CMH Nissan

Nissan
  • New Vehicles
  • Shop@Home
    • Shop at home
    • Book a home test drive
    • Contact Us
    • Apply For Finance
  • Pre-Owned
  • Owner Services
    • Book a Service
    • Genuine Parts
  • Special Offers
  • Newsroom
  • Find a dealer
    • All Dealers
    • CMH Nissan Ballito
    • CMH Nissan Durban
    • CMH Nissan Hillcrest
    • CMH Nissan Midrand
    • CMH Nissan Pietermaritzburg
    • CMH Nissan Pinetown
Open/Close menu
    • NEW VEHICLES
    • Shop@Home
      • Shop @ Home
      • Book a Home Test Drive
      • Contact Us
      • Apply for Finance
    • PRE-OWNED
    • OWNER SERVICES
      • Book a Service
      • Genuine Parts
    • SPECIAL OFFERS
    • SELL MY CAR
    • NEWSROOM
    • FIND A DEALER
      • All Dealers
      • CMH Nissan Ballito
      • CMH Nissan Durban
      • CMH Nissan Hillcrest
      • CMH Nissan Midrand
      • CMH Nissan Pietermaritzburg
      • CMH Nissan Pinetown
cmh-nissan-logo
new magnite
new magnite
From R246,200
magnite kuro
magnite kuro
From R340,300
magnite move
magnite move
From R224,900
navara single cab
navara single cab
From R433,500
navara double cab
navara double cab
From R493,600
x-trail
x-trail
From R687,900
patrol
patrol
From R1,779,900
Test Drive Find a Dealer Current Offers Parts
Fuel Light On for Quarter
Why You Shouldn’t Drive Around With Your Low Fuel Light On
News
8th
2021-06

When your low fuel light turns on, it is a warning that you are dangerously close to running out of gas.

The amount of fuel you have left in the tank and the time you have before you run out depends on several factors, including:

  • The vehicle’s fuel economy
  • Your speed
  • Your location (highway vs. city streets)

So, let us get into reasons why it is never a good idea to drive with the low fuel light on:

Costly Car Repairs

Vehicle repairs for fuel light on

If you run out of gas, your car will break down. That means you could risk serious damage to the engine or another car part.

According to our CMH Midrand Technicians, the gas in your car “acts as a coolant for the electric fuel-pump motor, so when you run very low, this allows the pump to suck in air, which creates heat and can cause the fuel pump to wear prematurely and potentially fail.”

The total bill to fix your vehicle will largely depend on the amount of damage. While you may expect to pay for parts and labour, the cost of keeping your car at a mechanic for longer than one day can mean more money out of your wallet to pay for a rental car or ride-share service.

Higher Gas Prices

Fuel Light On for Fuel Filling

Driving with the low fuel light on means you cannot comparison shop for the cheapest gas price.

If you are running low on gas, you will likely be in a rush to pull into a gas station that has expensive fuel because — let us face it — you probably do not have any other choice. So instead of using your fuel points with another retailer, you are going to pay more than you should for gas because you let the fuel light come on.

Tips to Avoid Running Out of Gas

Now that we have gone over two reasons why fuel light low = more money out of your pocket, follow these tips to avoid running out of gas:

Keep Your Gas Tank No Less Than ¼ Full

Fuel Light On for Quarter

You should always keep your tank at least a quarter full, According to our Technicians. This amount of gas gives you some much-needed breathing room before you must make a desperate decision.

Use Mobile Apps to Find Cheap Gas Stations and Cheap Fuel

If the price at the pump is preventing you from filling up, use online tools or smartphone apps to find the cheapest gas near your house.

Mobile App

Turn the Air Conditioning Off

Air conditionally

We all love the cool air from the air conditioner, but when you’re running on empty, you need to increase your fuel economy. One way to do that is to turn off the A/C — at least until you make it to the gas station.

Don’t Drive So Aggressively

Aggressive Driving

Not only is it discourteous, but aggressive driving wastes more gas. Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking can drop your gas mileage from 15% to 30% at highway speeds. In stop-and-go traffic, fuel economy drops from 10% to 40%.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that driving with the low fuel light on is a bad idea for your safety, your vehicle, and your wallet. Before you drive to your next destination, check your gas tank. If you’re running low on fuel, take the time to fill up before you run out!

Filed Under: Blog, CMH Nissan Midrand Tagged With: CMH Nissan Midrand, Fuel Light on

Dealerships
  • CMH Nissan Ballito
  • CMH Nissan Durban
  • CMH Nissan Hillcrest
  • CMH Nissan Midrand
  • CMH Nissan Pietermaritzburg
  • CMH Nissan Pinetown
SHOPPING TOOLS
  • Book a Test Drive
  • New Vehicles
  • Special Offers
  • Pre-Owned
Owner Services
  • Book a Service
  • Genuine Parts
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
CMH Nissan Social
  • Privacy Policy
CMH Nissan Logo
©Nissan 2023
rokkit-logo