Fuel Range Countdown Lottery
Discussion
A few weeks ago I was on the way to fill up with petrol on the way home from work.
I don't normally let the tank run down to the light, but had on this occasion.
I was relying on the range countdown to try and extract the most mileage out of the tank (5.0 V8 so not much at the best of times) when I got stuck in traffic on the A5 due to a jumper!!; very quickly the range dropped from 12 miles to 4 miles and then equally suddenly it hit 0 when I was still about 4 miles from the petrol station.
Now I appreciate that these range indicators are only a guide, but I was sitting there very worried that I would run out of petrol (something that hasn't happened for over 15 years)
Happily I managed to make it without incident, feathering the throttle all the way.
So have you lost this lottery and in what circumstance? or are you a fellow winner and have escaped by the skin of your teeth?
I don't normally let the tank run down to the light, but had on this occasion.
I was relying on the range countdown to try and extract the most mileage out of the tank (5.0 V8 so not much at the best of times) when I got stuck in traffic on the A5 due to a jumper!!; very quickly the range dropped from 12 miles to 4 miles and then equally suddenly it hit 0 when I was still about 4 miles from the petrol station.
Now I appreciate that these range indicators are only a guide, but I was sitting there very worried that I would run out of petrol (something that hasn't happened for over 15 years)
Happily I managed to make it without incident, feathering the throttle all the way.
So have you lost this lottery and in what circumstance? or are you a fellow winner and have escaped by the skin of your teeth?
Christmas Eve just gone.......
Basically got out of work and couldn't/wouldnt stop for Petrol. Fuel light was on range meter was showing '----' and so the lottery of making the 10 miles home began.
Now There are some hilly bits and non hilly bits on the way home so coasting was used every step of the way to make sure I got home. Unfortunately not more than a 1/4 of a mile from my home I encountered some traffic. Wasnt heavy just a 4 min wait at the traffic lights.....
Yep you guessed it, the engine stopped sat at the traffic lights at Camberwell Green in London, no more than 2 min drive from my house and a sodding petrol station
lol
Pushed car into middle of road on the chevrons so out of the way of everybody (surprisingly a 2009 Megane Coupé is very light car to push, although I did have a vision of me pushing it and then giving up as it was too heavy
)
Ended up getting the MIL and Partner to come out with a Jerry Can so I could get going again
Basically got out of work and couldn't/wouldnt stop for Petrol. Fuel light was on range meter was showing '----' and so the lottery of making the 10 miles home began.
Now There are some hilly bits and non hilly bits on the way home so coasting was used every step of the way to make sure I got home. Unfortunately not more than a 1/4 of a mile from my home I encountered some traffic. Wasnt heavy just a 4 min wait at the traffic lights.....
Yep you guessed it, the engine stopped sat at the traffic lights at Camberwell Green in London, no more than 2 min drive from my house and a sodding petrol station
lolPushed car into middle of road on the chevrons so out of the way of everybody (surprisingly a 2009 Megane Coupé is very light car to push, although I did have a vision of me pushing it and then giving up as it was too heavy
)Ended up getting the MIL and Partner to come out with a Jerry Can so I could get going again
Edited by snoopy25 on Monday 9th June 09:24
Last week I ended up having 0 miles left. I was a bit nervous as I drove to the nearest petrol station as I never let it run that low if I can help it, and I wasn't sure how much I had left.
It's a 60L tank (apparently), and I only managed to get just over 52 litres in. Going on rough average MPG calculations, I had about 40-45 miles left! Oh well, I'll bear that in mind if it ever happens again.
It's a 60L tank (apparently), and I only managed to get just over 52 litres in. Going on rough average MPG calculations, I had about 40-45 miles left! Oh well, I'll bear that in mind if it ever happens again.
R6VED said:
So have you lost this lottery and in what circumstance? or are you a fellow winner and have escaped by the skin of your teeth?
Regularly used to drive a 350Z showing --- on the display for up to 60 miles as supposedly it was calibrated for US gallons still and never broke down. Bought my next car and ran out at 17 miles past the --- mark.Once drove my Leon R back from a Touring Car race at Brands Hatch back into Gloucestershire with the light on, was convinced I could get back to my local Shell for Optimax. I would've too if they had moved it about 1.5 miles closer.
I used to have a 25 mile commute and a 1.2 Clio. Once the light came on, you had just over 2 gallons left (10 litres I believe).
Now, this meant I could get in 2 round trips to work. Being sensible I would generally stop on the 4th 'leg' at a petrol station that I drove past.
One particular time, the 75-100 mile leg fell on a morning, and I happened to be running a little late. As such, caution was thrown to the wind, and I trundled on to work, arrived on time, and forgot all about it.
After work, hopped in the car, saw the light, and saw the 101 miles I'd done since the light came on (I would reset the trip when the light came on). Ahhh yes. Right then, once more into the fray...
