Low Fuel Light? You’re Cruising For A $1,000 Repair Bill

The majority of us are still driving cars that are powered by gasoline or hybrid engines. If you've lived in Minnesota long enough, you've probably heard the advice to make sure you have a full tank of gas in the winter.

"Keep It Above Half A Tank In The Winter"

It makes sense for several reasons. In the winter, if you get stranded, you can still run the engine if you have gas to stay warm. Also, on really cold, sub-zero nights, having an empty gas tank can actually cause condensation in your gas tank and introduce water into the system. It's not what you want, that's for sure.

Low Fuel Light Can Lead To Expensive Repair

Now that we are transitioning into spring in Minnesota, you may think that it's not a big deal to drive around on less than a quarter tank of gas. When I was starting out in my  20s, and gas was $4 a gallon (around 2008), I was guilty of driving around with the fuel light occasionally coming on. It was usually waiting for payday to fill up gas, which got me.

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Then, one day, my Ford Ranger wouldn't start. It just turned over and over, but it wouldn't start. It was intermittent at first. I'd give it a few minutes and then it would miraculously start. A few days later, it wouldn't start no matter what I tried.

I had it towed to a shop and found out the problem was pretty expensive. My fuel pump had failed, and needed to be replaced. Even back then, it was a $1,000 repair.

In Most Cars, Gasoline Cools the Fuel Pump

The fuel pump in most cars is inside your gas tank. It pumps fuel to your engine. Gasoline inside the tank helps to cool and lubricate the electronic pump. If you are low on gas and you are sucking in air, it can burn the pump up.

Never let your car go below a 1/4 of a tank.

The best advice is to never let that fuel light go on in the first place. This YouTuber Scotty Kilmer says it best - pretend the 1/4 of the tank is empty and fill up when it hits that mark.