Riding on the 'E' - When Your Gas Tank is Almost Empty

Nothing has you on the edge of your seat like riding on the 'E.' No, I'm not talking about the expressway, or a subway train, I'm talking about your gas tank on empty. It's a dangerous game, but sometimes it can't be avoided for financial reasons. However, if 'E' riders, like myself, were to put things in a different perspective, we might change our habits.

It Makes Your Gas Run Out Quicker and Costs More in the Long Run

Putting five dollars here, and five dollars the next time in your tank may seem like the most economical solution at that time, because you figure that now you have more money to spend at the bar, on clothes, or at the restaurant of your choice, but in the long run that small shot in the tank will cost you more. Tie into that equation the fact that your local gas station, the place where you are most likely 'nickel and diming,' may be giving you an inferior quality gas that runs out too quickly, and you will be completely wasting money.

I will use myself as an example. When I would 'nickel and dime' my car, I would most likely be making a stop at the local gas station every day, or every other day - sometimes twice a day because for some reason a little bit of gas in the tank at a time performs worse and lasts less. I can't tell you how much of an aggravation that is. The gas seemed to evaporate in my tank, and I ended up on 'E' at the end of every day. I drive a sedan that holds about 15 gallons. In a common week I would make seven stops that went like this:

Based on gas at $2 a gallon (the good old days):

Sunday -gas to get to church $5 (2 ½ gallons)

Monday morning-gas to get to work and back $10 (5 gallons)

Wednesday morning-gas to get to work and back $5 (2 ½ gallons)

Wednesday night-gas to get to meeting and back $5 (2 ½ gallons)

Thursday morning-gas to get to work and back $10 (5 gallons)

Friday night-gas to go out partying in the city $10 (5 gallons)

Saturday afternoon-gas to go to the mall $5 (2 ½ gallons)