Run out of petrol?

You probably drained the system going uphill - you can try starting it I guess and drive down to the station?

Mine has had the needle on below empty before (obc reads 0 miles left, light comes on with 55miles left on average) and when I filled up I find that there was 2-3 litres left in the tank so still had some distance left.
 
I don't have a fuel light so I can't even play Fuel Light Bingo :(

I managed to fill up 44l in a 42l tank, that was after I drained it completely, so I suspect it was sitting in the filler/return hose.

The pump/sender unit/feed normally sits in a little bowl inside the tank, the pump will then have a little mesh bag over the inlet for the pump. If there's dirt sitting in that bowl, regardless of the tank being empty or brimmed, it might be sucked through the pump.

I suspect all the fuel has drained out of the bowl and it's gone to the back of the tank.
 
My Pug 107 ran out of fuel. Its ment to have a 30 mile reserve when the light comes on.... last time I actually let it get low I hit that red light. car beeps to warn you. then I went a mile. And poof. engine cut out and wouldn't start again. Slap bang in the middle of a C road. nearest petrol station was 3 miles in either direction! its only a 2006 plate but I have put some fuel cleaner in since as I'm guessing it had a load of crap in the bottom of the tank. But I haven't risked testing that theory.
 
Off the bottom of the scale = worry time.
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Apparently they don't believe in late night petrol in Shropshire, still, made it home fine and to the esso the next day without drama.
 
I always aim to fill up when the opportunity arises once the tank's got less than a quarter left. I don't know why some people wait until it's literally gone empty; you're still spending the same amount of money on petrol overall, and leaving it until the last minute won't save you anything, it will just inconvenience you!
 
KNiVES said:
I always aim to fill up when the opportunity arises once the tank's got less than a quarter left. I don't know why some people wait until it's literally gone empty; you're still spending the same amount of money on petrol overall, and leaving it until the last minute won't save you anything, it will just inconvenience you!
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People are idiots
 
KNiVES said:
I always aim to fill up when the opportunity arises once the tank's got less than a quarter left. I don't know why some people wait until it's literally gone empty; you're still spending the same amount of money on petrol overall, and leaving it until the last minute won't save you anything, it will just inconvenience you!
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Right of course, and since you'll be filling up more often because you only use 3/4 of the tank, that'll not be inconveniencing you at all, right?
 
Borrowed a can and marched to the station, filled the car up = All is well. :) Certainly won't be making the same mistake in a hurry!

Hatter The Mad said:
People are idiots
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I'm a student, I don't have the income to support filling the entire tank whenever the opportunity arises. I'll generally fill up £20 or so at a time which lasts me fine.
 
Clarkey said:
Right of course, and since you'll be filling up more often because you only use 3/4 of the tank, that'll not be inconveniencing you at all, right?
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I'd rather fill up slightly more frequently than having to worry about whether or not I have enough petrol to get home.
 
Back when I was a student, my clio's light was always on. I'd never put more than 5 quid in at at time :D

I only ran out of petrol once, when I'd forgotten I'd already made a number of trips and was bombing down the dual carriageway at 90mph when suddenly it juddered. That's when I realised :D

Now I work and commute everyday, I just brim it. Funnily enough I'm still at the petrol station every other day on average . .
 
Played bingo a couple of times with my car when I first got but it seems to change its mind as to when to turn the light on :rolleyes:
 
Hatter The Mad said:
It doesn't matter how empty your tank is before filling up, though. You still spend the same overall
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Well technically if you only fill you tank partially and wait for it to be empty you would see better MPG due to lower average weight of the car thus saving money!!!!

Although realistically it's not gonna be noticable savings :D
 
My reason was I simply didn't drive much. When I was very poor, I didn't want to have 40+ quid sitting in the tank when the chances are I wouldn't need to use the car for another month . . .
 
I usually goto the petrol station once I hit quater of a tank, it might be an old wives tail (never really looked into it) but I do't like the idea of dragging the silt from the bottom of the tank through the engine.
 
Excuse my MSPAINT Y0! skills. This is a rudimentary diagram of my understanding of fuel tanks after pulling one out of my Fiesta.

petrilinnit-1.png


If there's dirt in your tank, it's going to get sucked up regardless. If the tank is low, the swirl pot will stop the fuel from sloshing about too much and affecting the feed to the pump.
 
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