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Have you ever run out of gas while driving?

This is one of the roadside emergencies that Rapid Towing responds to in Rapid City, SD and surrounding areas. Despite your best intentions to keep the tank full, it's a scenario that can happen to you one day if it hasn't already.

The truth is that it's not always a matter of getting lost in a joyride and forgetting to look at the fuel gauge. There are many reasons a person can run out of fuel on the road, and it's good to keep them in mind so you can err on the side of caution and save yourself from getting stuck in the future.

Here are some of the reasons people find themselves stranded with an empty fuel tank:

1. Unexpected Construction: Sometimes, unexpected road closures and construction detours lead drivers away from their intended route, causing them to miss their usual gas station stops. If you're already low on fuel and absolutely need to make it to that next gas station, it's wise to fill up before you take that next exit and end up on a long stretch of highway.

2.  Heavy Traffic Stalls: An accident or road work can also cause traffic to come to a standstill. If you're low on fuel and find yourself stuck because traffic is at a crawl, it's possible to run out of fuel.

3. Unreliable Fuel Reading: Inaccurate fuel gauges or odometers can mislead drivers into thinking they have more gas than they actually do, leading to unexpected empty tanks. Some cars have a little bit extra they can go when they hit empty, while others will run out before they hit the E. If you're not sure about the accuracy of your fuel gauge, it's better to fuel up ahead of time than to find out your vehicle's limits when you're trying to get somewhere.

4. Waiting for a Paycheck: Financial constraints sometimes force motorists to delay filling up their tanks until they receive their next paycheck. Getting into the habit of putting a little bit aside to build up some emergency fuel funds can help prevent a run out situation.

5. Low Gas Light Didn't Come On: Malfunctioning warning lights can fail to alert drivers when their fuel levels are critically low, catching them off guard. Some older vehicles also don't have a low fuel light, and some modern vehicles have a low fuel light that turns on when the vehicle doesn't have many miles left to go, so the warning doesn't always give the driver enough time to get to a station.

6. Going Up a Hill on Low Fuel: Driving uphill can cause the remaining fuel in the tank to shift away from the fuel pump, leading to a temporary loss of fuel supply and stalling the engine.

7. Closed Gas Station: Imagine that you're low on fuel but you make it to the gas station only to learn that it is closed, waiting on the next fuel delivery, or otherwise out of order. In rural or less populated areas especially, finding a gas station open late at night or early in the morning can be challenging. This leads some motorists to run out of gas while searching for one.

7. Test Driving a Car: When test driving a car, buyers may not be aware of its fuel efficiency or how much gas is actually in the tank, leading to an unexpected stall. Similarly, the staff might overestimate how much fuel the vehicle has or forget to check up on it, leading to either an employee or customer finding themselves stuck on empty.

8. Testing the Limits of Your Own Vehicle: This one isn't quote an emergency since the motorists who do it tend to already have a plan on refilling their vehicle. Some drivers intentionally push the limits of their fuel gauge to see how far they can go on a tank. 

Running out of gas is frustrating and inconvenient, but it happens. If you find yourself running low on fuel, try to find a gas station as soon as possible. You might also consider changing your fill up tendencies and refueling whenever you reach the halfway point instead of waiting until you're close to empty. Not only will you have less to worry about on the road, you'll also be prepared in the event that there is an emergency or urgent matter that requires you to drive somewhere when you didn't expect to use your vehicle before hitting the gas station.

If you do run out of gas in Rapid City, SD or a surrounding area, give us a call at Rapid Towing. We provide emergency roadside fuel delivery. It's just one of the ways we get you out of a pinch.