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You often drive on reserve - check why you shouldn't do it
(photo: pexels)
You only refuel when you are almost out of fuel. You often drive on reserve, not being aware that it does not have the best effect on your car. Don't wait until the last minute, refuel earlier, especially in autumn and winter. First of all, your car's engine suffers. So the only problem is not the risk of running out of fuel on a rarely traveled road. Some drivers are more careful. They refuel when they see on the gauge that they have less than half a tank of fuel. Is it worth following their example? Or maybe frequent driving on reserve isn't such a bad idea after all?
From the article you will learn:
- How driving on reserve affects individual components in the car
- What is the function of fuel?
- What are the effects of driving on reserve?
- How to make up for the fuel deficit
Driving on reserve – case?
Perhaps this is true for most drivers, but not all. Especially if it is frequent riding on reserve It's hard to say it wasn't intentional. Indicator lights in the car, which indicate a fuel reserve, do not mean “refuel” for everyone. After all, we know that with this level of fuel we will still be able to travel several dozen kilometers. Sometimes riding on reserve indeed it was not intentional. During a long drive, there is no gas station on the route, and you will be able to refuel only after 50-60 km. However, some drivers like to drive until the last drop of fuel is left. Unfortunately, infrequent refueling has nothing to do with good practices.
A risk that doesn't pay off
You want your car to always be in good shape, drive efficiently, efficiently, economically and without frequent breakdowns. Despite this, you rarely fill it up when the reserve light comes on. There should be no less than 1/4 of fuel in the tank. Take special care of it in winter. You can not only stop far from the city, in the middle of the road or on a rarely traveled route. It is also a habit that contributes to failures and faults in the engine and other car components.
Frequent riding on reserve, and the fuel pump
Fuel powers the car, but also lubricates and cools the fuel pump. By riding on reserve we are dealing with a deficit of "spread". Problems related to this appear on bends, then the pump loses lubrication for a while. This does not always mean an immediate failure, but it is a direct path to loss of engine efficiency. If you have a gas car, you will certainly feel it more strongly. You only fill up with enough gasoline to start the car. In winter, problems with pump lubrication have even more serious consequences. In such conditions, we cannot start a cold engine using gas.
High temperature fuel
Driving on reserve it also results in an increase in fuel temperature - the less fuel there is in the tank, the higher its temperature. This occurs as a result of some of the fuel heated by the engine temperature returning to the tank. It heats what is already in the tank. This contributes to problems with engine operation. This is such a big problem that in most cases we do not associate it with driving on reserve. Maybe we even downplay the problem and look for it somewhere else entirely. In fact, how we use the car affects the life of individual components.
Tank without fuel, tank not completely empty
When there is no fuel in the tank, it does not mean that there is nothing else in it. There is definitely still air in it, but we know perfectly well that it will be difficult for us to ride it. It is characterized by a high content of water vapor, which condenses and forms water, which combines with the remains of the fuel. At low temperatures, the water freezes and ice appears in the tank. The fuel system locks up and we lose our energy source. Frequent riding on reserve when water accumulates in the tank, it promotes the formation of rust spots. This may cause the carburetor nozzles, fuel filter and injectors to become blocked.
Problematic diesels
More and more of them are driving on the streets, some on the last drops of fuel. If you have a modern car, you can count on computer support. When in reserve, special controllers automatically change the injection parameters. Unfortunately, the computer won't help in older models because it doesn't have one. A clogged injection system makes it difficult to start the diesel engine. In such a case, we cannot cope without the help of a specialist. Remember, your diesel doesn't like to run at full speed. Keep an eye on the fuel level in the tank and avoid driving on reserve.
We are making up the deficit
Your car won't go any further. There is not even a drop left in the tank, you have to rely on energy from the canister. It's worth having it, especially when going on a longer trip. In newer car models, filling fuel gaps may be difficult. The design of the filler port clearly makes this difficult. Buy a canister with a hose and a stiff tip. Insert the nozzle into the infusion and unlock the protection. In typical cars, it is enough to add 5 liters of fuel to keep going. If you have a powerful SUV, a typical gas can may not be enough.
Driving on reserve to the nearest station
You're several dozen kilometers away from the gas station and you're already running on fumes? Drive economically, slow down to 50-60 km/h. The revolutions cannot drop too low, so pay attention to the correct selection of the gear ratio in the gearbox. Your car should be able to handle 1300-1500 rpm. Preferably during driving on reserve do not allow it to drop below 1500 rpm. If you are already 2-3 km away from the gas station and your car may stop at any time, stop yourself. You can walk this small section and refill the canister with fuel. It's always a better option than stopping in an unsafe place.
Summary
- The fuel lubricates and maintains the correct temperature of the fuel pump
- The less fuel there is, the faster it heats up, which has an adverse effect on engine operation
- There is water in a tank with a fuel deficit. It freezes at low temperatures and makes it impossible to continue driving. It also promotes the appearance of rust spots.
- Driving on reserve increases the risk of air in the injection system, especially in old diesels.
- To start the car when there is no fuel, just fill the tank with 5 liters of "energy".
See also:
- How to drain fuel from a tank?
- What is baptized fuel?
- Calculate fuel consumption! Check how much fuel your car burns!
