Today, I found out how far my car can go after the fuel light comes on: All the way to the stoplight before the nearest gas station. FML
Collection
Halloween
A failed costume, stolen candy and a very real scare: Halloween, the one night when fear is allowed.
Today, I pulled up to a stoplight and blew past the car beside me to merge into one lane. About 30 seconds later, I ran out of gas right in front of them. We were on a bridge, and I had to push my car all the way across. FML
Today, my friend's van ran out of gas on an expressway off-ramp. After pushing it to the shoulder, we walked to a gas station and got a can of gas. We got back to the van to find that the battery had died from leaving on the lights and hazards to avoid an accident. FML
Today, I stopped at the gas station to fill up my tank and get some snacks. I paid the cashier, then got back into my car, totally forgetting to pump the $50 worth of fuel I'd just prepaid for. Too bad I didn't realize until my car came to a sputtering stop about a mile down the road. FML
Today, after my car died a mile from my house, I huffed, puffed and pushed it back to my house off the street, so I wouldn't get a ticket overnight. After getting it towed to the shop in the morning, I got a call telling me they put gas in it for me and it starts up fine now. FML
Today, I picked up my car from the repair shop, drove two miles, and ran out of gas. I then walked to get gas, put a gallon of gas in the car, and tried to start it. The battery was too weak to start the car, and died on the spot. FML
Today, in an effort to conserve gas by using as much of the gas in my tank before refilling it, I ran out just before I could get to the gas station. Nobody can come bring me any. FML
Today, I was driving to a gas station because I'd noticed I was almost on empty. Literally a block away from the gas station, my car broke down in the middle of an intersection, and I had to push my car to the side of the road, only to be questioned by police for "suspicious behavior." FML
Today, while driving home after the legal curfew, I narrowly avoided a police roadblock and backtracked a mile to drive home another way. I then ran out of gas a mile away from my house. FML
Today, I found out that the little arrow next to my gas gauge actually points to the side of the car where the tank is. For the past year-and-a-half I've been sticking my head out the window and even calling my parents to ask which side it was on, because I can never remember. FML
Today, I pulled up to the stoplight near my house. It was dark with no traffic and the car behind me kept edging closer and closer to me. I finally got fed up with waiting and the car and ran it. In fact, it was a cop and he was trying to read my license plate because the back light was out. FML
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Top comments
ilovesoccer1610 31
If you're that close, just walk to the station and fill a can with gas
revolvearoundme 15
Hope it was downhill from there. FYI it's 1-2 gallons, depends on the car. Fill it up all the way as soon as the light comes on and you'll know for sure. Mines about 1 3/4 gallons.
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Comments (43)
UhHuhHoney 20
That's happened to me once. Live and learn OP. You live and learn.
cheeeksss 29
I just want to mention that it's not good for your car to be that low on gas. Ideally, you should refill your tank about quarter tank or a little less than a quarter. And it also lessens the chance of this happening.
UhHuhHoney 20
It happened once. I learned from it.
cheeeksss 29
Sorry I should have clarified that I was talking to OP lol
ilovesoccer1610 31
If you're that close, just walk to the station and fill a can with gas
proudsock 17
what if OP doesn't have a gas can with them?
NeatNit 33
Put it on neutral and push it there
False_Stupidity 42
Most stations probably will sell OP a can if he doesn't have one.
peteto818 28
Is it a new car since you didn't know this?
nodeathtoall 19
So close I hope someone helped push
AmberNowaki 21
That sucks, at least you were close, but too bad for the people trying to go places as you got stuck at the light.
RedCronos 17
That sucks. However, you shouldn't have waited that long to put gas.
MandieL 27
It's actually good to test this, and know how many klicks you can go on the gas light.
Mauskau 36
My fuel light comes on at around 450-500 miles. I know I can get around 600 miles to a tank, so I get an extra 100 miles or so. I usually fill up at around 550 miles and have a few litres of fuel left.
pedinhuh 23
Sure, but you're still damaging you fuel pump because there are not much liters of fuel in your tank which makes the pump work harder to suck the small amount of fuel left at the botton of the tank.
ThrottleJockey 36
Not to mention that the fuel in your tank keeps your pump cool. When you let your tank get too low your fuel pump is no longer submerged in that cooling fuel which can lead to decreased fuel pump life. My advice is to fill up when you hit half a tank. It's easier on the wallet, your fuel pump will likely last longer, you'll never have to wonder how accurate your fuel gauge is, and if did some reason you have to go somewhere in an emergency you'll never have to worry about if you have enough fuel to get there.
kirkaygri 18
And if it's an older car, the sediment in the bottom of your tank is stirred up when you're that low and it can clog your fuel filter, making your car run horrid, if at all. On some cars that fuel filter can be a pain to change. I'm guilty of it, my car doesn't have a fuel light and my float sticks. I never know how much gas I have and just try to keep it filled constantly. I've only ran out once, also on my way to the gas station.
pineapple_stick 4
Oh my gosh, OP! I hope you got out of that issue alright. You've learned a lesson, at least!
JohnTheDonJuan 11
What's the worst that could've happened? Op had to walk >200 yards? Some minor embarrassment in front of complete strangers they'll never see again?
revolvearoundme 15
Hope it was downhill from there. FYI it's 1-2 gallons, depends on the car. Fill it up all the way as soon as the light comes on and you'll know for sure. Mines about 1 3/4 gallons.
MandieL 27
It depends on the car. I can go about 100km once my gas light turns on, but my hubbys is about 30kms.
BoxFullOfLazy 25
I've got about another 4 gallons left in mine after the light comes on.
FemskyD 26
haha the light always freaked me out exactly for that reason! :-)
Mathalamus 25
Very irresponsible. You should have topped out in gas when there is about 33% of gas left. Not wait for the gas light.
Kiernan151 25
Maybe OP didn't have the money to get gas, maybe they had to wait until payday. I know its happened to me.
lukian_fml 29
It costs more to fix a fuel injector pump than to fill the car up every time it gets down to 25%....
Ashd09 30
#32 Either way if you don't have the money you're S.O.L. If the OP didn't have any money and had to wait until payday to fill up that's not irresponsible, it's life. I know that it's happened to me a few times. It's not ideal but shit happens