No matter how prepared you are, running out of fuel is always a buzzkiller. So, as soon as you look down at the gas gauge and realize you’re almost out, you immediately think of the possible ways to cope with it.
If you have a good sense of direction, you might be able to make it home with little to no problem. But if you don’t know where you are or without any backup, this can be dangerous, especially on a dark road late at night.
Most people have had the experience of running out of gas at some point in their lives. If you get caught in this situation, don’t worry—we’re here to help! We’ll walk you through what happens when your car runs out of gas and how to avoid this scenario in the future.
What Do You Mean by Out Of Gas(Fuel)?
Let’s say you’re driving your car, and suddenly you feel like there is no power from the engine; the first thing you should assume is that your vehicle has run out of gas. The “E” sign refers to the fuel gauge in your car, which shows how much gas is left in your tank.
When the needle of your car hits “E,” you need to get somewhere where you can refuel. If you don’t figure out where the nearest gas station is fast enough, and you run out of gas, it can be hazardous because you won’t be able to start your engine again until you fill up with fuel.
When this happens, the best thing to do is pull over in a safe spot and call for help from a roadside assistance service. The service provider can tell you where the nearest gas station is located and provide other helpful information like how much gas costs at that particular station.
What Happens When You Run Out Of Gas In Your Car
There’s nothing worse than running out of gas in your car. It can trigger the most negative emotions as anger, panic, or frustration. But if you’re armed with the right tools and the right guide, you’ll be able to get back on the road in no time. Let’s have a quick look at what happens when your car runs out of gas.
The Car Will Shut Down
The engine will turn off automatically if it doesn’t get fuel. When that happens, you’ll lose power steering, power brakes, and other features powered by the engine. You may lose the steering wheel altogether depending on how much gas is left in the tank when it runs out. If you’re driving uphill or at high speeds when this happens, the car could roll over and crash.
The Fuel Pump May Get Damaged
Fuel pumps act as a fuel delivery system in a vehicle. The fuel pump draws fuel from the fuel tank and into the engine. If there’s no more fuel in the tank, there’s nothing for the pump to draw out; thus, the pump gets dry. This means that if you run out of gas, you have no way of starting up your car again until you get some more fuel in it.
This is why mechanics recommend that drivers always pull over to fill up on gas instead of waiting until they have less than a quarter tank left before stopping at a station.
Fuel Injectors May Not Filter Properly
The fuel injectors need to filter out dirt and debris so they don’t clog up and cause damage to your engine. If the car runs out of gas, the fuel filter may not filter properly, which could cause it to get clogged over time.
In addition, fuel injectors are responsible for fuel injection into the engine at just the right time and in the proper amount. They’re also responsible for regulating how much air enters a cylinder at any given moment during operation. If these components aren’t working well, your car will have trouble starting and running correctly.
Damage Electric Motor
When you’re low on fuel, the engine will start sputtering. You might even see smoke coming from underneath the hood.
The problem is that the engine loses power when you run out of gas. The electric motor, powered by gasoline, stops working and overheats. This can cause damage to the motor and other parts of your car’s engine.
Check Out When You Run Out of Gas:
What To Do If I Run Out Of Gas While Driving
Most drivers in the United States face the problem of running out of gas. According to AAA, approximately 100 million vehicles are on the road today, and 20% will run out of gas at some point.
So, apparently, the issue is very likely to happen if you’re a road buddy. Here are the steps to follow in such a situation.
Call Roadside Assistant Service
If you have a working cellphone, call Road Speed Solutions. The service allows you to use a truck equipped with a tow truck and a gas pump. It will come out, fill your car up and tow it back to your home or apartment building, wherever that may be
Walk To The Closest Gas Station
This is usually the best option if you’re close enough to walk to the nearest gas station (or if you see one along the road). If it’s safe for you to walk away from your vehicle and get help, try this first before doing anything else. If you don’t know where it is, ask someone who lives nearby or look it up online on Google Maps or another mapping service.
Flag Down A Passing Vehicle
Flagging down a passing car and asking for assistance is your best bet if your gas tank suddenly empties. But if the person who stops doesn’t have gas, you should still be able to get assistance.
If a driver pulls over and offers assistance, ask them if they have any jumper cables or a cell phone (if they do, ask them to call 911). If they don’t, ask them to drive you to a nearby service station or the auto shop where someone can help.
Is Running Out Of Gas Bad For Your Car?
Running out of gas is bad for your car in several ways:
- The engine will not be able to lubricate itself properly. If you haven’t run out of gas in a while and then do so, you may notice that your engine sounds louder when you start it up again. That’s because the oil pump can’t move as much oil when it doesn’t have enough fuel. This causes the engine to work harder and produce more noise.
- Fuel is a cooling agent. Without enough fuel, an engine will run hotter than average, possibly damaging internal parts like cylinder heads and pistons if it gets too hot for too long. This is especially true for diesel engines since diesel fuel is used as a coolant in those engines, just like water in gasoline engines.
- Your spark plugs will foul quickly without enough fuel in the cylinders to burn completely, which means less power from your engine (and more frequent replacements for those spark plugs).
FAQs
What Happens If You Run Out Of Gas While Driving?
A few things can happen if you run out of gas while driving. First and most obviously, you’re going to be stuck. Your engine won’t turn over when you try to start it again. This means you won’t be able to use your power accessories like hazard lights or radio while you wait for someone to help you.
Does Running Out Of Gas Damage The Fuel Injector?
When you run out of gas, you may notice that your engine begins to idle rough or dies entirely at stop signs and red lights. This is because when you’re low on gas, the fuel in your tank becomes highly concentrated with water and other contaminants. When this happens, it’s possible that your fuel injector will not filter properly, and this can cause damage to your vehicle’s engine components over time.
Will A Car Start Without Gas?
Yes, but it’s not the most reliable way to start your car. First, a vehicle will not start without gas because there won’t be any compression in the engine. This means that the pistons cannot move up and down, which is necessary for a machine to run.
Does Going Slower Save Gas?
This is a common misconception among drivers who don’t understand how fuel economy works on their cars. Going slower indeed uses less gas than going faster. But gas mileage isn’t about going slow or fast; it’s about how efficiently you use your vehicle’s engine when accelerating or decelerating.
Does AC Use Gas?
The answer is yes. The air conditioning system on your car uses a lot of gas, and using it too much can affect your mileage. Air conditioning uses so much gas because the compressor must run all the time to keep the air cool inside your vehicle. It also uses electricity, which can be bad for your battery if you use it too much.
Final Consideration
All in all, it’s important to remember that running out of gas is expected on the road and doesn’t need to cause panic. If you’re driving a car that runs out of gas, or have just run out yourself, don’t worry: there are plenty of ways to get back on the road quickly and safely.
Ideally, never let the gas gauge get too low on your vehicle, and always check the fuel level before driving. If it still happens, use your spare gas if you have any. At the very least, call for roadside assistance help so you don’t risk injury from trying to push the car to fill up the gas tank.
We hope you’ve found this guide to be helpful! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. We’d love to hear from you.
Agustin is part of the team at Road Speed Solutions, a reliable and efficient roadside assistance business with over a decade of experience in New Jersey.
What sets Road Speed Solution apart is the team's commitment to giving back to the community, regularly donating to local charities and supporting small businesses. Choose Roadside Speed Solutions for prompt, trustworthy roadside assistance services.
