Running out of gas is one of the easiest road emergencies to avoid. Usually, running out of gas isn't caused by total neglect of the gas gauge, it's caused by trusting the gauge too much. Gas gauges can be inaccurate and should never be completely trusted. A sure fire way of avoiding running out of gas is to always keep the tank at least half full. In winter, this habit serves a dual purpose. You'll never run out of gas and with a full tank, condensation won't develop in your tank. If you do run out of gas, restarting the engine once you get gas can be tricky. Before turning the engine over, press the accelerator once to set the automatic choke. Turn the engine over but don't pump the gas pedal. If the engine doesn't start after fifteen seconds, stop and try again in two minutes. This will keep from overheating the starter. With a diesel engine, running out of gas can be a major inconvenience and sometimes expensive. Special service procedures are sometimes needed to refill the fuel lines.
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