Have you ever run out of gas?

[bumbershoot]

Once. On the way back from the pediatrician's office with 3 kids in the car, (8, 5, & less than a year old). Little guy was sick and I thought I had enough gas to get there and back. Guess not. For about 2 years, every time we got in the car, the one who was 5 would insist that I stop at the first gas station we passed, just in case.

I know the feeling.



I ran out once, but technically it wasn't totally my fault. It could just have easily happened to DH. We have a boat of a car, and it turns out the gas gauge doesn't work the way our previous cars did, where it would continue going down below the "empty" line and we could really gauge where the gas situation was. In the Marquis, it just sits there and doesn't go down further.

So each of us, but DH more than me, just kept taking it out on short little jaunts.

So finally I was at wit's end (I kept thinking DH was going to get a few gallons but then he would forget) and planned to go to the post office or bank (can't remember which) then to the gas station. Got the first part done. Then had to go up a hill for the second part. Ran out on the hill, right at the stop light. In my enormous car. In the rain.

Thankfully (which is an odd feeling considering the next part) all the skeevy men who hang out at that corner (making obvious drug deals, standing there ALL day, etc etc) came to my rescue! All of a sudden I had something like 9 adult men pushing my car through the light and I turned right so they could get me out of the way. And then they disappeared before I could even thank them!


I called AAA and they were so so so backed up they coudln't make it for hours (I was in walking distance from home, but it was dark and raining, and I'd been pushed right in the driveway to a parking garage!), so they gave me the number to a few independent towing places. Called one, he brought some gas, I paid him for time and gas, learned about the difference in compensation to towing places by AAA vs insurance company services (AAA pays pennies...insurance company tow etc services pay MUCH more), and went on my way! AAA did pay me back, which was good.


And now DH and I know that the needle doesn't move once it hits just above empty, unlike the Sundance Duster, Golf, Beetle, Jetta that we'd had before...good info to have!



ETA: the whole point of quoting was that DS was in the car with me, hated the experience, and talks about it often!

 

[pooh_bear.614]

I have it was mortifying. My college sat on a big hill and I was definately pushing my luck but my car ran out about halfway up. I luckily was able to turn around put it in neutral and coasted to the bottom where there was a gas station!! Serves me right for being too lazy to stop in the first place.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Yes, twice.

Once in college when I was just too poor. I had made it before when the gauge was low, but my luck ran out. I also decided that the guy I was dating at the time wasn't the one for me when I called him for help and he said he was busy and hung up quickly so he wouldn't have to help. Uhm, no. I drove his sorry little (ADMIN) around paying for the gas, this ONE time he could come and help, but no. See ya, loser!


The second time was just this past year. I drive a 1995 Pontiac Grand Am and the gas gauge is that odd-type that isn't true to form. It is like an algorythm. When it is full, it stays on full for the longest time and then it dahes down to a quarter tank all at once. I do not know why this exists, but it shot down while I was driving to Disneyland. I got off on Harbor and was just making it to the AM/PM when it shut down on me. Luckily, this family from Wisconsin saw me and the mom made her husband and son get out and push me to the station.

Which just goes to show you, people from Wisconsin are very nice and was surprised to hear that someone from Los Angeles was nice too. I offered to buy them cokes and water for their road trip home and they declined.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I ran out of gas once when I was 16 and driving my dads corvette. I was told to pick it up from being serviced and drive it home and put it in the garage. Well, that was hard for a 16 year old to do.

Hahahhaha! When my dad moved out of my mom's house, he asked me to kindly drive his second car, the newly completely restored 1971 MGB in British Racing Green, to his new home. "Sure thing, dad!" (I was 27 at the time, though, NO EXCUSE!)

I drove it from Wilmington to San Pedro via Hermosa Beach. (Anyone from Southern California will understand... or Google Map it!)

 

[DarthKTrava]

Nope. I was told by my Aunt to start looking for a gas station while on a trip when I get near that one-quarter tank mark. Has worked for me on many a trip. I've gone less than that when driving local.

