How fuel delivery works
Running dry on I-280 between Northwood and Oregon, or on a side street across town, usually ends the same way: a few gallons from a can and a short drive to a pump.
- Coast as far from traffic as you can and turn on the hazards. If the car stopped in a travel lane, call 911.
- Call (419) 329-4502 or send a request, and say whether the car takes gasoline or diesel.
- The provider brings enough fuel to reach a station and pours it in.
- Start the car and drive straight to the nearest station to fill up.
- If it won’t start after fuel goes in, tell the provider. The problem may not have been the fuel, and a tow may be next.
Ask the price before anyone is sent, including whether the fuel itself is charged separately.
Put the wrong fuel in the tank?
Don’t start the engine, and don’t try to drive to a shop. What happens next depends on the mistake:
| What went in | What to do |
|---|---|
| Diesel in a gasoline car, engine not started | Leave it off. Call a dealer or repair shop and arrange a tow; a mechanic drains and rinses the tank, which is typically all that’s needed if it was never started (KBB) |
| Diesel in a gasoline car, already driven | Pull over when safe and shut it off. Diesel can clog injectors and damage the catalytic converter, so get it towed to a shop |
| Gasoline in a diesel | Don’t start it. Call a shop before doing anything else, and arrange a tow if they say so |
| E15 in a model-year 2000 or older car | E15 is approved only for flex-fuel vehicles and gasoline vehicles from model year 2001 on; misfueling older vehicles is prohibited (DOE AFDC). Ask a shop what to do |
A misfueled car needs a tow rather than a drive, usually to a shop that can drain the tank. Tell the dispatcher if it is AWD or electric, so a flatbed is sent.
Call for towing help(419) 329-4502Out of charge in an electric car
A gas can won’t help an EV. As general guidance, an electric car that has run out of charge has to be moved to a charger, and carmakers such as Kia recommend dollies or a flatbed for towing one, because turning the drive wheels can damage components (Kia owner’s manual). Ask the dispatcher whether a mobile charging option is available; if not, have a charger or your home address ready as the destination.
Toledo winters make this more likely. AAA says freezing temperatures can cut EV range by up to 40% (AAA), and NHTSA suggests keeping an EV plugged in overnight in winter (NHTSA).
Running on fumes costs more than gas
AAA warns that repeatedly driving on a very low fuel level can damage the fuel pump, with repairs that can run $1,000 or more, and recommends refilling before the tank drops below a quarter (AAA).
In a northwest Ohio winter, fuel is also heat. NHTSA suggests keeping the tank close to full in winter, and if you are ever stuck in a storm, the National Weather Service’s advice is to run the engine about 10 minutes each hour, with the exhaust pipe clear and a window cracked (NWS). A near-empty tank leaves no margin for that. If you slid off the road, see winch-out service.
Free fuel on covered interstates
ODOT’s Freeway Safety Patrol lists “minimal amounts of fuel” among its free services (ODOT). In Toledo it works listed stretches of I-75, I-475, I-280 and US-23 on weekdays from 6 AM to 9 PM. On the Ohio Turnpike, dial #677. Everywhere else, and outside those hours, fuel delivery or roadside assistance is the way to go.
What to have ready when you call
- Your location: road, direction and nearest exit, or the street address. A stall on I-75 near Rossford needs the last exit number and your direction.
- The fuel the vehicle takes: gasoline or diesel. If it is diesel, say so up front, and check the owner’s manual for any restart steps after running dry.
- Year, make, model and color.
- If you misfueled: what went in and whether the engine was started.
- If it is electric: the charge left, if any, and where you want it taken.
Then call (419) 329-4502 or send a request. The I-75 breakdown guide covers waiting safely on a Toledo interstate, and the tow cost guide explains what affects the price if a tow is needed.