Running Out Of Gas!

In addition to a relatively accurate fuel gauge, modern cars have a Low Fuel Light to warn when it's time to fill up. And unless you're driving somewhere like Highway 95 in Nevada, you can count on passing a service station at least every few miles. That takes all the adventure out of managing the fuel in your tank. It wasn't always that way...

Back in the early days of motoring, most cars didn't have fuel gauges – with the Ford Model T for example, to check the fuel level, you pulled over, lifted up the front seat cushion (yes the tank was under the seat) and dipped a stick in the fuel tank. Ford Dealers gave out free wooden dipsticks marked with gallon graduations. Before service stations became common, motorists bought their gasoline in canisters at a general store – definitely not 24/7 service.

BETTER THAN NOTHING
Fast forward a few years and cars had rudimentary fuel gauges – the Model A Ford's (produced from 1927 to 1931) was a metal rod on a pivot with a cork on the end, floating in the tank. To say it was not too accurate is an understatement. Combine this with far fewer service stations and running out of gas was a regular occurrence. The smart motorist always carried a can with an extra gallon or two.

DRIVING ON RESERVE

Early Volkswagen Beetles didn't have fuel gauges. Instead there were two fuel pickups in the gas tank – the "MAIN" projected up into the tank an inch or so, while the "RESERVE" was right at the bottom. This meant that when you ran out of gas on the "MAIN" there was a bit of fuel left in the tank. A lever on the floor beside the accelerator pedal, switched the fuel pickup from "MAIN" to "RESERVE". When the driver refuelled the car, it was crucial they reset the lever to "main." Then later, when the car ran out of gas, the driver simply flipped the lever to "RESERVE" and carried on to the nearest gas station. The key to this system relied on the driver resetting the switch to "MAIN" when refuelling. If this was NOT done, then the car would use all the gas and you'd be stranded.

RUNNING ON FUMES
Years ago, Diane and I were travelling along a lonely highway in Nevada (see picture above) heading towards the town of Goldfield. The gauge was reading WAY below the "E" and I was putting the lightest touch on the accelerator trying to stretch the fuel to its max. We did not want to be stuck in the middle of the desert! On every downhill I'd shut the engine off and coast to the bottom. When the town finally came into sight, we both breathed a sigh of relief. Had we not had that close encounter with an empty tank, I don't think my memories of that part of our trip would be so vivid.

A GREAT CAR MOVIE

Incidentally, a few months before our "Running On Fumes" adventure near Goldfield, the 1971 movie "Vanishing Point" had been filmed on the SAME road! That movie is well worth a watch, specially for fans of the original MOPAR muscle cars – this film features a 1970 Challenger R/T 440. Barry Newman played the lead character "Kowalski", Cleavon Little was blind DJ "Super Soul" and Gilda Texter is memorable as "Nude Motorcycle Rider."

FILLER ON THE LEFT SIDE
Most North American, Japanese and Korean cars have the filler cap on the left side of the car. I believe this so drivers can more easily judge when pulling up to the pumps. If you have the misfortune to run out of gas on a roadway with no shoulder, that left side filler is going to put your life in grave danger. Picture yourself standing beside your vehicle with a jerry can pouring fuel in your tank – cars are whizzing by, having to swerve around you. I know of one fatality in our area that resulted from this exact scenario – pouring rain, no shoulder, left side filler cap. What a shame. Somebody should point out this hazard to our auto manufacturers.

ROMANTIC INTERLUDES
In the olden days, young men often used running out of gas as a way to extend their "alone" time with their sweetie.

DIESEL ENGINES
When you run out of fuel with a gasoline powered car, you just pour in some gas and crank the starter. After few moments the engine will fire and you're on your way. It's not as simple with a diesel engine that runs out of fuel. The high pressure fuel pump has to be reprimed – that usually involves a tow to the dealer or a roadside visit by a skilled technician.

TWO-STROKE MOTORCYCLES
Back in the late sixties I was riding a motorcycle with a two-stroke engine. Two-strokes had to have oil mixed into the gas – this was how the engine was lubricated. Motorcycles had a MAIN/RESERVE fuel switch just like the Beetle mentioned above. The added wrinkle was that when the engine ran out of fuel it also ran out of oil. If the rider didn't switch from MAIN to RESERVE very quickly, the engine would seize. Not only would the engine be seriously damaged, having the back wheel unexpectedly stop turning could cause the rider to crash the bike. Not fun. 

There you have it, way more information on running out of fuel than you ever wanted to know!