1 00:00:01,800 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 1: Welcome to brain Stuff, a production of iHeart Radio. Hey 2 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: brain Stuff, Lauren Bogbaum here with another episode from the 3 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:13,040 Speaker 1: podcast archives. This one just happened to come up in 4 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:17,440 Speaker 1: the rotation during this unfortunately appropriate time of rising gas prices. 5 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: It concerns what running on empty actually does to your car. 6 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: Hey brain Stuff, Lauren Bogobam Here. Experts say you should 7 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: keep your gas tank at least a quarter full at 8 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: all times. Obviously, doing so we'll keep you from getting 9 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: any dangerous situation where you're low on gas and too 10 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 1: far from gas station to fill up. But there are 11 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: other less obvious reasons to keep a little gas in 12 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:43,839 Speaker 1: your tank. Driving on an empty tank, or even one 13 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 1: that's getting close to the dregs in the bottom, can 14 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:48,160 Speaker 1: cause damage to your car in a number of ways. 15 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 1: You won't get very far driving on empty, but in 16 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 1: the moments before you do stall out, your car's catalytic converter, 17 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: which is part of the exhaust system, can be damaged. 18 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 1: You could also get debris stuck in your fuel by 19 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: running your tank too low. That's because any tiny particles 20 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: that find their way into the gas tank settle at 21 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 1: the bottom, and they tend to stay there. Until your 22 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: car is trying to grab every last bit of fuel 23 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 1: that it can. When the fuel pump sucks up the 24 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:14,960 Speaker 1: last of your gas, any debris in your tank will 25 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: go along with it, and the particles can get stuck 26 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 1: in your pump or in your fuel filter. In early 27 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 1: model cars from the nineteen eighties and older, the gas 28 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: tanks are usually made of metal, and as they deteriorate, 29 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 1: harmful deposits can build up in the bottom. Newer cars 30 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 1: have plastic fuel tanks, so sediment usually makes its way 31 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 1: inside the tanks from contaminated fuel, but getting sediments stuck 32 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: in your fuel pump isn't the only way that you 33 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 1: could be damaging it. In some cars, the fuel pump 34 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:44,320 Speaker 1: is located in the gas tank and the gas acts 35 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 1: like insulation and lubricant as it flows around the pump. 36 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: If you're constantly running your gas tank dry, the fuel 37 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: pump could be overheating, which will cause it to wear 38 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 1: out prematurely. But how far can you actually go when 39 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 1: the gas gage hits e well, that depends on your car. 40 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: Different vehicles have the gas light configured in different ways, 41 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 1: though most cars will illuminate the light when there are 42 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 1: about two to three gallons, that's seven point five to 43 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: eleven leaders left. Some bigger vehicles like trucks and SUVs 44 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: light up the empty indicator when there are about four 45 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,360 Speaker 1: gallons or fifteen leads, that's about a sixteenth of a 46 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:21,679 Speaker 1: tank left. How far those amounts can get you is 47 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: another variable that depends on your car's efficiency, you're driving style, 48 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 1: and whether you're in the city, on the highway, or 49 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:30,920 Speaker 1: stuck in a traffic jam. Some newer cars have a 50 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 1: display in the instrument cluster that keeps a running tally 51 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: of your range or how many miles you can drive 52 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,919 Speaker 1: on your current tank of gas. These displays are pretty accurate, 53 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:43,919 Speaker 1: but again they are just estimates. Changing road conditions or 54 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: any number of other factors can affect the accuracy of 55 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 1: this gauge, which could leave you stranded if you're really 56 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: cutting it close. So it's a good idea to get 57 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: in the habit of filling up before you strictly need to. 58 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: That said, if you find yourself in a situation where 59 00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 1: you're running low, don't worry. You're not going to ruin 60 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 1: your car. Are just get into the practice of filling 61 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 1: up whenever your fuel gage reaches the quarter mark. And 62 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 1: You'll be fine. Today's episode is based on the article 63 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: running on empty how Bad is It for Your Car? 64 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 1: On hous to works dot com, written by Shres three 65 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: with brain Stuff is production of by Heart Radio in 66 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: partnership with how stuff works dot com, and it's produced 67 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 1: by Tyler clang. Be four more podcasts from my heart Radio. 68 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: Visit the I heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever 69 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 1: you listen to your favorite shows.