Is it harmful to the car if I don't refuel when the fuel light comes on?
2 Answers
Not refueling when the fuel light comes on is not harmful to the car, as long as you don't run out of fuel and stall the engine. The fuel gauge light is just a warning; when it lights up, there is still some fuel left in the tank, generally enough to drive about 50-100 kilometers. However, it's advisable to refuel as soon as the light comes on and avoid the risk of running the tank dry, as this can damage the fuel pump and cause inconvenience. Additional information: 1. It's often said that you shouldn't wait until the fuel light comes on to refuel, as it can harm the car. The concern is primarily about the fuel pump, which is normally submerged in gasoline to dissipate heat. When the fuel level is low, it can't dissipate heat effectively. However, this is not actually the case—it doesn't affect the car, and the fuel light is simply a reminder for the owner to refuel. 2. The fuel pump does require cooling, but it doesn't rely on the surrounding fuel for heat dissipation. There are two reasons for this: 1) If it relied on the surrounding fuel for cooling, the temperature of the gasoline in the tank would keep rising, posing a potential hazard. 2) The fuel pump is quite tall, spanning the entire height of the fuel tank, with the motor located in the middle-lower part. When only one-third of the fuel remains, the motor is no longer submerged in gasoline.
I've been driving for almost twenty years, and when the fuel light comes on, you really should go refuel, don't procrastinate just to save trouble. Once I was too lazy to refuel and delayed until the next day, my car suddenly stalled in the middle of the road, stopping at a crossroad and nearly causing an accident. Later, the mechanic found that the fuel pump had burned out. He said this part relies on fuel for cooling—when the fuel level is low, it gets exposed to air, overheats, and burns up. That single repair cost me over 800 yuan. Doing this long-term can also cause the engine to suck in impurities, shortening its overall lifespan. Safety first—I suggest you make it a habit to find a gas station as soon as the fuel light turns on. It saves you trouble and repair costs.
