Running Out of Fuel

Rahul's scooty suddenly slows down on a quiet stretch of road, and he realises he's run out of petrol. He has to push it to the nearest petrol pump.

Meanings in Rahul, Petrol pump attendant

Key words and phrases

run out of fuelto have no petrol or diesel leftHe ran out of fuel halfway through his ride.

fuel gaugean instrument that shows how much fuel is left in a vehicleHe should have checked the fuel gauge before leaving.

petrol pumpa place where vehicles are filled with fuelThe nearest petrol pump was two kilometres away.

reservethe small extra amount of fuel kept for emergenciesHe switched to reserve when the tank ran low.

fill upto completely fill a fuel tankHe filled up the tank before starting the long trip.

strandedunable to move or leave a placeHe was stranded on the roadside with no fuel.

petrol cana small container used to carry extra fuelA friend brought him a petrol can with some fuel.

fuel tankthe part of a vehicle that stores fuelThe fuel tank was completely empty.

mileagethe distance a vehicle can travel per unit of fuelHis scooty gives good mileage on long rides.

attendanta person who works at a petrol pump and fills fuel for customersThe attendant filled the tank and checked the oil.

litrea unit used to measure the amount of fuelHe asked for two litres of petrol.

odometeran instrument that shows the total distance travelledHe checked the odometer to estimate the remaining fuel.

sputterto make an uneven, choking sound, as an engine running out of fuelThe engine began to sputter before it stopped completely.

breakdowna failure that stops a vehicle from workingRunning out of fuel caused an unexpected breakdown.

neutral gearthe gear position that allows a vehicle to roll without powerHe kept the bike in neutral gear while pushing it.

lifta free ride offered to someoneA stranger offered him a lift to the petrol pump.

top upto add a small extra amount of fuelHe decided to top up the tank on his way home.

panica sudden feeling of fear or anxietyHe felt a moment of panic when the bike suddenly stopped.

plan aheadto prepare for something in advanceIt's better to plan ahead and refuel early.

fuel efficientusing fuel in a way that avoids wasteHis new scooty is more fuel efficient than the old one.

Useful sentences

Ask What happened to your scooty?
Answer I ran out of fuel in the middle of the road.
Ask Did you not check the fuel gauge?
Answer I did, but I thought I had enough for the trip.
Ask How far is the nearest petrol pump?
Answer It's about two kilometres from here.
Ask Can someone give you a lift there?
Answer Yes, a friend is coming to drop me.
Ask How much petrol do you need?
Answer Just two litres should be enough to get home.
Ask Should I keep it in neutral gear while pushing?
Answer Yes, that makes it much easier to push.
Ask Why didn't you switch to reserve earlier?
Answer I forgot my scooty even had a reserve switch.
Ask Will you fill up the tank completely this time?
Answer Yes, I don't want this to happen again.
Ask What does the fuel gauge show now?
Answer It shows the tank is completely full.
Ask Do you think your bike is fuel efficient?
Answer Yes, it usually gives quite good mileage.

Dialogue

RahulThat's strange, the engine just started to sputter.

RahulOh no, I think I've run out of fuel.

RahulI'll have to push it to the nearest petrol pump.

PasserbyDo you need a hand, or a lift somewhere?

RahulThank you, but the petrol pump isn't too far from here.

AttendantHow much fuel do you need, sir?

RahulPlease fill up the tank completely this time.

AttendantSure. You should keep an eye on the fuel gauge next time.

RahulYou're right, I'll plan ahead and refuel earlier from now on.

AttendantThat's a good idea — running out on a quiet road isn't safe.

Common mistakes

Saying "petrol is finished" instead of "I've run out of petrol" or "the tank is empty" (avoid the direct-Hindi phrase "is finished").
Saying "fill the petrol" instead of "fill up the tank" or "fill the tank with petrol" (say what is being filled).
Saying "my bike stopped from no petrol" instead of "my bike stopped because it ran out of petrol" (use a complete, natural cause clause).
Saying "give two litre petrol" instead of "please give me two litres of petrol" (form a complete, polite request).
Saying "I am on reserve petrol" instead of "I've switched to reserve" or "I'm running on reserve fuel" (use the natural phrasing).
Saying "petrol pump man" instead of "the petrol pump attendant" (use the correct job title, not a casual description).

Quick quiz

1. What does "run out of fuel" mean?

2. What instrument shows how much fuel is left?

3. What is "reserve" fuel?

4. Complete: "The engine began to ___ before it stopped completely."

5. What should you keep a vehicle in while pushing it?

6. What does "fuel efficient" mean?

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