Letting the tank run low......

[MarJay]

You aren't supposed to let diesels run out because the fuel system has to be bled of air afterwards. This is a massive hassle.

[JulianHJ]

TurboHatchback said:

Drive until light comes on, fill up to brim.

This.

[BritishRacinGrin]

It probably drew some air and had to re-bleed itself.

[Dave Hedgehog]

MarJay said:

You aren't supposed to let diesels run out because the fuel system has to be bled of air afterwards. This is a massive hassle.

i think some modern diesels do not get air locked

audi lent me a v6 a6 oil burner that had been flashed to say the larger fuel tank had been fitted, so it ran out showing a large amount of fuel still in the tank, RAC guy put a gallon in (once he worked out what was wrong) and it pretty much just started

[Megaflow]

,

MarJay said:

You aren't supposed to let diesels run out because the fuel system has to be bled of air afterwards. This is a massive hassle.

It shouldn't be. Most cars will have a system for bleeding them. Otherwise how do you change a fuel filter?

My wife's Civic has a bulb type pump under the scuttle panel, squeeze it 15-20 times until hard.

[romeogolf]

Generally I fill up every Saturday at the same time as the weekly shop. I around 400 miles/week and that takes 2/3 of the tank.

If I've done extra miles, I'll try and stretch it until the next weekend just to save an extra journey, but often let the tank get to the bottom of the 'empty' section and for the display to show "Refuel Now" rather than a mileage!

[andy-xr]

I'm pretty sure we've fked the o2 sensor on the Mrs Ka from running it that low, always seem to be that that's throwing the engine light and I dont fancy putting £25 into a removal tool that's basically half a socket so just reset it every time

[Sump]

andy-xr said:

I'm pretty sure we've fked the o2 sensor on the Mrs Ka from running it that low, always seem to be that that's throwing the engine light and I dont fancy putting £25 into a removal tool that's basically half a socket so just reset it every time

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sealey-Heavy-Duty-Steel-Oxygen-O2-Sensor-Air-Socket-22mm-3-8-Sq-Drive-SX022-/141558320084?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item20f5888bd4

[Drive Blind]

drive until the range is showing 10-20 miles to empty then brim it. Repeat. Been doing this about 10 years now. Why visit a petrol station any more than I have to?

I don't buy into the 'running it low stirs up the crap at the bottom of the tank and is bad for your car' myth

[GroundEffect]

rallycross said:

never gets above half full and often gets close to zero.

Playing petrol station roulette in my 335i


][/URL]

Edited by rallycross on Friday 27th February 10:46

190,000 miles?!

[Conscript]

JulianHJ said:

TurboHatchback said:

Drive until light comes on, fill up to brim.

This.

That.

[Kentish]

BritishRacinGrin said:

It probably drew some air and had to re-bleed itself.

I think you're right but I don't think a cleaner will do any harm.

It's quite potent stuff (looking at the label) and I remember our Diesel Injection engineer at Lucas used to rate it.

[rallycross]

GroundEffect said:

rallycross said:

never gets above half full and often gets close to zero.

Playing petrol station roulette in my 335i


][/URL]

Edited by rallycross on Friday 27th February 10:46

190,000 miles?!

Yes 193,000 miles and still going strong drives great and its still on original turbo's, clutch and suspension!

[AlexHat]

I run it to the light most times, though if I know I'm going on a long journey I fill up regardless of how much fuel is in the tank.

[otolith]

Distance to empty displays are a menace - the other half cuts it very fine on fuel because the display still says there's 20 miles in the tank.

[HarryFlatters]

TurboHatchback said:

Drive until light comes on, fill up to brim.

This.

[mikeyr]

Kentish said:

swished the fuel around to mix it by steer left and right in quick movements (like an F1 driveer warming up tyres) and after a run of about 20 miles the fault cleared luckily!

I do the same with my rum and coke when driving to work.

[Pothole]

TurboHatchback said:

Drive until light comes on, fill up to brim.

Ditto

[Riley Blue]

Car 1 (shopping trolley Fiesta) - drive till light comes on, fill up with cheapest diesel.

Car 2 ('63 Riley with faulty fuel gauge) - drive till 200 shows on trip, fill up and zero trip. Trip is inaccurate due to non-standard wheels/tyres so every trip is a bit of a gamble.

Car 3 (A8 4.2) drive till I pass a Tesco, fill up with 99RON and grimace at cost.

[itcaptainslow]

BritishRacinGrin said:

It probably drew some air and had to re-bleed itself.

This. Nothing more, nothing less. Unfortunately the pure python extract (it made me chuckle, anyway!) will have done nothing except relieve you of money.

Some diesel fuel circuits are a bh to bleed after changing the filter or running out-DV6's (the PSA/Ford 1.6 HDI) always gave me numb fingers from prodding that bulb so much!