to end up in the engine, and that doesn’t necessarily happen. Between issues in the fuel system and possibly not being able to consistently pump the right amount of gas from the tank, your car’s engine might end up misfiring more often. That causes long-term engine damage eventually.
Avoid Stranding Yourself Somewhere
Probably the worst problem is that you can wind up getting stranded. Very rarely does anyone get to choose where they’re running out of gas and getting stuck. Per Murphy’s Law, that means that you’re most likely to run out of gas at the most inconvenient time and place possible.
Want to make sure that your fuel system and engine are in good working order? Or maybe you want to make sure your gas gauge is accurate. Regardless, Cool Green Auto in Shepherdstown, WV can help you out. Contact us today and we’ll set up an appointment for you.