Corsa low on petrol

[january_bug]

I'm hoping you can help, but I'm not sure what information you need so I'll supply any more as necessary!

I have a 1.4l Corsa and, the combination of roads on my commute means that I tend to average at around 40mph. How many miles do you reckon I can do once the petrol meter goes into the red, before I run out!?

I'm trying to get away with it until Friday morning (i.e., once I've been paid) but as I'm a responsible driver and also a girl, I don't want to run out of petrol and be a hazard to others, or risk my own safety with a long walk down a dark country lane.

Thank you in anticipation.

[nic3c]

By my comment above, i meant 30 miles when it reaches the red bit (not the light)...however as the position of the 'red bit' is different on different cars yours may be different...i hope your car makes it!

[january_bug]

Cool - hopefully my little baby will make it!

I've only had her 5 weeks (not even that) and already the following has happened:

• Some b*gger knocked the wing mirror off within 12 hours


• All the dials on the dash stopped working suddenly and returned to zero (or 90 for the temp obviously) - apparently casued by a fault with the cig lighter (which I hadn't even used)

So if something goes wrong now, it'll be the first thing that's actually my fault!

quapmoc - re the loan, I'm good thanks! I have 33 in my wallet, I might stop for 3 litres, but I'll feel MORTIFIED!!!

maggie - bit worried that debating the fuel in my car is the most interesting thing you can find to do! lol Yes, feeling better today - well, sort of anyway. Thanks for asking! :-)

[maggie01]

I have just spent the last 4hrs with 16 under 3's, so I am having a short rest before I start doing some housework.

[qapmoc]

Jan Bug, it was not a waste of time question, you got some advice and I am sure others also got something out of the thread, Now real waste of time posts start like ''what time is it'' or ''anybody back from the pub yet''

[january_bug]

Well, that is true quapmoc! Thanks!

Maggie - 16 under 3s :-O oh my god! Either you had a LOT of babies or you work in a nursery! Either way - sounds EXHAUSTING! (get the motoring pun!?! ha ha! Zzzzzzzzzzzz) :-p

[january_bug]

I am OFFICIALLY a total Div!!!

Right - so I just rememberd that I'm going to see my mate after work... I thought to myself, "how do I get to Lizzie's? Oh yeah, turn right at the petrol garage..."

So I'll borrow �5 of Liz and fill up at the station that's literally 5 minutes away from where my car's parked now! Durrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

[saxo_boi]

hey jan bug id say that ifi i woz in ure position i would just risk it, its 4 1 journey till u get home and i dont think it will do that much damage! maybe if you done it everytime you drove the car then yea but ive driven close 2 empty a few times! i understand what everybody else is saying but i wouldnt have thought it would be to bad! good luck anyways!

[january_bug]

Right then - well, clever old bug had a moment of realisation and checked her bank balance. Turned out the phone bill hadn't gone out yet, which meant I could afford a full tank (which I got from Sainsbury's cos those nectar points are buying me box sets of the OC - oh Yeah! :-) ). So all that worry was for nothing, but we all learned a good lesson. Not sure which of the following it was mind you:

• You can probably get away with driving on red


• Doing it loads screws your engine


• Running out of petrol isn't clever, or good for the car


• Different cars' fuel gauges react in different ways


• Checking your bank balance is sensible


• Remembering that you work practically next door to a petrol station is also handy

:-) Thanks again everyone! :-)

[Graham Jnr]

Hi

It used to be approximately one and a half gallons left in the tank but its difficult to say because many manufacturers design the fuel guage to act pessimistically after the half full mark. This is a form of built in safety factor to make sure you dont run out of fuel. I hope this helps.

PS Your cars handbook should tell you how much fuel is left when its on the red

[Graham Jnr]

Hi Just a further thought, Its bad practice if you drive too often with an almost empty tank because it will drag the debris and water from the bottom of the tank and clog the fuel system up and possibly damage the fuel pump. Drivers of diesel powered vehicles need to heed this even more than petrol powered vehicles. Diesels are more sensitive to sand and water getting into the system

[stanleyman]

Keep a spare can of fuel in the car and a fiver in the glove box, that way you will always be able to get home or to a garage without taking risks. You could also get a diesel car and get 50 - 60 mpg.

[january_bug]

Stanley - thanks, but it's meant to be very dangerous to keep fuel in the car. Also, as you will see from the thread, I literally bought the car 4 weeks ago, and it's a second hand car at that. I can't afford to just change to a different car, and anyway, diesel cars do run out of fuel too!

Fair point about hiding money in the car, but like as not I'd spend it on something other than fuel!!!

Thanks for the help. :-)