Driving to the Bottom of the Tank

An unforeseen consequence of high fuel prices has been a bump in activity for roadside assistance programs, as drivers attempt to squeeze every last drop out of their gas tanks. Automobile clubs and towing services across the country are getting more calls from stranded motorists who've run out of gas.

AAA has seen a 14% increase in out-of-gas calls for the Mid-Atlantic states, beginning in May of this year when gas prices began to spike. The regional office that covers Northern California, Nevada and Utah has seen a 6.5% increase. The CVS Samaritan Van Program, which offers free roadside assistance to several cities in the Midwest and East Coast, has seen a whopping 30% to 40% increase in stops to help motorists with empty tanks.

Most of these cases involve drivers who simply did not want to stop and pay to fill up. However, an unidentified chunk of these calls come from people trying to scam a free gallon of gas. Many of the agencies have begun to ask drivers to try to start their cars before they offer assistance.

A warning to drivers: Don't drive too long on empty. Running out of gas can overheat the fuel pump, and replacing a fuel pump for $500 to $1,000 is going to hurt far more than filling up your tank.

With Gasoline Prices Up, Drivers Push Closer to the End of the Tank (New York Times)

Comments

Over heat the fuel pump? Jheeze I drive my car on empty 24/7 :(

Disclosure: Always next to the "E" but not usually with the empty tank sign on.

Colin, we got ur point ;)

Now here's the age old question - how far under E can u go? My commuter subcompact - I haven't tried it out myself as I hate the feeling of being stranded on the fwy (happened once on another vehicle - it's pretty embarrassing), but I've seen reports of almost 40 mi under E when driving on fwy (so 'bou a gallon left under E)! What 'bou urs?

lol i have no idea why it did that?

As far as I am concerned, the fuel pump works best when submerged.

1. J is right
2. Every car is different. Some have 2 gallons when on E, others 1.5
3. I suggest to fill up often. Sooner you fill, less it will cost you (think soaring gas prices)
4. I saw a couple idiots lately myself, stranded on the HWY, creating a hazard situation while standing with their plastic tanks 1 foot away from cruising cars passing 75mph.

Doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I don't even like to wait until it 1/4 a tank before I fill up. We had someone get hit on the interstate while putting gas into his car. Just not worth it.

How soon I refuel depends on the time of day. We cannot pump our own gas in Oregon so the wait time is generally longer than when pumping your own fuel. I will stop more frequently when my schedule permits refueling later at night when the pump jockeys are not so busy. If it's daytime, I'll run my car up to 20-25 miles after the fuel light comes on so I can avoid a daytime fuel stop. I've never run out of gas. *knocks on wood*

more proof that people are stupid. the price of gas goes up every day. that means you should be filling up every day. i topped off a half tank last week when i passed a station with $3.98 gas after seeing $4.17 all day. and don't talk about poor people who live paycheck to paycheck... even when i was living below the poverty line, i still had a week's pay in reserve. a week of more poverty, but still...