What We Bring and How It Works
The van carries approved fuel containers with gasoline and diesel. The driver checks which fuel your vehicle takes, pours carefully with a spout to avoid spills and stays with you while you start the engine. We deliver enough to reach a station, not to fill the tank, since that is a safer approach for a roadside stop.
- Tell us the fuel type. Gasoline, diesel or flex fuel. Many modern fuel doors have a label, so check.
- Confirm your location. Cross streets, a mile marker or a business name. Highway calls need direction of travel.
- The driver arrives and pours. The fuel goes in through the filler neck, with the engine off.
- Start and prime if needed. Cars with an empty tank sometimes need a few key cycles to prime the fuel pump.
- Head to a station. Keep the tank above a quarter from now on.
Diesel Is Different
A diesel engine that runs dry can pick up air in the fuel system, which has to be bled out before the engine will run. Many newer diesels have a self-priming pump. Older trucks may need the driver to prime by hand, which can take extra time. If the engine will not start after fuel, tell the driver and we help figure out if the vehicle needs a tow.
Never put gasoline in a diesel or diesel in a gasoline car. Misfuel can cause serious engine damage, and if it happens, do not start the engine. Call us and we will tow it to the shop.
Why Cars Run Dry in Northern Illinois
- A faulty gauge showed more fuel than the tank held.
- Cold weather made the driver skip a stop and push the range.
- A long stretch of I-90 with few stations, late at night.
- A parked car that sat for months and started with a nearly empty tank.
- A rental car with an unfamiliar gauge.
Winter makes empty tanks worse, because a low tank can collect moisture and the car is harder to restart in the cold. Keep the tank at least a quarter full when temperatures drop.
When Fuel Is Not the Problem
If you have fuel in the tank and the car still will not run, the issue could be a fuel pump, a clogged filter or an electrical fault. Our roadside team can run through the quick checks, and the tow brings the car to the repair shop at 1007 Logan Ave for a proper diagnosis. See roadside assistance for the other quick fixes.
What It Costs
| Item | How we price it |
|---|---|
| Delivery service call | Flat rate, quoted on the call |
| Fuel | Charged for the gallons delivered, quoted on the call |
| Mileage charge in town | None |
| Tow if the car still will not run | Quoted before the truck is hooked up |
Fuel prices change, so the dispatcher gives you the current total when you call.
Details verified October 2026. Final numbers are always confirmed by phone before a truck rolls.
Before the Van Is Dispatched
- Gasoline or diesel, and any flex-fuel notes on the fuel door
- Whether the car is on a highway, a ramp or a residential street
- Whether the engine has been cranked repeatedly since it ran out
- The vehicle year, make and model
- Whether the fuel gauge was acting strangely beforehand
“Running out of fuel is the most forgivable breakdown there is. We just want to be sure it is really fuel, so we ask a few questions before we pour.”
Dispatch Manager, Logan Automotive & Tire
Last updated: October 29, 2026