How many miles did you get with fuel low light on?
Discussion
Many moons ago, a mate asked me to help him drive an urgent car part to somewhere in Germany, for his company. This was around 1992 (both around 20 at the time),no sat nav, he was given a company car, this part had to get there next morning before 10am, Which we did, driving overnight from the UK.
On returning, our petrol light came on,(think it was on a Honda Accord Estate) - we were on a M-way at the time. Keeping our eye out for a petrol station, we just didn't see any, becoming concerned, we set the cruise to 56 MPH and carried on. Mile after mile, we found nothing, the car started to 'miss', which meant my friend did some gentle manoeuvring in our lane to keep the petrol flowing. Think we did this for about 5 miles, still on cruise at 56 MPH.
In the end we saw a petrol station off the motorway, but we had missed the junction. We were British on GB plates (and sorry to say reversed the car down the 'up' slip road to the junction) and finally got some fuel. I think the Accord sat max'ed out, back to the ferry at about 120 MPH again on cruise. I believe that day we managed apprx 75 miles on the petrol light.
Upon returning through customs, we & car got searched, where customs found in the boot a full petrol canister...!
jj
On returning, our petrol light came on,(think it was on a Honda Accord Estate) - we were on a M-way at the time. Keeping our eye out for a petrol station, we just didn't see any, becoming concerned, we set the cruise to 56 MPH and carried on. Mile after mile, we found nothing, the car started to 'miss', which meant my friend did some gentle manoeuvring in our lane to keep the petrol flowing. Think we did this for about 5 miles, still on cruise at 56 MPH.
In the end we saw a petrol station off the motorway, but we had missed the junction. We were British on GB plates (and sorry to say reversed the car down the 'up' slip road to the junction) and finally got some fuel. I think the Accord sat max'ed out, back to the ferry at about 120 MPH again on cruise. I believe that day we managed apprx 75 miles on the petrol light.
Upon returning through customs, we & car got searched, where customs found in the boot a full petrol canister...!
jj
I have an S-Type and I'm quite happy to run it down to the trip computer showing 0 miles which is well after the light comes on. According the handbook the indicated tank capacity is 65litres and the unindicated reserve is 5 litres. At 0 reading I do indeed get 65 litres in so there's still a clear gallon left.
I think most cars are like this although the handbooks don't always come clean about it. The light probably comes on a good 2 gallons early.
I think most cars are like this although the handbooks don't always come clean about it. The light probably comes on a good 2 gallons early.
wackojacko said:
Furthest I had to risk it once was 27 miles....... probably THE most stressful 27 miles of my lie 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ this but mine was more like 20 and i was dreading the phone call home to say "can you just fetch me a gallon" because i knew it would be returned with some expleatives.. needless to say now i try to fill up when it gets to a 1/4 of a tank 
wackojacko said:
Furthest I had to risk it once was 27 miles....... probably THE most stressful 27 miles of my lie
Similar but made about 40 miles and was in full on driving Miss Daisy mode to save fuel, no aircon etc.Left a late night cinema showing, it was dark and raining and the other half said "we should fill up here because it's a long way home". I'm the bloke and I know best so we didn't fill up, "it'll be fine we've got loads of fuel". 1 mile after leaving the town the light came on and to draw her attention to it the stupid car also makes a stupid bong sound. Every petrol station I tried on the way home was closed, the conversation in the car had stopped and I was beginning to panic but obviously couldn't show that in case she realised I had made a mistake. Never been so thankful to see a Tesco in all my life.
If I go by the book figures I still had just over a litre left so there was clearly no need to worry
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff