Out of Gas
Short & Sweet
Don’t ever place your gps in front of your gas gauge. You may find yourself stranded on the side of the freeway at midnight on the way to Cincinnati with your husband and two kids, relying on a nice police officer to get you some fuel. The worst part is, you may have 10 minutes before you ran out of gas, been at a gas station, more worried about getting the kids to the potty and diapers changed, than filling up your tank. Make sure your gps is mounted on your windshield, if you lost the mount, get one. That situation could have turned out much worse. Luckily we didn’t have to wait to long for the nice police officer and I didn’t get too much grief from the officer or my husband. (In my defense, my husband didn’t remember to get gas at the gas station either…) You don’t realize how much seeing your gas gauge reminds you to get gas until you take that out of the equation. – Heather
Purpose:
Of course we know you can figure out a solution if you are out of gas. There are, however, a few things on this page that you may want to read through, the information might help you prevent further damage to your car.
Symptoms you are out of gas:
1. Your engine will stall.
2. You will lose power steering and your wheel will be very heavy and hard to turn.
3. Your brake petal may be harder to push.
4. Your lights, radio and anything else battery-powered will stay on.
“Care & Repair:
Once you have determined you are out of gas, take the following steps:
1. If possible, pop the car into neutral so you can coast off the side of the road and to the safest spot possible.
2. Turn on your hazard lights.
3. Do NOT attempt to restart you car.
4. Get to a gas station and get some gas!
If your car won’t start after you fill it up with gas, here are some reasons why:
1. Your fuel filter may be clogged.
2. Another form of damage that can occur is failed fuel injectors.
In both of these cases you will need to contact a technician.
Cost: Your pride and way too much a gallon.
Purpose
If your car starts sputtering and you realize that the gaslight has been on way too long, yep, you guessed it, you’re out of gas. Follow these easy steps to make sure you do not cause expensive damage to your car, keep yourself safe, and get back on your way.
Symptoms
If you happen to have a vehicle that doesn’t have the most reliable gas gauge (trust me, it happens), here are some signs that your car is out of gas.
1. Obviously, your engine will stall.
2. You will lose power steering and your wheel will be very heavy and hard to turn.
3. Your brake petal may be harder to push.
4. Your lights, radio and anything else battery-powered will stay on.
Care & Repair
Once you have determined you are out of gas, take the following steps.
1. If possible, pop the car into neutral so you can coast off the side of the road and to the safest spot possible.
2. Turn on your hazard lights.
3. Do NOT attempt to restart you car: You can clog your fuel filter or cause your fuel injectors to fail. In both of these cases you will need to call a mechanic, spending more of your hard-earned money. Do not attempt to start your car when you are out of gas and from now on, do not let your gas tank get below a quarter tank!
4. Get to a gas station: If you aren’t close enough too easily and safely walk to a gas station, call for help. (Choose the person who will make fun of you the least) To make it a little easier on you or whoever is coming to the rescue, here is a way to locate gas stations near you.
5. If you make it to a gas station, purchase an approved gas can and a few gallons of gas: A plastic bottle will not cut it – besides an empty gas can is a great item to keep in your car for situations such as these.
6. Head back to your car and empty the gas can into your gas tank: Take your time or you might reek of gas for the rest of the ride. Then go to the station and top her off.
7. Go home and have a drink and swear to never do that again: If you do, you will NEVER live it down, but if you do, at least you have a gas can.
If your car won’t start after you fill it up with gas, here are some possible reasons why.
1. Your fuel filter may be clogged: If this is the case, your car will start and then shut off. There is a thin sediment at the bottom of the gas tank that could have gotten sucked up into the fuel filter and clogged it.
2. Another form of damage that can occur is failed fuel injectors: Injectors run at a high pressure and temperature and need that fuel flow to keep them cool. Sometimes a lack of fuel will cause the injector to fail due to overheating. A sign of a failed fuel injector is if you start your car and it starts to sputter and smoke.
In both of these cases you will need to contact a technician.
Cost
Your pride and way too much a gallon.
