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What to Do When You Run Out of Gas in Philadelphia
Running dry is embarrassing and completely fixable. The only real risk is where the car stops.
The moment the engine cuts
You usually get a warning: hesitation, a stumble, then loss of power. Steering and brakes get heavy once the engine is off, so use the momentum you have to coast right, onto a shoulder or a side street, and get the hazards on immediately.
On the Schuylkill or I-95 there is very little shoulder in places. Stay belted inside the vehicle if traffic is close.
How fuel delivery works
We bring emergency gasoline, up to 10 gallons, in an approved sealed container, pour it in, and stay until your engine actually starts. The service call starts at $100 and the fuel itself is billed at cost — you hear the full number before we dispatch.
Diesel availability varies, so mention it on the call.
Why the gauge lied
Fuel gauges read differently on hills and in stop-and-go traffic, and a sending unit that's drifting can show an eighth of a tank that isn't there. If your low-fuel light has started coming on sooner than the mileage suggests, get the sender checked.