4 tips to avoid running out of gas

Frits Pieper
02 February 2015

How do you never run out of gas again?

Do you know that story about people who went on a trip and ran out of fuel? In hindsight, you can often laugh about it, but we still think it is better to prevent this by following these tips.

Of course you'll think, but you do have a fuel gauge, right? And yet you'd be surprised how often people without petrol or diesel get stuck. The causes are usually; not paying attention to the meter reading, or an incorrect estimate of the number of kilometers still to be driven.

To avoid this 'not funny' situation, we have put together some useful tips for you when renting a car.

Tip 1: Study the consumption and range of the rental car

The consumption of cars can be expressed in kilometers per liter, or km/l. Suppose you have a tank capacity of 60 liters and the average consumption is 8 km/l, then you can drive (60 x 8 =) 480 km on a full tank.

Take into account the different driving styles. In built-up areas with a lot of accelerating and braking, a car will always consume more than when you drive at a constant speed on the highway for a long time.

Feel free to ask the car rental company about the maximum distance, or range.

Tip 2: Ask how to report a nearly empty tank

It varies quite a bit per car how the driver is indicated that the tank is almost empty. Usually it is an (orange) light and if the tank really threatens to become empty, most modern cars also go on a beeping sound signal to give.

Be attentive in a rental car, as this can give different signals than you are used to, so it may not always be noticeable.

Our advice is therefore not to let the tank fall below a quarter of its capacity.

Tip 3: Study the route and refuel on time

It sounds logical, but this is still the most common reason why people come to a standstill because of an empty tank. Despite the indicator light already on, people decide to continue driving to “drive the tank as empty as possible” and therefore have to refuel less often.

If you decide to drive on when you see a gas station and you want to take a chance, it is better to have studied beforehand (and be stress-resistant).

There are apps for your smartphone, for example from shell en BP, so that you (passenger) can look up where the next gas station is. Also the ANWB app is very useful, as all (!) petrol stations can be found here!

Tip 4: Abroad

In the Netherlands, there is usually a gas station every few kilometers. Abroad, this can be very different. In countries such as France en Germany the distances are much greater and there are also much fewer petrol stations per kilometre. So take less risk here than you would in The Netherlands would do.

Extra tip: Where is your gas cap?

You will see that your rental car has the fuel cap on the opposite side than your own car. In most cars there is a handy indication that you just need to know.

where is the gas cap

This is usually indicated by an arrow next to the tank icon.

fuel cap

On other brands, the hose in the icon indicates where the fuel cap is located.

Avoid the embarrassing birthday story with these tips: “…so then we ran out of gas".

More tips? Read our blogs about:

-  safe car driving

driving in winter conditions

- tips for renting a car

- Reasons to rent a car

- prevent theft of your car

4 comments

  1. Jos on February 2, 2015 at 12:34 am

    Only if I have to drive a lot of miles will I fill the tank completely.
    Last year was the last time I did that.
    One night in April, my van was stolen from the driveway.
    That dirty trick really affected me.
    But what also really bothered me was that the thief was able to drive the first 900 km without refueling.
    With little fuel, he should have refueled somewhere closer.
    Then a camera could have quickly traced the bus.
    Mv g
    Jos

  2. René on February 2, 2015 at 15:18 am

    “Suppose you have a tank capacity of 60 litres and the average consumption is 8 l/km, then you can drive (60 x 8 =) 480 km on a full tank.”

    I hope none of the cars for rent at Adrem consume 8 liters per km. Then you can only drive 60 km with a 7,5 liter tank.

    • Frits Pieper on February 2, 2015 at 17:31 am

      Haha René,
      That is a valuable comment! The consumption was wrong in the article, well spotted! Kilometers and liters had to be reversed. Can you check if it is correct now?
      Regards,
      Adrem Car Rental
      Frits Pieper

  3. Anne Marie on February 10, 2015 at 12:15 am

    Hi

    Good to be woken up again. A friend of mine indeed had this “embarrassing situation” recently. Funny to read. Maybe it would be useful to give this list (along with other tips) when renting a car?

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