UKC

My husband is currently struggling to get fuel and the empty tank has been on for 20 odd miles already. He won't get any til he gets to Perth, roughly another 30 miles. Anyone know if this is panic stations?! It's a 307 diesel if it makes a difference

In reply to girlymonkey:

No panic at all. Probably get to Edinburgh on that! But I may panic then...

In reply to girlymonkey:

No idea, but most cars have about a gallon (4-5 lires) in the reserve. I've often done 50+ miles on the reserve. Obviously he needs to drive *really* slowly and accelerate like a turtle. But he'll probably be ok.

As a general rule of thumb it's always worth keeping a diesel above 1/4 tank, as the fuel lines are finer and more prone to clogging, so it doesn't do it any good running the tank down. I'm sure your husband knows that tho.

In reply to girlymonkey: Will it help the diesel last longer if he panics? Current car's fuel light comes on when it reckons I have 50 miles left, previous cars have done it at 7 litres, 10 litres and when it felt like it. So I think you should tell him to panic, 'cos that'll help.

In reply to girlymonkey:
He's not been driving very long and so panics quite easily at stuff like this. I am more level headed about it. But thought I should check before telling him that it would get him that far!!

In reply to girlymonkey: Diesel cars are really not fun to get going once they've been run dry.

In reply to girlymonkey:I often play fule light lottery and I have managed to go about 20 miles after the meter said zero miles so that's 70 miles after the light came on.

In reply to girlymonkey: Did you hear a rattling noise?

Sounds like it's coming from the exhaust.

There is is again....

In reply to mattrm:


why would they clog when there's less than 1/4 tank?

Tim

In reply to Green Porridge: because there is an urban myth that says if you let the tank run low you risk pulling rust and debris from the bottom of the tank in to the fuel system.

It was a valid idea on motorbikes with fuel taps because swapping to reserve pulled the last of the fuel from the very bottom of the tank but cars pick up from a fixed point.

In reply to Dax H: The rust thing is interesting as most tanks are plastic these days in any case

In reply to girlymonkey:

As long as he is not tempted to drive faster, or get stuck in traffic he will conserve fuel and ,if the car is running efficiently otherwise, he should get a reasonable distance on 'reserve'.

In reply to girlymonkey:

I presume he made it. We often have this problem, usually on a Sunday night because nothings been open when we've needed it, coming back to Dundee from the Northwest, and Perth is the place we have to fill up too. We almost always do about 30miles after the light comes on, and while the first couple of times we worried about it, we don't any more.

In reply to girlymonkey:

They're all wildly different, it depends on tank shape and the gauge calibration. My current car will go 15-20miles with the needle below the bottom red bar. One of my previous cars (with a huge tank) would refuse to prime the fuel pump if it was parked up a couple of miles after the fuel light came on, if you kept it going it'd do another 20odd. I drove work's diesel SAAB 40+ miles on the motorway with the fuel needle off the dial, the light was on for more like 70. Not a relaxing experience!

jk

In reply to girlymonkey:
He did make it. All good. thanks for the replies

In reply to woolsack:

I thought modern ones could self prime.

In reply to Swirly: So the lesson here is Fill up before you go on a long journey!

In reply to Swirly:

They will do, but you risk burning the starter out trying.

In reply to girlymonkey:

The reserve in my passat lasted 60 miles before I broke down, and even after 20liters of fuel, it didnt start. The AA got it going, was a nightmare. Once diesels lose pressure, its hardwork getting them started.

In reply to snoop6060: when I borrowed my friend's T4 it ran out of Diesel twice (you'd think I'd have learned my lesson!) and started first time after refilling.

In reply to girlymonkey:

The empty light came on in my motor just as I drove onto the North Sea Ferry last year.

I was placed at the front of the upper tier, so when the tier / ramp dropped on embarkation, the car pitched downwards alarmingly, and the computer told me I had 70 miles in the tank.

Cue a still cautious pootle to the nearest Edam Scoffer and his petrol station.

In reply to Dax H:
I agree with the rust thing, most tanks these days don't get rusty.
However when ever you fill the tank a certain amount of "gunk" gets into the tank and this will gradually accumulate. If the fuel tank is particularly low then more of this debris will be in suspension. More of a problem with an older car than a new one. I speak from the experience of having to clean out a gunked up carburettor.

In reply to girlymonkey: got an old 306 diesel, get around 50 on reserve if I drive conservatively (and if its 50-60mph roads...stop and start journeys probably more like 35).