What Happens When a Car Runs Out of Gas?

What happens when a car runs out of gas? The fuel gauge is on your dashboard for a reason. It is to remind you when it’s time to gas up. And you should do this even before your car alerts you. So when you see that the fuel level is less than 1/4, it’s best to head to the nearest gasoline station to fill your car up. Waiting until your car runs out of fuel can eventually damage your car so this is something you should never take for granted.

However, running out of gas is a situation all too common for many car owners. It could be that the gauge is broken or the driver simply overestimated the capacity of the fuel that’s left behind versus the next nearest gasoline station. So what happens when the car runs out of gas?

Damaged Fuel Pump: This is one of the main problems you can get when you always wait until your gas tank is almost empty before filling it up. Most vehicle manufacturers recommend cars never going under 1/4 full.

Clogged Fuel Injectors: Debris and impurities will get to the bottom of the gas tank and can go directly to your engine. Although the fuel filter should stop this from happening, impurities can get through the filter when the tank is already almost empty.

Braking and Steering Become Difficult: It’s hard to drive a car that has very little fuel. While the brakes will still work, it will be harder to do so. The same goes for your car’s steering wheel.

Your Car Will Shut Down: The worst thing that can ever happen and will definitely happen when you run on an almost-empty tank is for your vehicle to stall. This is something that’s very difficult to deal with especially when there’s no nearby gas station.

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Fuel Service in Augusta, GA

Now that you know what happens when a car runs out of gas, you should always prioritize filling up the tank before it runs empty even if you’re going somewhere near. In the event your car stalls because of an empty tank while in Augusta and nearby communities in Georgia, call Chastain’s Towing | Augusta Tow Truck to get fuel service assistance. We are a trusted tow truck company with years of valuable experience in all towing services and roadside assistance. Call 706-705-5270 for a free quote.