On the Road 3 min read
There are many apparent reasons why it’s bad for the car to run out of gas. You might find yourself stranded without a way to get help or you could have an accident if your car suddenly loses power on the road. But what about the car itself? Does driving on an empty tank damage the motor or other car parts?
Learn more about the affects of driving on empty.
How does driving on empty affect your car?
The primary reason you shouldn’t run your car low on gas is that it can cause different engine parts to overheat. Running out of fuel negatively affects several important components, such as the fuel pump, engine, and catalytic converter.
Damage to your fuel pump
The fuel pump is designed to function with a certain amount of fuel. Driving with low fuel can damage the fuel pump because the fuel cools and lubricates the pump as it flows. If you run your car low on gas, the pump will start to draw air in place of some of the fuel. When this happens, the fuel moving through the mechanism won’t be enough to cool the pump adequately. To keep your fuel pump functioning properly, the pump must be submerged in gasoline, which requires at least 1/4 of a tank, according to Strutmasters.
There is less risk of damaging your fuel pump if you’re idling. That’s because when the vehicle is still, the fuel sits level, and the pump will only draw air for a short time before the motor shuts off from lack of fuel. On the other hand, when you drive, the fuel sloshes around in the tank. The fluctuating levels create the possibility that the pump may repeatedly draw an insufficient fuel level, increasing the chance of overheating.
A final risk to your fuel pump when driving on empty comes from overworking. Your fuel filter removes debris from the fuel before it reaches the pump, but if your fuel filter gets clogged, your fuel pump must work harder to draw fuel in. In addition, debris in the gas tank settles to the bottom, so it can be more concentrated when your car is low on gas, which increases the odds of overworking the fuel pump.
Damage to your engine
When your engine doesn’t have enough fuel, it can cause cylinders to misfire. But the biggest risk is if you’re traveling at high speeds and RPMs, your car’s computer will request a richer air-fuel mixture to prevent damage to the engine. If the fuel pump cannot deliver enough fuel, it can cause an engine knock. The knocking sound is the same problem cars designed for premium gas can encounter if you use regular gas instead of premium. Engine knock can cause long-term damage to the engine, so you should avoid running the car hard if you’re driving on empty. Learn more about which cars require premium gas and the differences between premium vs. regular gas.
Damage to your catalytic converter
The catalytic converter breaks down dangerous exhaust chemicals into safer emissions like carbon dioxide and water. It accomplishes this through chemical reactions involving precious metals — one of the reasons catalytic converters are a popular target of theft. But those reactive materials aren’t designed to interact with pure fuel.
Counterintuitively, when you run low on fuel, you may deliver more pure fuel to the catalytic converter than when you have a full tank. That’s because if your engine misfires, fuel can make its way to the catalytic converter and cause it to overheat. But the risk is minimal because you don’t have much fuel to send through the catalytic converter, even if you misfire.
How low should you let your gas tank get?
It’s bad to drive your car on empty if you do it regularly, but how little fuel is too little? Fortunately, your car will tell you with a low fuel warning light. When that light comes on, fuel up as soon as possible. Even better, fuel up before the light comes on to avoid damage to your car. Most of the risks of driving on empty are only a problem if you frequently run the car on low fuel. If you use the right fuel, don’t let the tank run too low, and take it easy on the car, you should be fine even if you find yourself low on fuel with no way to fill up soon.
Treat your car right by filling it up with gas regularly and following our car maintenance tips. Not taking care of your car can lead to expensive repairs. Learn how mechanical breakdown insurance can help protect you from the costs of unexpected breakdowns and repairs.
FAQs
When your engine doesn't have enough fuel, it can cause cylinders to misfire. But the biggest risk is if you're traveling at high speeds and RPMs, your car's computer will request a richer air-fuel mixture to prevent damage to the engine.
Is it bad for your car to drive on low gas? ›
Running on a low gas tank can cause overheating of the fuel pump and premature failure. Replacing your fuel pump is a costly and preventable repair. Another part you risk damaging is your fuel filter, which keeps harmful sediments and dirt from getting into your engine.
