Out of Gas.!!

[Little Nicky]

Had a call this afternoon from the TIV specialist who is sorting out a service on my Chim, telling me that he ran put of petrol on the 'road test' after carrying out the service.!!

He's filled her back up, (not sure with what yet - but it will be added to my bill), but I wondered whether this could potentially cause me any problems.

Loads of posts on this forum warning us not to let the tank run dry.!!!

Any comments.??

[M@H]

...I wouldn't worry about it ..its done now anyway

[Cider Andy]

Many people think that running out of petrol is a bad idea, because of all the rubbish in the bottom of the tank heading for the injectors or the carburettor.

My view is that whatever is in the tank will always be mixed up with the petrol as you drive.

Most of the detritus in the tank (eg. water) is denser than petrol anyway, so would sink to the bottom whether the tank was empty or not.

So, in my opinion, it doesn't matter. Unless someone knows different.

[jonnyb]

Get him to replace the fuel fillter again. At his cost! Running out of fuel allows all the crap in the tank to be sucked up. This is stoped from reaching the engine by the filter, but it can become blocked very quickly. Everything else should be fine.

[Podie]

jonnyb said:

Get him to replace the fuel fillter again. At his cost!

Why..? Surely it's the customers responsibility to ensure that there is enough fuel in the car, for the garage to complete the service - as per the TVR schedule (which includes a road test).

[jonathant]

OK, dumb question. Is the fuel normally sucked out the bottom, maybe through an anti-swirl pot or whatever, or through the top where the float is for the fuel gauge?

[ads]

Podie said:

jonnyb said: Get him to replace the fuel fillter again. At his cost! Why..? Surely it's the customers responsibility to ensure that there is enough fuel in the car, for the garage to complete the service - as per the TVR schedule (which includes a road test).

Well yes, but surly he should have also checked the dials, and realised there was little petrol in it before setting off?

[jonnyb]

There must have been enough fuel for little Nicky to get to a petrol station (or how was she going to get home?)

So the garage must bear the responsibility for running out of fuel. It is up to the garage to ensure there is enough fuel for the road test, as no distance for the test is stipulated in the service schedule, it could be 15 miles it could be 500, how are you supposed to know how far the garage intend to take it?

[Podie]

ads said:

Podie said: jonnyb said: Get him to replace the fuel fillter again. At his cost! Why..? Surely it's the customers responsibility to ensure that there is enough fuel in the car, for the garage to complete the service - as per the TVR schedule (which includes a road test). Well yes, but surly he should have also checked the dials, and realised there was little petrol in it before setting off?

I see your point... but seriously, how accurate is the guage in yours..? 1/4 full to empty lasts about 25 miles in mine...

[ads]

If I fill up when 1/4 full I get around 47 litres in it, so at a guess i would get about 25 miles too. When I have had a service i have left it with around a 1/4 of a tank and it has been fine, my garage seem to do around 5 miles road test, which i should imagine would be fine for a service, but i`m no expert.

[GreenV8S]

I've had the fuel pump fail shortly after running out of fuel, and a brand new replacement fail a few hundred miles later. The explanation was that cr@p had been drawn into the pre-filter within the tank blocking it, and the extra restriction was causing the pump to cavitate which knackered it. After cleaning the internal filter, the problem didn't recur.

[Tyre Smoke]

jonathant said:

OK, dumb question. Is the fuel normally sucked out the bottom, maybe through an anti-swirl pot or whatever, or through the top where the float is for the fuel gauge?

Do you want to think about that for a moment?

[PeterC]

I would ask those that suggest the garage should fill up the car (to conduct a road test) if they are happy to pay a minimum of half an hours mechanics time (estimated at £25) on top of the cost of the fuel. No, I though not.

[jonnyb]

PeterC said:

I would ask those that suggest the garage should fill up the car (to conduct a road test) if they are happy to pay a minimum of half an hours mechanics time (estimated at £25) on top of the cost of the fuel. No, I though not.

So are you suggesting the garage should run the car out of fuel on the road test instead? No, I thought not.

If you take the car to a garage without enough fuel in it for them to conduct the road test, then they should put some fuel in it and add the expense to the bill. Not run the car out of fuel!

[Little Nicky]

jonnyb said:

There must have been enough fuel for little Nicky to get to a petrol station (or how was she going to get home?) So the garage must bear the responsibility for running out of fuel. It is up to the garage to ensure there is enough fuel for the road test, as no distance for the test is stipulated in the service schedule, it could be 15 miles it could be 500, how are you supposed to know how far the garage intend to take it?

Little Nicky is a HE not a SHE.!!

I was being ironic - 6'3" 14st......

[Little Nicky]

PeterC said:

I would ask those that suggest the garage should fill up the car (to conduct a road test) if they are happy to pay a minimum of half an hours mechanics time (estimated at £25) on top of the cost of the fuel. No, I though not.

That's what I was charged - £10 for the petrol and £25 labour.!!!

[david beer]

Having had your money for the service, i would of thought they would just add the fuel cost.I would take that into account for the next service.