Needless to say, I drove like an economy conscious nun. Despite my efforts, with the trip reading 111 miles, I ran out on Olney high street within sight of the petrol station.
Now, this meant I could get in 2 round trips to work. Being sensible I would generally stop on the 4th 'leg' at a petrol station that I drove past.
One particular time, the 75-100 mile leg fell on a morning, and I happened to be running a little late. As such, caution was thrown to the wind, and I trundled on to work, arrived on time, and forgot all about it.
After work, hopped in the car, saw the light, and saw the 101 miles I'd done since the light came on (I would reset the trip when the light came on). Ahhh yes. Right then, once more into the fray...
Needless to say, I drove like an economy conscious nun. Despite my efforts, with the trip reading 111 miles, I ran out on Olney high street within sight of the petrol station.
Range to empty is predictive based on the driving you are doing in the recent past based on time usually. It thinks you'll be doing that until you run out.
As you get less fuel the range will yo-yo more as it effectively becomes more sensitive to changes.
I've learnt to ignore it and go off previous usage based on my avg mpg gauge. It's only squeaky bum time if its total gridlock.
As you get less fuel the range will yo-yo more as it effectively becomes more sensitive to changes.
I've learnt to ignore it and go off previous usage based on my avg mpg gauge. It's only squeaky bum time if its total gridlock.
Edited by xxChrisxx on Monday 9th June 10:05
Yes!
Discovery 4. Miles counting down towards zero.
"Don't worry!" I confidently stated.
"These counters always give you plenty of leeway".
Counter hit zero- car stopped dead!
Unfortunately it was a Sunday in Belgium and I had to walk 30mins to find one that was open. I assume as the car(Diesel) started right back up the tank wasn't totally empty, all the same I was surprised that zero range = empty rather than zero range being the start of the 'reserve'.
Didn't do that again.
Discovery 4. Miles counting down towards zero.
"Don't worry!" I confidently stated.
"These counters always give you plenty of leeway".
Counter hit zero- car stopped dead!
Unfortunately it was a Sunday in Belgium and I had to walk 30mins to find one that was open. I assume as the car(Diesel) started right back up the tank wasn't totally empty, all the same I was surprised that zero range = empty rather than zero range being the start of the 'reserve'.
Didn't do that again.
Due to religiously calculating my MPG since owning the car, my tank is always run down to the light and sometimes to the "--- range" if I have a lapse of concentration and miss the petrol station.
Tank capacity is 70 litres, max I have managed to get on a fill up was a smidgen over 69 litres.
EDIT: E39 530D
Tank capacity is 70 litres, max I have managed to get on a fill up was a smidgen over 69 litres.
EDIT: E39 530D
xxChrisxx said:
It's only squeaky bum time if its total gridlock.
It was and there were a few looks from fellow road users caused by the "squeaks" emanating from my car :-) Edited by xxChrisxx on Monday 9th June 10:05
The slip roads off the A5 between Stony Stratford and Bletchley are primarily uphill which wouldn't have helped.
My old E36 318is, Red light came on setting off from outside Lampeter, played the game of, "I'll stop at the next one" got all the way to my local Petrol station near home 58.9miles away. I didn't hang around either, still had fun on the twisty bits back over the beacons.
Petrol lights are pessimistic.
Petrol lights are pessimistic.
Old Mondeo only risked it as far as 9 miles past 0.
Have run out on the bike before (which both has a fuel gauge *and* a reserve tap), 100yrds from a petrol station. Only ran out because it was a nice day with emptyish roads, figured I had enough to make it. I would have if I wasn't hooning!
My favourite is setting out on a long journey with less miles remaining than I have to travel. Did it this morning, 102 miles, 90 remaining. Now have 37miles remaining, I think I'd best stop for fuel before I return though!
Have run out on the bike before (which both has a fuel gauge *and* a reserve tap), 100yrds from a petrol station. Only ran out because it was a nice day with emptyish roads, figured I had enough to make it. I would have if I wasn't hooning!
My favourite is setting out on a long journey with less miles remaining than I have to travel. Did it this morning, 102 miles, 90 remaining. Now have 37miles remaining, I think I'd best stop for fuel before I return though!
Have managed 15 miles on 0 range in a Discovery 3, got to fuel station and car wouldn't restart till i bled the system a touch.. 
Also ran out of fuel with 5 miles on the range left, cut out going up a hill, i had half a mile to get to the station. Had to call a mate to come with a jerry can and to bleed the system again..
Most fuel i've put in is 86 litres, the tank is 82...
I try and not play fuel light bingo, i tend to lose and i can't push a D3 as 2.7 tons doesn't move freely.
Also ran out of fuel with 5 miles on the range left, cut out going up a hill, i had half a mile to get to the station. Had to call a mate to come with a jerry can and to bleed the system again..
Most fuel i've put in is 86 litres, the tank is 82...
I try and not play fuel light bingo, i tend to lose and i can't push a D3 as 2.7 tons doesn't move freely.
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