What Do You Do When You Run Out of Gas?

Gas Light Indicator On Dash.

How Do You Know When Your Car Is About to Run Out of Gas?

Running out of gas can be one of the scariest things to happen to you. Whether it’s running out of gas at night or running out of gas on the highway, this type of situation can be incredibly stressful and leave you wondering what you should do. A lot of people wonder how you know you have run out of gas, and there are a couple of running out of gas symptoms that you should be aware of. Knowing what the signs are for running out of gas can help you better navigate what to do in this type of situation.

  • Gas Light Indicator Pops Up: If you are about to run out of gas, the first thing that will happen is your gas light will pop up on your dash. Typically when the gas light comes on, the driver still has about another 25 miles to find a gas station before they run out of gas.
  • Your Car Won’t Start: When there isn’t enough gas in your tank, then it can make turning on your car impossible. If you are in the middle of driving and you run out of gas, then your car will automatically stop working.
  • Your Car Will Stall: Another sign that you have run out of gas is when you have only a little bit of fuel, get your car to start, and it begins to stall when you are driving.
  • Your Car Will Make Noises: A car that has started to run out of gas will also make strange noises as the car is attempting to turnover.

Once you have run out of gas you might be wondering what steps you need to take. The first thing you will want to do is put your car in park so that is doesn’t roll away. If you have roadside assistance, then you can call them and they can bring you gas. For people who don’t have roadside assistance, you can always call a towing company. Towing company provide other services besides towing, so when you call you can ask if they can bring you gas.

How Long Can You Run On Empty?

Many people who are about to run out of gas usually ask, “How far can I go with my gas light on?” It honestly depends on what type of vehicle you have, a truck or car, but typically a vehicle can go 25 miles before they completely run out of gas. There are other factors that can contribute to how long it takes for your car to run out of gas such as the condition of the car and how the car is being driven. It important that when your fuel tank indicates you are about to run out of gas, you find a gas station right away.

How to Avoid Running Out of Gas

If you think your car is about to run out of gas, there are some things you can do to try to prevent this from happening. The first thing you will want to do is find the nearest gas station. Once you know where the nearest gas station is you will need to slow your speed to at least 35 or 45 miles per hour. Going the speeds will make your car more fuel-efficient, so you can save gas while you are driving to the gas station. Other things you need to do to save on fuel before you get to a gas station is turning off the radio, A/C, as well as roll up the windows. All of these things can help you reduce how much gas you are using. Lastly, if it’s possible, try to drive downhill. Driving downhill doesn’t take a lot of gas, so its ideal to find a gas station that is downhill.

Who Can I Call If I Ran Out of Gas?

Person Using Phone On Road.

Places and People to Call

If you happen to run out of gas, then you will need to call someone to bring you gas. If you aren’t very far from home, you can call your parents, other relatives, or friends to bring you gas. In situations where you are far from home, there are a couple of people you can call. People who have roadside assistance can call them and they can bring them gas. A lot of people ask, “Can you call the police if you run out of gas?” and the answer is yes. If you are in a remote area and you don’t know who to call, you can always contact the police for help. However, towing companies can also help in these types of situations. Running out of gas is never fun, but if you need gas, call Pippin Towing & Recovery! We can offer towing services in Festus, MO that include gas services. Just like you wouldn’t go to someone other than a roofer for roof damage storm repair, you wouldn’t call anyone else but a tower when you are having issues on the road. You can reach us at (636) 937-0797 to get more information.