A CAR expert has warned that skimping on your fuel could end up costing you thousands in repair bills.
Motorists who let their petrol tanks run low while on the roads are running the risk of causing “serious damage” to their vehicles.
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Failing to fill up and driving around on empty could leave you stranded on the roadside – or even with a £5,000 fine.
Dodging the diesel and petrol pumps for as long as you can may leave your motor beyond repair, according to Neil Worth.
The Chief Executive of road safety group GEM warned Brits their wallets would take a hit as a consequence of failing to fuel up.
On top of this, drivers are also putting themselves at risk of a dangerous collision – as their car could break down at any point.
Neil urged people to check their gauge before setting off on a journey and to plan for fuel stops on lengthy trips to avoid any issues.
But first, motorists must get rid of their bad fuel habits before their car ends up undriveable.
Neil told the Express: “If you permit your car to run out of fuel, you risk serious damage to the engine as well as potentially putting yourself and your passengers at risk of a collision because you will not be choosing where the car finally gives up.
“Check you have enough fuel for a journey. If you need to refuel, plan where you will stop so there is no risk whatsoever that you will run out.”
If stores run out and the fuel pump runs dry, you will need to take your motor into a garage for some complex repairs, which could see the bill turn into thousands of pounds.
One major issue that presents itself is the fuel filter becoming clogged by the debris stuck your tank.
If the levels get too low, the sediment that normally settles on the bottom can be sucked up by the fuel pump and funneled through your fuel system, eventually obstructing the fuel filter.
A lack of petrol can also cause your fuel pump to overheat and repeat offenders may find it eventually gives out.
As well as being a costly component to replace, this problem may leave you struggling to restart your car.
Without a steady stream of fuel, the fuel pump may also begin to suck in air when the tank is empty.
This disrupts the flow of fuel to the engine and can cause the vehicle to sputter and misfire while you try to turn the ignition.
The stress on the car will already do some damage, but the extra build-up of air may plague drivers even after they have refueled.
Another complication that arises is the damage to your exhaust system after the engine has been starved of fuel.
Your catalytic converter, which reduces toxicity in gas, can suffer the brunt of the trauma and may need to be replaced or repaired.
An average catalytic converter can set you back up to £800 in the UK, depending on the type of car you have.
Experts warned that older vehicles are more susceptible to damage when their tanks are on empty, but modern engines can be affected too.
As well as the looming threat of a bill costing thousands of pounds, drivers can also face prosecution for driving on low fuel.
Causing an obstruction with a car that’s out of fuel falls under the careless and inconsiderate driving penalty.
If you are forced to stop in the road and police spot you, they can slap you with a £100 fine and three points on your licence.
But in serious cases – where you have caused an accident, for example – you could be taken to court and given a much more severe penalty.
A court can actually issue anyone charged with careless driving an unlimited fine and up to nine penalty points – but for the majority of motorists, the fine won’t exceed £5,000.
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