While on a family road trip, a driver passes an opportunity to fill up because his gauge indicates there is enough fuel to get to the next station. Five miles later, completely out of gas, the car sputters to a halt.

What happened? Is it possible that the fuel gauge is broken? Before blaming the gauge, consider it could be the gas.

Low levels of certain sulfurs in today's highly refined gasoline can form corrosive deposits on the fuel-sending unit, a device that sits inside a gas tank and transmits information to the dashboard fuel gauge. When this happens, the fuel gauge can malfunction. As a result, drivers may see inaccurate fuel level readings, possibly putting themselves in an undesirable situation.

Fortunately, there are preventative measures to help avoid this situation. Some fuel system cleaners, such as Chevron's Techron Concentrate Plus, are specifically formulated to counteract this problem. When buying a fuel additive, it's important to check the label to ensure it cleans and protects against harmful sulfurs.

A failed fuel-sending unit may need to be replaced, often along with the fuel pump-a repair that can cost from $300 to $1,000.

Consumers may be able to avoid these costs by trying a fuel system cleaner formulated to address sulfur problems. In some cases, these products can restore a faulty fuel-sending unit to working order, saving hard-earned cash.

Sulfur-related problems tend to be regional in nature, but because gasoline is often distributed throughout the country, problem fuels can emerge just about anywhere.

Consumers can avoid the detrimental effects of harmful fuel sulfurs by being aware of the issue, its cause and potential solutions.

First and foremost, look for a fuel system cleaner that addresses sulfur issues, such as Techron Concentrate Plus, which helps to clean, coat and protect the fuel-sending unit for thousands of miles.

A quality fuel system cleaner already helps to maximize fuel efficiency and engine performance by eliminating deposits that build up on engine parts (e.g., fuel injectors, intake valves, ports, carburetors and combustion chambers).

Fuel system cleaners, especially ones that address the sulfur issue, are a cost-effective and easy-to-use part of a vehicle's complete preventative maintenance program.