Why you shouldn't drive while your car's low on fuel

It's everyone's pet peeve - that little light clicking on to let you know it's time to fill up your car.

But experts say ignoring that little light could cost a lot more than a tank of gas in the long run.

First of all, that tiny light isn't always accurate. It should be considered more of an estimate than an exact measure of how much fuel you have left - that means you could run dry sooner than you think.

In addition, if you refuse to acknowledge your car's cry for help, and keep driving on fumes, then all the dust and debris sitting at the bottom of your petrol tank can be sucked up into your pump or your fuel filter.

However, there is a little leeway, yourmechanic.com says. Driving close to the danger zone of fuel efficiency won't ruin your car the first time you do it, and might not even ruin it the second.

But don't get too comfortable, because constantly ignoring the warning light could cost a lot more in repairs.

If those aren't enough to stop you pushing your 1996 Corolla to its absolute limits, there's more still: driving on low fuel could also cause damage to your catalytic converter, a key part of the exhaust system.