 

[crz4mm2]

Only ONCE. I have a 1960 VW. It does not have a gas gauge. DH told me I had "plenty" of gas to go to a show I was planning on attending.
Well, about 15 miles out of town, it starts stuttering.... yep, you got it.
Thank goodness there were people with me that could go get some gas for me.

Embarrassing.

 

[fairestoneofall]

yes. we did once. i knew gas was low, but our gauge was broken, so it didn't show it as gone. i had told DH that it was pretty low, but he didn't listen. he drove us around all over without stopping to get more gas. and eventually, we ran out. so, he got to walk to the closest gas station while we sat in the car. thankfully, a friend spotted him and drove him back.

what's funny is that, even though HE had driven the car around all morning long, he blamed ME because i didn't put gas in the day before.

 

[DVCJones]

I refuse to answer that question because then I will have to knock on wood.

Ditto

 

[WhatATreat]

I never have but my best friend did once. I can't tell you how long we teased her that the "e" stands for "empty" not "enough".

 

[Squirlz]

Frequently! I have to push the mower to the garage and fill it up again.

In a car? Never!

 

[amez]

yes-when I was in the National Guard I was driving a Major up to summer camp. I knew approx. how many miles the humv would go and it seemed like we were awfully close. The major said nah it still says we've got 1.2 tank. I told him it has been saying that for a long time. Needless to say we ran out of gas. So we topped it off with the extra in the gas can and then he had to prime it or something crazy like that and we head on down the road and fill up asap. The it happens again!! He kept telling me to just keep driving (he really wanted to get to summer camp!!) this time however when we ran out of gas we had no extra in our can, so we had to wait for help to arrive. It was so embarrassing, thankfully he took full responsibility. Otherwise I would have had two weeks of fellow soldiers picking on me about it-instead they picked on the Major.

 

[C.Ann]

No - knock on wood..

That's one of those little things in life that I focus on - making sure that I have at least a quarter of a tank of gas at all times (preferably, half a tank)..

My Dson-in-law - on the other hand - thinks nothing of driving around on fumes.. Makes me a nervous wreck!

 

[Mommy2cody]

Yes. On the WORST DAY OF MY LIFE! In the middle of a drive thru! I will never forget that day. It was one of those days where I shoulda just turned around and went home!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Gas..no..though I was on the edge sometimes.

Locked keys in car...check! (only once and never again)
Disabled car...check!

But never have run out of gas.

Funny situation.

I had a car with an alternator issue and step-dad was cheaping out and waiting to have it repaired. So my car was plugged in nightly for a few weeks. I could get the car started about 4 times though.

Not so funny, if I needed gas too or from school--I'd leave the car running.

One day--coudln't get my car started after school...had a friend jump it. Lived in New Orleans and was late to the ferry and had just missed it. I was parked on the incline. And my options were...run out of gas....or shut off engine to preserve gas. Either choice--my car would not be running by the time the ferry got back. They had to push my car onto the ferry and my car rode across the river 3 times when they finally had the Mississippi River Bridge authority come and push my car off the boat.

Alternator got replaced some time after that.

Can't beleive my parents let me drive like that.

 

[Katieinwonderland]

I've gone one better and put diesel in my gas tank instead of gas. Wasn't paying attention at the pump, in went the diesel, drove off in my little car - we got about a mile away before the car just died in the middle of the road.

Most expensive trip to the gas station I've ever made, and DH will never ever let me live it down.

 

[browneyes106]

I came close a couple of times during high school. I usually fill up when it's down a quarter tank.

 

[manning]

Twice with my brother in law. I used to ride to work with him. Each time we ran out of gas on the expressway at the same spot. Luckily we were at an off ramp angled down hill with a gas station at the bottom.

After the second time I finally said we need to talk.

I explained to him that the letters "F" and "E" on the gas gauge does not mean Fill and Enough, it's Full and Empty !!!

 

[manning]

Yes, unfortunately. And I still keep pushing my luck. My car has a digital display that tells me how many km I have left before it runs out, and I will take it down to 33km before I give in. I have thrill issues.

Don't do it too often or you may be replacing a fuel pump. They are located inside the gas tank and the gas is used to keep the pump cool.