Don't run your car on fumes!

AN increasing number of drivers are “running on empty” due to high petrol and diesel costs.

Breakdown service Green Flag reported a 40 per cent increase in its number of fuel-related call-outs in the second half of January, compared with the same period last month.

A survey by the company showed that 48 per cent of drivers had been dangerously close to empty or broke down before reaching the pumps at some point in their lifetime.

More than a third of these incidents occurred in the last three months during a period when the price of petrol at the pumps has reached record levels.

The poll also showed that more than 30 per cent of drivers had cut down on their motoring to offset rising fuel prices.

But only 4 per cent had taken up car-sharing and only six per cent had bought a more fuel-efficient car.

Of the 2,110 adults surveyed, those from Northern Ireland had the most fuel-related breakdowns, while younger drivers (aged 18-34) were the ones most likely to run out of petrol.

Running your car’s fuel down to zero is not a good idea and will cost you a lot of money in the longer term, writes Mike Scialom.

The reason is this: cars are ever more sophisticated. At the bottom of your tank is a load of gunk – sediment, metal filings, sludge. You put this through your fuel nozzles at your peril. You might get away with it once or twice, but after a while the nozzles will either give up or expand slightly to accommodate the slurry: either way the result is the same – you’ve ruined your timing and wasted your engine by feeding it kak.

If you know your car is low on fuel, then head straight for the refilling station. If you can’t afford to fill up, then wait until you can.

You’ll be saving yourself a lot of hassle in the long run.