More drivers run out of gas than you may think. However, this fact doesn\u2019t make running out of gas less frustrating. Without gas, you won\u2019t be able to reach your destination, further frustrating you. Whether you\u2019re near a gas station or not, there are certain steps you need to take to ensure your safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When your vehicle runs out of gas, you will lose control of the steering and braking. Soon after this occurs, your vehicle will stall because you don\u2019t have enough fuel in your vehicle to power the engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once your vehicle has no gas, it will abruptly stop, and the fuel gauge on your dashboard will be at the E or below it. If you run out of gas while driving, pull over to the shoulder of the road and turn on your hazard lights. Verify your current location and request help from a roadside assistance service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You may want to avoid walking to the nearest gas station, especially if you run out of gas at night. Traveling on the side of the road on foot is dangerous, especially if you\u2019re on a busy highway. Stay in your vehicle and wait for help to arrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once your car runs out of gas, avoid attempting to start your engine. Continuously restarting your engine when there\u2019s no gas in your vehicle can damage your car\u2019s fuel system. Experts also suggest not using your phone to avoid possibly creating a spark that can ignite due to gasoline fumes in the air. If you can, use a roadside assistance app instead of placing a phone call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you run out of gas, you can take the following steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although this may be a no-brainer, these facts are still good to know. Depending on the make, model, and year of your vehicle, you may not have a low-fuel indicator on your vehicle, making it easier to forget to stop and get gas. If your vehicle is low on gas, you may experience the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can check the car\u2019s manual to determine how much the car\u2019s gas tank holds. Also, keep an eye on the odometer to determine the number of miles you\u2019ve traveled. You can also use a liquid dipstick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When your vehicle runs out of gas, you may have more than one problem on your hands!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fuel pump\u2019s job is to ensure your vehicle goes when you press the accelerator by pumping gas to the engine. Your car\u2019s fuel pump relies on gas to remain cool and well-lubricated. This pump can get overworked and become overheated when you run out of gas. To ensure your fuel pump lasts as long as your car\u2019s manufacturer intends, try not to allow your gas tank to go below \u00bc full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The impurities and airborne debris can create sediment at the bottom of your car\u2019s gas tank. When this sediment collects, it can clog your fuel injectors. The fuel injectors are the small nozzles that spray gas into the car\u2019s engine. The job of your car\u2019s fuel filter is to filter out debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It may be difficult to determine that your car has a damaged fuel injector or fuel pump because the symptoms may not be immediately evident. However, if you run out of gas, and the car won\u2019t continuously run after you replace the fuel, the culprit may be the fuel injector or fuel pump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One step you can take to correct this issue is to refill your gas tank and turn the key in the \u201con\u201d position, which means you\u2019ll turn your car on WITHOUT cranking the engine. Then, turn the key back into the \u201coff\u201d position to prime the fuel pump. Priming the fuel pump is necessary to remove air that may have been trapped in the fuel lines due to running out of gas. Perform this step a few times to see if you can get your car going again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, if priming the fuel pump doesn\u2019t work, you may want to consider having a fuel system inspection and cleaning performed. A qualified mechanic can clean the clogged fuel injectors and restore power to your car\u2019s engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Be advised that if the injectors are left clogged for an extended period, there\u2019s a chance you may have to replace them. Most modern fuel injectors are designed to operate for at least 100,000 miles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When your vehicle has been depleted from all the gas in its tank, your car will almost immediately shut down as if you turned the car off. In this situation, you need to remain calm but cautious. Vehicle shutdowns are dangerous because they can cause you to become distracted, which can result in reckless driving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although your brakes won\u2019t necessarily stop working when your vehicle runs out of gas, the brake pedal will feel heavier and it will be harder to push down. Your vehicle\u2019s brakes are power-assisted. They use hydraulics to transfer power from the brake pedal to the brake pads. However, when the car\u2019s engine shuts off, this feature does too. Without the help of hydraulics, you\u2019re going to have a hard time stopping your vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When your car has run out of gas, something similar will happen to your steering wheel. Your steering wheel will remain functional if your engine dies, but you won\u2019t have power steering, so you\u2019ll be using a lot of elbow grease and both hands to get your vehicle to go in a specific direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have a diesel-operated vehicle? If so, the fuel system must be bled for the engine to restart. Diesel engines have two fuel pumps. One pump is the low-pressure lift pump and the other is the high-pressure injector pump. The low-pressure pump takes fuel from the tank and takes it to the high-pressure injector pump. If the low-pressure pump pushes air to the high-pressure injector pump, you\u2019ll have an air-locked system, which will prevent fuel from traveling to the injectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you need to bleed the fuel system, begin this process by opening the bleed screw that\u2019s located on top of the fuel filter. You can run the fuel pump with the key or by cranking until the fuel comes from the screw. When this happens, close the bleed screw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now you\u2019ll want to back off the fittings on the lines that are connected to the fuel injectors. Next, crank the engine until fuel comes out of each injector. Once this happens, tighten the fittings down again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have one, pull a decompression valve. Pulling this valve will save the battery power during this process and make the engine easier to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Avoiding running out of gas seems pretty obvious, but you can never be too safe or prepared. Life happens to everyone. The best way to avoid running out of gas is by keeping gas in your car. However, some drivers are not too keen on this idea, and for good reason. Gas is flammable and if it\u2019s stored in your car, the results of an explosion or other mishaps can be the devastating result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether you\u2019re going on a short or long trip, it\u2019s a good idea to map the gas station locations that are on your route. The rule of thumb in this situation is to not let gas get below \u00bc of a tank full. Fill up your car before or after work or before running errands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s it! You now know what to do if you run out of gas and have a few steps you can take to prevent your vehicle from running out of gas. Drive safely!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
More drivers run out of gas than you may think. However, this fact doesn\u2019t make running out of gas less frustrating. Without gas, you won\u2019t be able to reach your destination, further frustrating you. Whether you\u2019re near a gas station or not, there are certain steps you need to take to ensure your safety. What […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-805","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n