Can driving on E damage your car? ›
It can damage your vehicle.
As if being stuck on the side of the road isn't bad enough, driving on empty can also be bad for your car. Critical components, like your vehicle's fuel pump, aren't designed to operate without fuel.
How long can you usually drive on empty? ›
As a general rule of thumb, it's usually safe to drive 30-50 miles once the fuel light has illuminated, but in some larger vehicles, drivers can go up to 80 miles before stopping for gas.
Is it better to leave your car full or empty? ›
Fill the gas tank completely full. An empty or low gas tank will lead to internal rust as condensation and moisture builds within the tank. Also add fuel stabilizer or corrosion inhibitors and then drive the car around a bit in order to distribute the additive to engine parts.
Can low gas cause engine problems? ›
Strain on the Engine: When your gas tank is low, your engine has to work harder to pull fuel from the tank. This extra strain can affect your engine's efficiency and performance, and it might even cause the engine to misfire or hesitate.
Is it bad to drive on a reserve tank? ›
Driving with your fuel light on is dangerous for both your car and yourself. Running an engine with little to no petrol can cause severe mechanical damage to your car, and if you do completely run out of fuel, you could end up stranded on the roads.
What happens if you run your car on empty all the time? ›
How does driving on empty affect your car? The primary reason you shouldn't run your car low on gas is that it can cause different engine parts to overheat. Running out of fuel negatively affects several important components, such as the fuel pump, engine, and catalytic converter.
Is it bad for your car to run out of gas? ›
Running Out Of Gas Can Cause Fuel Pump Damage
Fuel moving through the pump serves as both a lubricant for the pump's internal mechanism and as a coolant, helping to prevent the pump from overheating.
How far will $10 in gas get me? ›
How much gas will $10 get me? As of Nov. 15, 2023, the national average cost for a gallon of gas is $3.49, which means that $10 will get you about 2.87 gallons of gas. The average car gets around 25 miles per gallon, so 2.87 gallons will last you about 70 miles.
Consider each car's mpg: If a small city car with a 10-gallon gas tank gets about 40 mpg, it could probably make it 40 miles to the next gas station. Meanwhile, a Ram 1500, which gets around 30 mpg on the highway, could make it as far as 100 miles after the gas light comes on.
How far can a car go with 0 miles to empty? ›
Once the fuel light comes on, the average distance you can drive your car is usually around 49 miles. When the indicator hits zero, you won't be guaranteed any more miles, but it's likely you'll squeeze a few more out of the tank…
Is it bad for a car to sit with no gas? ›
Risk of Damaging the Fuel Pump
When there is little to no gas in the fuel tank, there is the risk of debris from the bottom of the tank getting into the fuel pump. Debris will find its way into the tank and sit there until the fuel pump sucks up the last of the gas.
Is it OK to fill up your car while it's on? ›
Pumping your gas with the engine running can lead to a fire.
Running cars produce a large amount of heat and electricity. When gas vapors run into heat or electricity, they can ignite and cause a fire.
Is it bad to not fill your car up all the way? ›
When you leave your gas tank partly full — especially for an extended time — it allows for dirt, rust, sediment and other pollutants to build up in your tank and mix with the gasoline. These debris can flow into your fuel lines, straight up to your engine! Yikes. That is some costly damage right there.
How much gas is too low to drive? ›
“Typically, it will light up when the tank is below 10% to 15% of its capacity.” In general, after the gas light comes on, Muñoz says it's safe to drive about 20 to 30 miles in a smaller vehicle or up to 50 miles in a larger vehicle.
Is it bad to keep gas low? ›
Low fuel also puts extra strain on the pump. Since there is less pressure pushing fuel into the pump, the pump must work harder to draw it in. In a worst-case scenario, this can cause the pump to overheat , leading to internal damage and potentially total failure.
Is it bad to drop gas on your car? ›
Overflowing your gas tank and spilling a few drops of the liquid on your car won't create a major problem. Yet, if you regularly get gasoline on your car, you'll notice paint deterioration around the affected areas.
On the Road 3 min read