Running out of gas on a stretch of I-70 or right in your own driveway near Gage Park is a difficult situation. One minute you are cruising, and the next your engine sputters and dies. If you are stranded on the side of the road, do not panic. Topeka Towing Services provides Towing Service options for drivers in Topeka, but you need to know how to handle the situation safely before you start walking toward the nearest gas station.
Before you call for help or grab a red plastic container from your garage, safety comes first. Pull your vehicle as far onto the shoulder as Kansas law allows, or get it completely off the active roadway if you are in a neighborhood. Turn on your hazard lights immediately. If you are dealing with a sudden Kansas windstorm or a slick winter freeze off the plains, visibility drops fast. Stay inside your car with your seatbelt fastened if you are stuck on a busy highway. Pedestrians get hit walking along Topeka roads because they try to walk to the station themselves.
What You Can Handle Yourself
If you are safely parked at home or in a low-traffic parking lot, you can often fix this yourself. Do you have a certified gas can stashed in your shed? If yes, and you can safely walk or catch a ride to a nearby pump, you can pick up a gallon or two of regular unleaded. Pouring it in requires a steady hand and a clean funnel so you do not spill raw fuel down your car paint or into the wheel well. Once you get a gallon or two in the tank, turn your key to the on position for a few seconds without cranking the engine to prime the fuel pump. Then try starting it up.
Keep in mind that modern fuel pumps use the gasoline in your tank to stay cool. Running completely dry is rough on that pump, so do not make a habit of riding on empty around Shawnee County.
When to Call Topeka Towing Services
Sometimes do-it-yourself methods are not safe or practical. Maybe you are stuck on a dangerous curve during rush hour, or maybe your fuel gauge was inaccurate and you actually have a mechanical failure instead of an empty tank. That is when you call in backup.
When you reach out to Topeka Towing Services for a fuel drop, here is what you need to tell us: exactly where you are parked, whether you need regular or diesel, and if your car is in a spot that makes roadside service hazardous. A professional delivery gets you enough fuel to get moving again, or if the engine still will not turn over because the starter or fuel pump failed, we can hook you up and provide Towing Service to take you straight to a trusted local mechanic.
After the Fuel Arrives
Once you have gas in the tank and the engine is running, do not head straight back out onto the highway without stopping at a proper station to top off. Driving around on fumes stresses your entire fuel delivery system. Take it straight to the nearest pump, fill it up completely, and check your dashboard to make sure your fuel gauge registers the full level properly. If the gauge stays pinned on empty even after a full fill-up, you might have a bad sending unit. Make a note to get that checked out before your next drive across town in Topeka, KS.