With gas prices high and still climbing, it can be difficult to fill up your fuel tank week after week. However, you should never let your vehicle completely run out of fuel. Gasoline and diesel tend to be dirty and carry a lot of sediment. This is why your vehicle has a fuel filter. The fuel filter clears the gas of any dirt or debris, protecting your engine. Since gasoline and diesel are dirty, the fuel filter catches quite a bit of sediment. As the vehicle begins to run out of gas, the fuel pump will pick up additional sediment in the tank which can clog the entire fuel system.

Even if you have a new fuel filter it is possible to contaminate the remainder of the system and cause even more problems. The best bet is to always keep a reasonable amount of fuel in your vehicle and care for your entire fuel system on a regular basis.