Running Out of Gas
First off, let's state the obvious. It is not a good idea to
let your car run out of gas, and realistically, it's pretty easy to avoid. In
addition to the obvious fuel gauge dipping lower, many cars now let you know
approximately how many miles you have left in your tank, and you can't say you
weren't warned.
However, it can still happen. Sometimes all these
technological advances give us a false sense of confidence. Why rush when your
car thinks it has twenty miles left? Remember that time you drove when the car
was down to ONE mile? You might feel like you'll be fine, but circumstances
aren't always ideal. Your car thinks it has twenty miles based on your average
MPG consumption, but what if you get stuck in traffic?
I'm guilty of pushing the envelope, usually because I'm
either in a rush or I'm certain I can get a better deal if I can just get to a
certain station or area. I'm a bargain shopper who loves my deals, and I've
figured out that if I combine gas points with a certain location and wait until
I'm TOTALLY empty, I can get the best bang for my buck. I'm also confident that
I know exactly how much fuel I have when my gas light first shows up, and based
on the lower end of my average MPG, I know what time and distance I can play
with. This is totally risky, and I had one really close call when I truly
believe I was running on fumes, so I decided to look into exactly how bad it
is.
How bad is it?
While the thought of having to walk five miles to the
nearest station, or sit in the car on the side of the road waiting for roadside
assistance is bad enough, running out of gas can do more than simply wear out
your shoes or hurt your pride. It can also cause damage to your vehicle. When a
car or truck runs out of gas, the fuel pump can go out as it relies on fuel for
both cooling and lubrication. This might not happen the first time, but if
running out of gas becomes a habit, it is likely. Also, depending on your car,
you may have an issue with sediment in your fuel tank being drawn into the
engine when you get too low, and that's not something you want.
What do you do?
If your vehicle starts to sputter (and trust me, you'll
notice when it does), get over to the side of road as quickly and safely as
possible. Call for help and/or get yourself to a safe area. If you need to
leave your car, whether it's to wait for roadside assistance or to walk to a
station to get a gallon of gas, tie something to your antenna to alert other
motorists.
The primary instruction is to stay safe. Trust your gut. If
it doesn't seem like a safe place to walk, don't. Lock your doors and wait for
help you can trust.
How to avoid it?
In simple terms, you are in charge here, and paying
attention can save you plenty of hassle. After a particularly close call one
day, I decided that getting a few dollars worth of gas that might be a little
pricier was well worth it and bought me enough time to get to the station I
wanted to get to.