Scotty Kilmer has warned petrol and diesel owners are at risk of “burning out” a vital component by making a simple mistake when topping up at fuel stations.
Amid the cost of living crisis, motorists may be tempted to run cars until they are almost out of fuel.
However, the YouTube star urged motorists to never leave tanks until they are empty due to serious risks.
Instead, road users should visit a petrol station when their tank is around one-quarter full to protect fuel pumps from being damaged.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Scotty said: “Today I’m going to tell you why you don’t want to drive your car with the fuel gauge all the way down to E.
“Because in most modern cars the fuel pump is hiding inside the gas tank. The pump pumps the gasoline and believe it or not the gasoline is the lubricant that lubricates the bearings inside this pump.
“So if you actually run out of gas then this baby sucks air, the bearings will burn out because air does not lubricate them.
“So if you want to be smart, treat quarter as empty. So they have a quarter of the tank, fill it up then. Your car will last as long as mine, 220,000 miles and still has the original fuel pump.”
Motorists were quick to praise Scotty for the advice with one driver admitting they had previously been caught out by underfilling their vehicle.
YouTube viewer @deadringer3729 said: “Yep this is true I had to do my fuel pump because I kept pushing it to empty.”
@eyesea123 posted: “Plus the gunk at the bottom of the tank will travel through your engine on empty.”
@pblaze6286 wrote: “I have been doing that for years was told many years ago 1/4 is empty so don’t pick any junk sitting at the bottom.” (sic)
@jamesgrissom3750 commented: “Not only lubricants the pump. It also aids in dissipating heat from the pump while running submerged in the fuel as well.”
Another YouTube viewer added: “Gas in a tank can also have particles of debris at the bottom of fuel tanks. The crap could also clog up the fuel pump as it gets sucked up to be used.”
However, some appeared to question the feedback as they suggested their cars had not been damaged by running low on fuel.
@anthonyhartle8564 reacted: “My truck has 350,000 miles and is always on E. Only replaced fuel pump twice since the year 2000.”
@1974Qball added: “I’ve been driving near empty for 30 years, no problems lol.”
