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Author Topic: Empty  (Read 5818 times)

Offline stealthwolf

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Empty
« on: January 31, 2009, 07:50:47 pm »
I know some of you have already buggered off to the 'pod but easy Q:

When the empty light comes on the fuel guage, how much petrol do I have left?

Am trying to work out maximum range based on 25mpg and 35mpg. At the mo, I just fill up as soon as the light comes on.
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Offline Alexander

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Re: Empty
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2009, 08:22:47 pm »
Never tried!! but I would imagine quite alot judging by top gear when they did the fuel challenge!
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Offline WhiteGTI

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Re: Empty
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2009, 08:25:42 pm »
Isnt it something like 30 miles left in the tank when it warns you...
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Offline Shaun

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Re: Empty
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2009, 08:41:41 pm »
According to the manual you should have about 7 litres left when the light comes on... but I wouldn't want to test that theory.

I never let my tank get that empty, though. Probably not so vital in a modern car but years of driving older vehicles where c**p will collect in the bottom of the tank and potentially get sucked up and into the carb (we're going back a while!) or injectors make it a hard habit to break.

I believe that you can damage the cat too if you run out completely.

Apart from that why risk the inconvenience - you'll end up putting in the same amount of fuel overall whether you wait for the light to come on or fill up at, say, a quarter full. What if you had to make an emergency trip and ran out to the car to find you've got practically no petrol/diesel?

Maybe I'm just too cautious?!

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Offline stealthwolf

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Re: Empty
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2009, 08:48:52 pm »
Quote from: Shaun on January 31, 2009, 08:41:41 pm
why risk the inconvenience?

Like I've mentioned, I always fill up as soon as the light comes on. It came on once whilst I was heading home from work for lunch. Didn't know whether I'd have enough to make it back to work and home again or not. Went to the Shell garage, which was unfortunately being replenished by a tanker so had to settle for T99 instead.

7 litres makes about 1.5 gallons which means a range of 37.5 - 52.5 miles.
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Offline MAT ED30

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Re: Empty
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2009, 09:11:32 pm »
i had mine on 0 and ran it for 2 days do little runs and i think it did 20mile ish from 0 and the it did a little dip in power and 2 secs later cut out  :rolleye: had to try it  :signLOL: filled up a can with more fuel and put that in and started first time  :rolleye:
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Offline WhiteGTI

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Re: Empty
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2009, 09:22:38 pm »
^^ haha I've always wanted to try this too! But just got scared that I'd break down in a really awkward location!  :ashamed:
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Offline MAT ED30

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Re: Empty
« Reply #7 on: January 31, 2009, 09:27:25 pm »
Quote from: WhiteGTI on January 31, 2009, 09:22:38 pm
^^ haha I've always wanted to try this too! But just got scared that I'd break down in a really awkward location!  :ashamed:

go on try it  :signLOL: get a can filled with fuel and wait until u hit 0 and then reset your miles to 0 and see what it does from 0  :chicken:
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Offline WhiteGTI

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Re: Empty
« Reply #8 on: January 31, 2009, 09:30:55 pm »
In the Summer I'll give it a go! Too colddddd at the moment!!  :innocent: :innocent: Sounds like fun, plus I guess its always good to know roughly how long the car will go. You never know when you might find yourself in that situation!

Ive noticed on mine that when the warning light comes on with a range of 35 miles, it literally takes about 5 miles for my range to go down to 10miles! Then a matter of minutes before it reads a range of 0. Even though I normally drive even more carefully when the warning light comes on, so therefore my mpg goes up! Strange.
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Offline bennylenny88

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Re: Empty
« Reply #9 on: January 31, 2009, 10:04:46 pm »
i once ran out of fuel not on purpose jsut lazyness.. ended up doing about 30 miles on the reserve tank
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Offline clive_gti

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Re: Empty
« Reply #10 on: February 01, 2009, 09:58:23 am »
I thought running out of petrol could damage the catalytic converter?  Might be wrong though.
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Offline Shaun

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Re: Empty
« Reply #11 on: February 01, 2009, 12:40:56 pm »
I mentioned this in my post above, too, but seems no-one picked up on it... the thrill of playing 'fill-up russian roulette' is obviously too great!!!

Shaun
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Offline SteveS

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Re: Empty
« Reply #12 on: February 01, 2009, 12:48:56 pm »
when my light comes on it says i have about 40miles left, but the guage thing is so close to red it drops so quick, so i fill up!!
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Offline Moschops

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Re: Empty
« Reply #13 on: February 01, 2009, 07:54:29 pm »
Quote from: SteveS on February 01, 2009, 12:48:56 pm
when my light comes on it says i have about 40miles left, but the guage thing is so close to red it drops so quick, so i fill up!!

Yes I 've noticed this too, but have managed about 7 miles whilst reading 0 miles left... :surprised:
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Offline john_o

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Re: Empty
« Reply #14 on: February 01, 2009, 09:57:32 pm »
easily goes 20 miles +, once at 0 miles and the needle is at the empty. I wouldnt generally run it that way but worth knowing its there.
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