Range anxiety and stupidity
Discussion
OK guys I'm prepared to be flamed over this one!!!
The other day I took my car out for a road trip / work out, so having planned a route and filled the tank with 99 octane I was off to the border country.
The car's performance was epic and considering I encountered some poor weather conditions ( the forecast was way off ) it was a good drive out.
Now here we go....due to some unforeseen circumstances I went off my planned route and by this time my fuel was getting low. But fear not I was aware of two old style petrol stations I could call into on the way back.
Strangely enough both these garages had closed down, however the real concern was the fact I was still in the back of beyond.
As expected the low fuel warning chime came on which was a bit unsettling...I had no choice but to continued on....a short while later the "very low" fuel warning chine came on ....I was now desperate to find civilisation. I decided to save fuel by turning off the air con and drive the car at tickover speed in 6th gear.
The fuel gauge was now at the bottom of the red marker, so I switched on the "fuel left to empty" display and it indicated 19 miles of fuel remaining
....I got as far as Ponteland and then "surprise surprise" I hit gridlock traffic.....I checked the readout again and saw....7 miles remaining....its countdown continued......
I remembered that there was a petrol station in Darras Hall which was less than two mile away, so I turned off the main road out of the stationary traffic and headed towards my last hope of salvation...Thankfully I made it to the garage which amazingly was open.
I had to wait in the queue of course, and the the display now indicated "6 miles to empty" the engine was still ticking over, I didn't dare to switch it off.
So the point of this rambling is how low on fuel have you actually gone without running out?
I can almost laugh about it now but that was a stressful experience I don't want to repeat ever again I can tell you.
Happy motoring...
The other day I took my car out for a road trip / work out, so having planned a route and filled the tank with 99 octane I was off to the border country.
The car's performance was epic and considering I encountered some poor weather conditions ( the forecast was way off ) it was a good drive out.
Now here we go....due to some unforeseen circumstances I went off my planned route and by this time my fuel was getting low. But fear not I was aware of two old style petrol stations I could call into on the way back.
Strangely enough both these garages had closed down, however the real concern was the fact I was still in the back of beyond.
As expected the low fuel warning chime came on which was a bit unsettling...I had no choice but to continued on....a short while later the "very low" fuel warning chine came on ....I was now desperate to find civilisation. I decided to save fuel by turning off the air con and drive the car at tickover speed in 6th gear.
The fuel gauge was now at the bottom of the red marker, so I switched on the "fuel left to empty" display and it indicated 19 miles of fuel remaining
....I got as far as Ponteland and then "surprise surprise" I hit gridlock traffic.....I checked the readout again and saw....7 miles remaining....its countdown continued......I remembered that there was a petrol station in Darras Hall which was less than two mile away, so I turned off the main road out of the stationary traffic and headed towards my last hope of salvation...Thankfully I made it to the garage which amazingly was open.
I had to wait in the queue of course, and the the display now indicated "6 miles to empty" the engine was still ticking over, I didn't dare to switch it off.
So the point of this rambling is how low on fuel have you actually gone without running out?
I can almost laugh about it now but that was a stressful experience I don't want to repeat ever again I can tell you.
Happy motoring...
I've had a similar experience with my old Audi, difference being, that was a diesel.
I've been stupid enough to push my luck with every vehicle I've owned.
In fact, it was only a few weeks ago, my old faithful Astra ran dry and left me stranded. Thankfully only 10mins walk from a station, but geez it was hard to get started again being a diesel.
I've been stupid enough to push my luck with every vehicle I've owned.
In fact, it was only a few weeks ago, my old faithful Astra ran dry and left me stranded. Thankfully only 10mins walk from a station, but geez it was hard to get started again being a diesel.
MarvinTPA said:
Some time ago I did this.
I've also run out of fuel waiting at a set of lights next to a petrol station and had to push my car ( BMW E28 535 at the time ) on to the forecourt.
2 miles till empty is a definite I've also run out of fuel waiting at a set of lights next to a petrol station and had to push my car ( BMW E28 535 at the time ) on to the forecourt.
It looks like I shouldn't have stressed myself out at 6 miles to empty
Come to think of it that's why Mad Max had two 45 gallon fuel tanks in the boot
My Monaro has been my daily driver for the last 3 years. I've got pretty good (or maybe just foolish) at judging how far I can get out of a tank on my 70 mile commute. Between 300 and 350 miles depending on traffic and driving style.
The low fuel warning seems to kick in at around 50 miles range remaining. The very low fuel warning comes on at about 10 miles remaining. They are conservative estimates in my experience but I tend to drive with the AC off and in 6th gear when the very low warning kicks in.
I have been down to 0 miles once as I pulled on to a petrol station forecourt which was, I must admit, a bit nerve wracking.
I wouldn't do that again.
The low fuel warning seems to kick in at around 50 miles range remaining. The very low fuel warning comes on at about 10 miles remaining. They are conservative estimates in my experience but I tend to drive with the AC off and in 6th gear when the very low warning kicks in.
I have been down to 0 miles once as I pulled on to a petrol station forecourt which was, I must admit, a bit nerve wracking.
I wouldn't do that again.
I've certainly taken the Monaro low and trust the reading pretty well. Disappointingly, on the VE, once you get to 'low fuel' it refuses to tell you the range anymore, it just says Range Low. This kicks in at roughly 50 miles or so, which for me is comfortably another round trip to work (~18 miles each way) but naturally makes a 3rd trip pretty tense
With the fuel shortage I had run it to work on 'Low Fuel', and on the way back up the M1 got the 'Very Low Fuel' warning. Survived another 3 miles with that on, naturally no fuel anywhere, so parked up at home and a couple of mornings took it out to the nearest Shell about 1 mile away, still no luck, at which point the needle is basically below the 'E' mark
Ended up taking the girlfriend's car and filling a jerry can (I know, I was one of those scumbags!) in order to get some fuel into it so that I could drive further afield to actually fill the tank
With the fuel shortage I had run it to work on 'Low Fuel', and on the way back up the M1 got the 'Very Low Fuel' warning. Survived another 3 miles with that on, naturally no fuel anywhere, so parked up at home and a couple of mornings took it out to the nearest Shell about 1 mile away, still no luck, at which point the needle is basically below the 'E' mark
Ended up taking the girlfriend's car and filling a jerry can (I know, I was one of those scumbags!) in order to get some fuel into it so that I could drive further afield to actually fill the tank
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