How far can you get with the fuel light on?

[twazzock]

Yo yo, Merry Christmas etc.

My fuel light is on. The next time I use the car I need to travel 16miles, to my girlfriend's house (from whence we shall be going to Brugge, via a petrol station). I don't want to fill up until then. Do you think I'll get there? Would your car get there? How much further could you get? Share your experiences etc. etc.

[Ayahuasca]

twazzock said:

Yo yo, Merry Christmas etc.

My fuel light is on. The next time I use the car I need to travel 16miles, to my girlfriend's house (from whence we shall be going to Brugge, via a petrol station). I don't want to fill up until then. Do you think I'll get there? Would your car get there? How much further could you get? Share your experiences etc. etc.

16 miles? No problem.

[Digby]

Did around 60 miles with mine on once before.Have also had several trips to work and back with it on, so that would be around 30 miles.It will easily do 16 miles if it's accurate.

[sparks_E39]

35 miles range computer read --- for 20 of them.

[jsg612]

Mine comes on when the computer says 45miles remaining. Then it goes to ---miles... Around 60miles after that.

[007 VXR]

Dont want to try

[bull996]

Its funny you should mention this!

My 2009 Volvo seems to go forever-I have done 54 miles with 0 range, but the better hals 5 series conks out literally as it turns to zero!!!

Bloody German effieciency. (sp)

[torqueofthedevil]

On a BM it tells u how many miles. Light comes on when there is about 45 miles left. I'd suspect most are similar

[redstu]

If it's german it's a risk, if idt Japanese then fill up when you feel like it.

[robsco]

I've never tried it. The fuel gauge is only accurate to within a quarter of a tank.

[Larry Dickman]

Are you saying that you don't want to fill up until you are across the water? What I'd be thinking is your gonna be sitting in a queue at the docks or waiting to drive on to the train, so you could be there for up to an hour or something with the engine running to keep warm.

I'd stick some in just to be on the safe side.

[Jasandjules]

Well, my old man told me many, many years ago, that when the light came on there was about a gallon left in the tank....... No idea how true that is !

[jsg612]

Jasandjules said:

Well, my old man told me many, many years ago, that when the light came on there was about a gallon left in the tank....... No idea how true that is !

Can't be far off! Sounds about right to me.

[C2james]

I've done about 40 miles with the fuel light on before I chickened out.

[twazzock]

Larry Dickman said:

Are you saying that you don't want to fill up until you are across the water? What I'd be thinking is your gonna be sitting in a queue at the docks or waiting to drive on to the train, so you could be there for up to an hour or something with the engine running to keep warm.

I'd stick some in just to be on the safe side.

Don't think I'd make it from London to Dover with the guage showing near empty I'll be brimming it at the petrol station down the road from her house, then trying to get to Belgium and back without refilling! (should be possible if driven gently, whether I can manage that on clear motorways is a different matter)

I think I'll risk the 16 miles then.

Those quoting figures over the estimated range - did you actually run out of fuel and conk out, or just wimp out and fill up?

[vit4]

I don't have a fuel light

And on the Astra, the fuel light doesn't work... never had the balls to test that after I took it below the red once and it took 50.something litres (51something litre tank).

[torniquet]

Mine reckons there's 50 miles left from when the fuel light comes on. I've never pushed it less than 1 mile to go but I suspect it would go below 0?

[Larry Dickman]

twazzock said:

Larry Dickman said:

Are you saying that you don't want to fill up until you are across the water? What I'd be thinking is your gonna be sitting in a queue at the docks or waiting to drive on to the train, so you could be there for up to an hour or something with the engine running to keep warm.

I'd stick some in just to be on the safe side.

Don't think I'd make it from London to Dover with the guage showing near empty I'll be brimming it at the petrol station down the road from her house, then trying to get to Belgium and back without refilling! (should be possible if driven gently, whether I can manage that on clear motorways is a different matter)

I think I'll risk the 16 miles then.

Those quoting figures over the estimated range - did you actually run out of fuel and conk out, or just wimp out and fill up?

From reading your op I assumed you lived near Dover & were hoping to save a few quid on fuel in France.

[dowahdiddyman]

16 miles shouldn`t be a problem, unless it`s a Viper at about 10mpg.
Light comes on on my motor and usually risk about 30 miles, but once it came on and the comp. said i`d 80 miles left in tank, bloody damn thing started coughing at 68 miles left.

[Jon911]

Light came on on my M3 and the computer said there was 55 miles left when it ran out on the A40. Don't trust german technology