Does Driving On Low Fuel Damage Your Car? Know here

It brings satisfaction to many drivers to see the fuel gauge needle or meter of the vehicle hitting the full mark. Usually, the majority of drivers visit a fuel station when the fuel gauge needle is near the empty sign or a low fuel warning light comes on the display. However, running on low fuel could damage the fuel pump, catalytic converter, and some other components of the car, which many drivers don't know.

Minimize The Possibility Of Damage

According to the Maruti Suzuki Brezza manual (prepared by experts), the best practice to minimize the possibility of damage to the catalytic converter or other components of the vehicle is to avoid driving at a near-empty fuel tank level.

Fuel Gauge

Car makers equip the instrument cluster with a fuel gauge, which represents a rough indication of the amount of fuel in the fuel tank. On the fuel gauge, “F” stands for full, and “E” stands for empty.

Recommendation

It is recommended that if the fuel meter indicator shows only one segment to “E” and/or the low fuel warning light comes on, refill the tank immediately. Notably, if the last segment blinks, it means that the fuel is almost empty.

Save Components

The recommendation is not to drive a vehicle with a nearly empty fuel tank as it could damage several components of the car, including the fuel pump, catalytic converter, and others.

Dirt And Debris

Additionally, over time, dirt and debris settle at the bottom of the fuel tank. When fuel is low, the pump might draw this sediment, clogging the fuel system and damaging parts.