# If you run out of gas, is it accurate to say "My car died"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 10, 2016, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494 "2016-05-10T17:24:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494/1 "2016-05-10T17:24:53Z")
Simple (until dopers get done with it!) question: You run out of gas. Your car will not run. You assume it will run again once you have gas in it. Is it accurate for you to say “My car died”? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494/2 "2016-05-10T17:31:34Z")
I think so. No less so than “my car died… until I put a fresh battery/new alternator/whatever”. But it was working, now it’s not. Unless it not working is intentional, it died. Of course, if you know WHY it died, it’s more accurate to say “My car died from [reason]” ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494/3 "2016-05-10T17:42:26Z")
Not that you need my vote in here, but I think it’s an inaccurate (or, at least, misleading) statement. To me, a car “dying” means that something has broken, and that you don’t know what the problem is. Running out of gas just doesn’t fall into that category in my view. Which is, of course, the reasonable view, here. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494/4 "2016-05-10T17:47:55Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Not that you need my vote in here, but I think it’s an inaccurate (or, at least, misleading) statement. To me, a car “dying” means that something has broken, and that you don’t know what the problem is. Running out of gas just doesn’t fall into that category in my view. This. “My car died” implies that there is a repair (or retirement) in its immediate future rather than refueling. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494/5 "2016-05-10T17:50:51Z")
Not accurate. It isn’t dead - it’s just _resting_. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494/6 "2016-05-10T17:54:03Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Not accurate. It isn’t dead - it’s just _resting_. _Resting?_ That car wouldn’t VROOOOM if you put 20,000 volts through it. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494/7 "2016-05-10T17:55:26Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Not accurate. It isn’t dead - it’s just _resting_. It’s pining for the Fords. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494/8 "2016-05-10T18:13:09Z")
I’d say ‘not accurate’. I would accept “my car died” as a legitimate excuse for being late to work. I would not accept “my car ran out of gas”. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494/9 "2016-05-10T18:16:16Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > It’s pining for the Fords. _throws a bunch of raspberries_ ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494/10 "2016-05-10T18:23:18Z")
Car death implies a sudden and unpredictable event. It’s entirely possible for a car to die from running out of gas; a broken fuel gauge, for instance, or a fuel leak that drains the system rapidly. If the car is 100% working as expected, and notified you via the gas gauge of it’s impending shutdown, then no, your car didn’t die, you just weren’t paying attention. eta: You know, I’d make an allowance for extreme circumstances. Husband borrowed the car and didn’t fill it up, I thought I had a half a tank so I didn’t think to look, kids were screaming the whole time, next thing you know my car died. That sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494/11 "2016-05-10T18:27:03Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > This. “My car died” implies that there is a repair (or retirement) in its immediate future rather than refueling. This. “Died” means there’s a significant mechanical problem with the car, but the problem here is with the driver. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494/12 "2016-05-10T18:35:13Z")
‘Died’ doesn’t mean anything in particular for a car. It makes sense to use the word for more serious problems but people will say “My car died” if it just stalls. If you don’t add anymore qualification you can’t make assumptions about the meaning. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494/13 "2016-05-10T18:45:59Z")
Eh, I don’t think it’s a federal issue or anything, but “my car died” to me means it died from forces outside of the driver’s immediate control. So no, I would not think running out of gas means the car died. And if someone said that to me, and then later I found out it was because it was out of gas … I’d have a :dubious: reaction. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494/14 "2016-05-10T18:46:37Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > This. “Died” means there’s a significant mechanical problem with the car, but the problem here is with the driver. A car will die if a fuse blows, or a belt slips off, or a battery goes kaput. None of those are anywhere close to a “significant mechanical problem,” and in many cases wouldn’t require a trip to a mechanic. Heck, Ford Escorts used to die because hard bumps would trigger the fuel safety cutoff. The only real difference is that we expect all drivers to be able to monitor fuel level, but not even above average drivers are expected to be able to quickly diagnose a blown fuse ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494/15 "2016-05-10T18:49:57Z")
I would say that it’s not the same thing. If I am waiting for you and you tell me your car died, I am going to infer that you are no longer coming. Also your car will be going to the shop, so you’re probably not coming tomorrow and you might even ask me for money. If I am waiting for you and you tell me your ran out of gas, I know I just need to wait a little longer for you to show up. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494/16 "2016-05-10T18:50:21Z")
I agree with those who say it is not accurate. Your car is not dead, it’s just out of gas. You can bring it back to life without actually replacing anything. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494/17 "2016-05-10T18:54:04Z")
My own thinking is that I regularly use “died” for the lawnmower running out of gas (“Mower’s gonna die soon, get the gas can”) so one internal combustion engine running out of fuel is as good as the next. That said, I wouldn’t use it for a car in that context but it seems reasonable enough to do so. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494/18 "2016-05-10T19:07:00Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Simple (until dopers get done with it!) question: > > You run out of gas. Your car will not run. You assume it will run again once you have gas in it. Is it accurate for you to say “My car died”? > [@Asimovian](#): > > Not that you need my vote in here, but I think it’s an inaccurate (or, at least, misleading) statement. To me, a car “dying” means that something has broken, and that you don’t know what the problem is. Running out of gas just doesn’t fall into that category in my view. > > Which is, of course, the reasonable view, here. 😃 You’re not asking us to settle a domestic dispute here, are you? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494/19 "2016-05-10T19:13:17Z")
Its a subtle difference, but its inaccurate. “My cat died.” “OMG! What happened…?” “I stopped feeding it…” ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494/20 "2016-05-10T19:59:49Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > It’s pining for the Fords. _ow, ow, ow_ On the topic, yes, I think you can say that a car died when it runs out of gas. It’s certainly not running. Measuring how much of a twit the driver is would be case specific. For example, just to be helpful, when my sister ran out of gas on the Hollywood Freeway, in the 2 lane, in My Car, she was an epic twit. Also very lucky not to get killed. She did cause an accident to MY CAR (not bitter at all). 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-run-out-of-gas-is-it-accurate-to-say-my-car-died/754494.md?page=2)