I was driving home yesterday afternoon, within about 15 miles of my house, cruising up to an intersection and the old Falcon dies. Fortunately the light was green, and nobody on my tail, so I coasted up to the nearest business driveway and got out of the way as best I could. I tried starting it up again to no avail. It would run for about a second and quit. Finally I figured out it was out of gas. The gauge kind-of-sort-of works - the needle goes all the way up to 'E' when it's full. I had splashed $10.00 worth in that morning, but it must have been on fumes at that point. I't stopped about 60 yards from a Phillips 66 station, so I walked down and bought a gallon plastic gas can, and gas and walked back. I poured in all that I could, save a few ounces that wouldn't pour at that angle. It still didn't want to start so I pulled off the air filter and dribbled some gas into the tube that can be used to prime the carb, whatever that thing is called. And finally got it to fire up. Now it' running a bit rough, I must have gotten down into the garbage gas in the bottom of the tank. That was my first time to run out of gas in a car- my dad's done it plenty in old cars with cranky gas gauges. How many others have had that kind of experience in their old cars?
The wife's new Volvo S60 ran out of petrol this past Thursday morning........she called and mentioned how she could not get it to start and it had been on "E" for a couple of days. But, to keep this more in a traditional board sense. I have tuckered the roadster p/u out of gas twice. Once on the maiden trip to Bonneville in 03' one hour north of KC and the second time going to McPhail's gig in June south of Wichita. The trip to the salt I found an old license plate topper from the 50's in the ditch and that was the good luck charm to the salt and back. I still have it. Chris Nelson Kansas
I ran out of gas in my 1940 Ford business man coupe ... on the way home from TN ... the weekend I bought it. The gauge lied ... It was still a 6V stock gauge on 12V ... One of the first things I fixed ... installed a 12 V gauge and sender from Stewart Warner .. NEVER ran out again ...
Ran outta gas four times in my '59...but that was in 200,000 miles...gas gauge didn't work...didn't figure I did too terrible at guessing how much gas was in the tank... Best time when she ran out - I was flyin up the highway at about 80mph headed for the truckstop on the edge of my town. I was going to get some breakfast at about 3am with my band after a gig. She ran out of gas about 1/4 of a mile from the off ramp...coasted up the ramp, around the corner, down the street, into the driveway of the truck stop, and right to the gas pumps. So all in all, I probably coasted a good half of a mile! Worst time it ran out- I was coming home for Mother's Day...cruisin down the Hwy at 80mph or so...ran out of gas, got over into the slow lane, and then the shoulder when it stopped. Didn't want to leave it sitting on the highway...decided to push it down to the bottom of the next off ramp...pushed it about 200 yards by myself...just so you know, a '59 Cadillac weighs 5200 pounds... Now she's had a working gas gauge in her for about 4 years, and I've never run out since!
Um, it's happened to me a few times, that's why I left the gas can in the back for you. As a matter of fact it has happened a few times, so it's probably time for a new fuel filter.
Usually once every couple months in my wagon, falcon, or truck. I am starting to collect cheap gas cans from having to walk or skate to the station to get a can and gas. ***o
You mentioned hittin' the garbage in the tank... 'bout a month or so ago my '57 Effie ran out of gas when 10 blocks from home after Midnight (but man 10 blocks is a really different neighborhood, sometimes). Finally got it stuttering home, later found out the fuel filter - which I learned on FE motors is in a long can attached to the pump - needed replacing. When I moved back to Humboldt years ago, it was more my daily driver/only vehicle, had to job/house hunted with it, just makin' it gallon-to-gallon. Which meant I was always bound to run out of gas at any moment, strategizing my routes, and what side of the boulevard you're driving. Once ran out of gas in Arcata across the intersection from the station itself (but everything was uphill, so forget rolling it in). My first experience of running out came while cruising around in my high school bud's '72 Mach 1. That Windsor was a thirsty mutha, especially the way he kept the carb so active. 'Course, I kept beggin' him to punch it again, to which he'd make sure we were near a gas station. He punched it, it was great, then silence, and him: "Aw dammit," reaching behind the seat for the gas can. "What happened?" "We ran out of gas, that's what happened..."
Ran out last week in the sedan. I had just told my 7 year old son we needed to stop and get gas. We drove past a station and he kept telling me "Dad you said we need gas!" but I thought that I could save a few pennies by holding out for a little neighborhood station a couple of miles down the road....I saved a few, but I had to walk 2 miles to get it!
My Nomad gas gauge hasn't worked for years. Usually I can guess how much fuel is left but week before last, I ran out only a half block from a gas station. I was doing 50, so I coasted right in to the pump. I run out about once every two years, when I forget when I last filled up. I had a 53 F-100 with a 327 Chevy in it for 13 years with no gas gauge and no odometer. I carried a can of gas in the bed. When the truck quit running, I knew I had a gallon left.
I've yet to hook my gas gauge up so I usually go by my odo, but that recently quit so............ tank holds 15 gallons. A few weeks ago it sputtered and by the time I coasted to the station, I pumped 14.72 gallons in.... about a week ago, I let it happen again the other day... 14.91 gallons this time! whoo!
