Getting to the gas station on a nearly empty tank

Some people fill up before their tank is half empty, while others make it a sport to reach the gas station with as little fuel in the tank as possible. But what if the light on your dashboard starts flashing and there is no gas station in sight?

Anticipate

In order not to come to a standstill, you will have to drive very economically. And that goes further than switching off the air conditioning and choosing the right gear. Late braking and hard acceleration are disastrous. By anticipating the behavior of other road users and traffic situations, you get the most meters out of every drop of petrol.

Keep rollin'

Do you see a traffic light turn red in the distance or do you see that you need to give way? Then release the gas, press the clutch and let the car roll out gently. In the ideal situation, you will come to a stop in time without pressing the brake pedal. However, this is a fine line to walk. Because what you don't want is to lose too much speed and have to accelerate again.

Haste makes waste…

A mistake many drivers make is thinking that they need to get to the gas station as quickly as possible. They start driving nervously, while the situation actually requires a calm driving style. You need to let your car roll out as much as possible and give it gas in measured doses. Even if that may irritate other road users.

Switch on time

Choosing the right gear is also important. By shifting up a little faster than usual, your car will make fewer revolutions and you will use less fuel. Of course, you should not shift up too quickly. But at 50 km/h you can usually drive calmly in fourth gear.

Tank empty; what now?

Despite all these measures, it can happen that you end up at the side of the road with a completely empty tank. If the engine starts to falter, it is important to park your car safely at the side of the road, on the hard shoulder or in the verge as quickly as possible. Avoid coming to a standstill in the roadway and hindering other traffic. Hopefully you can reach the next petrol station on foot and make the 'walk of shame' back to your vehicle with a full jerry can.

Fill up on time!

Don't see these tips as a reason to refuel as late as possible! Running your tank completely empty is disastrous for your car's fuel lines, fuel pump and engine. It is best to always keep your tank at least a quarter full. This prevents a lot of problems. Rent a car in Heerlen? That's possible at Adrem!