Running out of gas in the middle of nowhere is any car owner’s nightmare. We can’t count how many horror stories started with a car stalling in the middle of the road. Scary stories aside, running out of gas can be quite an experience, especially for new car owners. But what should you do when your car runs out of gas?

Well, as always, we are here to help you out. We will be using two scenarios – running out of gas in the city and out on the road. The two are very different scenarios considering one is located in the heart of civilization while the other scenario places you in a location where you might have trouble looking for another person. Let’s start.

What to Do When You Run Out of Gas in the City?

Alright, let’s assume that you are not a totally clueless driver and you actually noticed the fuel gauge dropping to E as in “Empty”. If you are in the city the first thing you need to do is to find the nearest gasoline station. While reaching the gasoline station just as the car starts to putter is the target, that might not be the case.

Now your whimpers to a halt signifying it has drunk the last drop of gasoline from the tank. The first thing you need to do is to try to maneuver the car to the curb so you don’t disrupt other motorists. You turn on your hazard lights and park your car. Depending on how safe the place you parked is, you can either go out of the car and try to find the nearest gasoline station (with an approved gasoline container) to refill your car.

However, this is not always the case. You might find yourself in an unfamiliar location so going out of the car might be dangerous. In such cases, you can either call a family member or friend to bail you out. If you signed up to a road assistance program you can also give them a call to help you out. But if you really think you are in a bad neighborhood then don’t hesitate to call 911 as they can get the police to help or a tow truck to tow your vehicle.

The city might be a “better” place to run out of gas, but it is definitely not safer. So, make sure to prioritize your safety at all times.

What to Do When You Run Out of Gas on the Road?

This one can get a bit tricky. When you run out of gas on the road, you simply can’t do the same things as in the city. First thing you need to do is assess how far you are from the nearest gas station. Depending on where you are this can mean a few hundred meters to a few miles. If the gas station is within walking distance, you can take your chances of making the trip. However, you can only do this on places that you know are safe.

In case you see yourself stuck in a place where the nearest gas station is a couple of miles, just contact roadside assistance or 911 to help you out. Remember that if you are unfamiliar with a place you can always stay in your car. However, don’t count out good samaritans. If people offer to extend a helping hand think it over.

How Not To Run Out of Gas Anywhere

When asked “how do I keep my car from running out of gas?” I usually give a very simple reply:

“Make sure to keep your fuel at least ¼ full at all times.”

 

We forget things. That’s normal. As humans, we can get so overwhelmed that we forget a lot of things – including filling up on gas. So as a general rule, you should always keep your fuel tank at least ¼ full. With that enough gas, you will never have to worry about running out of fuel before reaching a gasoline station.

Remember that every time your car runs out of gas, it causes problems on your engine. If you’ve run out of gas recently, you might want to let the expert mechanics at T3 Atlanta take a look at your car. They can check the car to look any damage your car experienced when it ran out of gas. Call T3 Atlanta today.