In a 67 mustang i used to have when i first got it and before i knew the gas gauge showed 1/4 when it was actually empty, ran out of gas going up an over p*** and didnt make it to the top, the over p*** also makes a turn so its a blind corner for those coming up in the right lane. almost got hit many a times, thankfully i didnt...Coffee road headed towards rosedale by the ol refinery for you bakersfieldians
I tried to be cheap building my '38 Chevy. Used a newer dash panel (and guage) with the old (functioning) sender. Trouble was they weren't compatible. Guage ran from reading 'E' (actually full) to 1/2 (empty). So. with those screwy readings, I eventually ran out about two miles from a buddies house, who rescued me... Then I put the right sender in - no more running out of fuel... Cosmo
I did it twice, once in a beater Pontiac, once in a borrowed '95 Chevy pickup. Once I learned where the needle was when it meant E, never again. The time with the pickup a state cop actually gave me some gas; none of the people where I got stuck wanted to help - one of them is who called the cops (!) ... then again it was like 11:00 PM coming back from seeing Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the way they made us go out of the place I didn't p*** a gas station for a good 10 miles... lots of fun.
In my '65 El Camino, I learned I could generally make it home from work (about 10 miles) when the gas gauge got to E. Soon after that I found out if the motor stuttered when turning the corner onto my block, I better go straight to the gas station, cuz if I shut the car off at the house, it wouldn't restart. There were several times where the motor stuttered, I continued past my house, and ran out of gas about halfway to the station. That ****ed, it meant walking back home, getting the can, walking to the station, and back to the car. The funny thing is, every time this happpened, the car quit in front of the same house.
I ran out this time last year. My wife and I were on our way to the Spectacular in Salina, Kansas. I filled up with gas, got on the road, and there was a sign saying Salina 300 miles. My gas gauge didn't work and I estimated 20 mpg. We were headed west from St. Louis with the wind at our back and I figured; 20 mpg x 15 gal = 300 miles. I can make it! Wrong! The wife and I wanted to see the wizard of Oz museum that was 9 miles of the interstate (18 miles round trip). We made it to Salina only after I floored the car to go around a slow truck and it started sputtering and died. Lucky for us we coasted about a full mile downhill, exited the interstate, and pulled right up to the pump. I still laugh every time she tells the story about the time we broke down. I tell her if I didn't pull over, stop, lift the hood, or have to walk, then I didn't break down!
I ran out of gas 2x in the past 3 months with my daily beater Honda. Right infront of my house both times. You can imagine how many times I have run out with my cars that have no gauge.
I ran out of gas about 3 or 4 times in my Bel-Air before I figured out the magic point at where the needle was to indicate there really WASNT any gas left, since the gauge doesn't work very well. One of these days I'll spring for a new sending unit. I usually just throw $10-15 in her if I'm going to drive around town. Doesn't help that the speedo doesn't work either..
About a month or so ago, i met a freind at a local cruise night. We were meeting up there then heading out for some food down by our 'beach'..about a 30 minute ride We left the parking lot of the cruise night, and headed down the road towards the lake.. I was following his 62 Impala in my 53 chevy (with no fuel gauge...yet), and about a mile down the road the car starts to act funny..kinda sputtering and loosing power. I realised it was gonna die so i pulled a quick right into a Hess mart to get off the main drag, and as i did it died. My buddy came back to see what was goin on.. Well, i lifted the hood and we both saw the there was no fuel in the dome of the fuel pump.. We rolled the car up to the pumps and filled the tank up.. She started right up after that and we hit the road. It was pretty funny, and fortunate running out right in the parking lot of a gas station.. but thats not the best part.. I work at a Sunoco service station.. Try to explain that one to your friends This is only the most recent..i did this a few times when i first got my license.. Tony
I too have been convicted of the old ohh man im outta gas deal. thank god i was 2 blocks away from home. now i always carry a gallon o gas can in the trunk. lol
My Plym had a 12 Gal. tank installed when I got it, & no gas gauge. Only ran out twice in 10 years. The tank rusted out & was replaced by a 16 gal. First time out on the Interstate it ran out at an exit far short of where it should have. I guess I installed it @ the wrong angle, it doesn't pick up the last 4 gallons!
i must say without a working gas gauge i've only ran out of gas once in the chevy and i was within walking distance of a gas station..after that i started carrying a can of gas in the trunk creepy
I've run out of gas so many times I get gas cans for Christmas. One of the lucky times I ran out was when I was hauling the 999 modified someplace. I just drained the gas out of it to get me to the next station. Then there was the time I ran out of gas at Carlisle swapmeet. We had a vendor spot inside. The tank read 1/8 of a tank., but the car was loaded down with junk we bought and the gas must have run to the back of the tank. luckily the grounds keeper helped me out. Clark
Working with cl***ic cars everyday I run out of gas all the time. I've met lots of interesting people and had lots of strange encounters, thank goodness for cell phones! Not too long ago I ran out in the t-bucket too on an exit ramp (that went up hill!). Luckily a group of teenage boys saw me pushing and stopped to help.
The Jalopy Journal
