I just filled the gas tank on the Dart. After recovering from the heart failure now associated with gasoline prices, I sat down in the driver’s seat to figure my mileage on the last tank of gas. I then proceeded to have another heart attack.

Four miles to the gallon.

This is the second time it’s come up with the same figure. Last time I thought I had probably written down the mileage wrong or something. For it to come up with the same number twice would indicate that four miles to the gallon is, sadly, accurate. I’m trying to figure out possible explanations for this, because it’s just insane.

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After pondering all the options … I parked it on the concrete slab here at the house, because the only options that made sense were leakage or gas theft. I wouldn’t think my neighbors would steal my gasoline, but you never know. When I went out to check for leakage, I found my answer. Apparently there is a hole in my gas tank.

I think I will kill myself now. Self-emulation seems fitting.

I’m going to have to find something to stick under there and catch what’s dripping (and it is just dripping, not running out). Then I guess this weekend, Lin and I are going to have to do something about it. I’m thinking some JB Weld or other epoxy type stuff. I don’t know if we will be able to do that when it has gas in it. I guess I’ll have to give the gas to Lin. Hope he hasn’t filled up recently. I better call him and tell him not to get any gas.

You know, this is almost the final straw for the Dart. I love the car, I really do. I think I would love a new VW bug just as much. I think maybe the time has come to part with the Dart. Breaks my heart, but it’s just going to be a money pit. We either have to put a lot of money into it to bring it up to proper condition or we have to get another car. At the moment, I am leaning toward another car.

So now, even though the cat needs food and we have almost no food in the house at all for humans either, I am not going anywhere in the Dart. It’s makes me more than a little nervous to be driving a car that is leaking gasoline. What’s worse is I have no idea how long it has been doing this. That car has always had a “gassy” smell to it … ALWAYS. For all I know, it’s been doing this forever and only just now that I am not driving all that much I’m noticing. I mean, it did sit there only being driven once or twice a week for the last three months since the last time I filled the tank. When I was driving it all the time, I probably was just using the gas before it could drip out. It’s never gotten great gas mileage … like maybe 12-14 miles per gallon.

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Forgot to hit post before I called Lin and Mom, so now I can update with the latest information. The leak is so small that the gas is evaporating from the pan I put under it at about the same rate it’s leaking out. So yeah, it’s probably took it the last two months to drain out completely. Still freaks me out to drive it, but I think tomorrow I may go ahead and go run my errands and do the shopping. Lin already filled the truck tanks, so I don’t really have anywhere to put the gas. Might as well use it. I’ve obviously been driving a gas leaking car for a while now and haven’t blown up yet, a few more trips around town probably won’t kill me. Famous last words, I am certain.

Well my day has pretty much been shot to hell. I guess I’ll feed the cat some of the nasty cat food we have in the cupboard, Lin and I will eat leftovers from last night (BBQ), and life will go on. I’m really upset though. You know I love that car. Some of you know just how attached to that car I am. I can’t imagine my life without that car in it. Just thinking about getting rid of it is making me cry. I just can’t justify spending the amount of money it would take to make it all better when a new car could be bought.

I’m going to go sit in my stinky, leaking car for a while and have a nervous breakdown.