What to Do When Your Car is Running Out of Gas

Gas prices being what they are, and the inability to keep track of whether tomorrow's gallon of fuel will be ten cents more or ten cents less than it was the last time you get gas, you can be forgiven if you are among the growing number of people who have chosen-whether freely or because you simply don't have the economic choice-not to fill the tank to overflowing every time you wind up at the local Exxon or Citgo. As a result, there is an increased risk of running out of gas, of course. Oddly enough, though the profits for fuel companies are skyrocketing to elevated areas where the oxygen is rarefied, a trip down many cities will reveal a shocking number of gas stations that have not benefited from this boon. The first major intersection you get to where I live had two gas stations across the street for each other just a few years ago. One is now a ghost pump station and the other is a Walgreen's. Go figure. With more people running on empty and fewer gas stations to rely on when the little light comes on warning you to get gas, it pays to know some tips.

One thing you can do is make sure you carry an empty gas container in your car. Let me reiterate: empty. Never carry a full or even half full or quarter full gas container in your car. One rear end later and you are kissing the sky while the flesh on your faces peels off. With an empty gas container you can at least walk to the nearest gas station and get a refill. If you forget your empty gas container, at least make sure you keep a siphon. If you happen to run out of gas unexpectedly in some deserted area, you can always as last resort flag down some passing motorist and siphon some gas from another tank. I mean, you know, if worse comes to worst.