Everyone has probably driven on fuel reserve at least once. Not a big deal on an exceptional basis but it can have serious consequences on your car if it’s a habit! Here’s why.
“My fuel gauge light is amber, everything is fine, I have about fifty kilometers of range left.” What driver has never thought that? Often set to go off when there are only five liters left in the tank, this indicator light located on the dashboard of your vehicle is very useful to warn that it is time to go to the pump. There is no need to panic when it lights up, it gives time to find a gas station to refuel, including on the motorway where you sometimes have to drive thirty kilometers to reach the next service area.
However, it is better not to delay too long, especially if you find yourself stuck in traffic jams, where your vehicle’s consumption is higher. There is also no need to play the Einsteins by doing too many calculations, the accuracy of your fuel gauge, whose estimate depends on a simple float, can vary. It would be silly to run out of fuel on the tracks due to miscalculation!
But it could be worse. If driving on reserve is a habit for you – need we remind you that it doesn’t save money? – then the risks for your car are much greater than a “simple” out of gas. Indeed, when your vehicle’s tank is almost empty, all the stagnant fuel deposit at the bottom of the tank is injected into the engine.
To better understand, imagine drinking a glass of water without having taken the care before mixing the powder of a sachet (of a medicine for example), all the residues will be concentrated in your last sip, exactly like the deposit fuel in the last liters of your tank.
What are the consequences for your car? Risk #1 is clogging the fuel filter faster than expected, which is normally advised to be changed every 35-40,000 kilometres. This part has a very important role because it helps to block all the impurities in the tank so that they do not reach the supply circuit. This filter therefore protects the engine from all dirt. It thus extends the life of your engine and also has a real impact on its performance.
A clogged filter will be much less efficient and will in particular increase your car’s fuel or diesel consumption. Add to that the fact of having to change your fuel filter more quickly – count at least 50 euros in a garage -, you will quickly understand that driving on the reserve is not good for your car or for your wallet.
