When does the gas light turn on in my car?

Driving to the gas station is a chore, and many of us wait until the gas light comes on and the tank is nearly empty. But waiting for the fuel tank to dry out is a bad habit, and the consequences can be serious. Some people tend to take this light lightly, seeing it as more of a reminder than a warning. But this warning light is just like any other on the dashboard: it indicates a condition the car is in that could potentially lead to damage. There are many problems that can go wrong when gas gets low and they range from relatively minor to very serious.

Common problems when running on low gasoline:

• The accumulation of deposits can clog the engine: Sediment from gasoline settles at the bottom of the tank. When you lower the tank to zero, it causes the car to stir up the sediment and push it through the engine. There's a good chance your car's fuel filter won't be able to catch all of this, especially if you drive empty regularly. This can lead to clogging of the fuel pump suction pipe, fuel line or fuel injectors. It is also possible to score all three at once, causing significant and costly damage. At the very least, you will have to change the fuel filter more often. Finally, if heavy sediment gets into the engine, it can damage engine internals. At best, the engine needs to be flushed, which can cost a couple of hundred dollars. In the worst case, you will have to change the engine.

• Fuel pump wear: The fuel pump does exactly what it says: it pumps fuel into the engine. A constant supply of fuel ensures good lubrication and cooling, ideal conditions that keep it in good working order for a long time. The fuel pump sucks in more air when the fuel runs out, which creates hotter, drier conditions that lead to premature wear. So, if you always have a low level of fuel in the tank, you are stressing your fuel pump and you will need to replace it as soon as possible.

• Get stuck: There is no standard that will tell you exactly how long you have after turning on your gaslight before you run out of gas. Getting into a predicament can be more of a dangerous event than an inconvenience. When the car stops, the power steering and hydraulic boosters are violated, so maneuvering in traffic jams becomes difficult and dangerous. If you run out of gas on a road without a curb, you are in a situation in which you and all the drivers around you are at risk of an accident. Luckily, running out of gas is easy: all you have to do is fill up your car.

Is diesel fuel different?

The ingress of air into the fuel supply system in a diesel engine is actually worse than in other engines. The consequence of this is the beginning of a grueling and expensive process of dismantling the system to remove air.

Simple solutions and tips:

Maintaining a steady and plentiful supply of fuel to your engine comes down to one simple and obvious idea: don't let the gas tank go empty. Here are a few standards you need to keep your tank full to keep your vehicle in good working order:

• Fill the tank when it is at least ¼ full.

• Don't rely on guesswork to know how much fuel you have left, so make sure you fill up before you go on a long trip. If you find yourself in a traffic jam, you will have to drive longer than you thought, but you will also be prepared.

• Use the gas app to find nearby gas stations with the best prices (there are many - check out GasBuddy on iTunes or GasGuru on Google Play).

It is extremely important that you call a mechanic if your car is constantly running out of space.