Motorists: Running out of fuel

[marty21]

no, but i have a petrol can thing in my car just in case - empty like, i'd have to carry it to the nearest petrol shop

 

[Bob_the_lost]

Have you ever run out of fuel?

Lazy too.

 

[phildwyer]

Quite. We wouldn't want stopping to help a stranded motorist ruin your fuel calcualtions. If you offered him a lift you'd have to weigh him first, and who thinks to carry scales in their car?

Quite frankly I think there is a good case for making these feckless fools pay a price for their irresponsible behavior. There is absolutely no excuse for running out of fuel; it endangers other motorists and inconveniences the security services. Perhaps having to walk a few miles in the pouring rain will make them think twice next time.

 

[zenie]

I honestly do not see how any of these could be a serious impediment to a rational person's ensuring that they do not run out of fuel. Why wouldn't you simply buy additional fuel before taking a diversion, or if the route proved hillier than expected? How could anyone fail to notice a broken guage? Obviously you switch your engine off in traffic. Petrol stations never shut. And I have no idea what you mean by "poor estimates of fuel in tank."

I have certainly never run out of fuel, and neither has anyone I know. I suspect that those who do suffer from some kind of disability.

Obviously??? I don't think I've ever done this.

*ignores trolling bits*

I've never run out of fuel, I've come close quite a few times but I guess the fumes and rust got me there.

 

[dessiato]

This is what I don't understand. Why wouldn't you simply calculate the number of miles you plan to drive and place the appropriate amount of fuel in the tank before setting off? That would seem to be a foolproof way of ensuring you never run out. What am I missing here?

OK, driving from London to Edinburgh responding to an emergency, fill tank at the start of journey, caught in traffic on M25, slow moving, diverted, lost, on A1 still thinking that I can get there on fule load, slow traffic, diversion, back onto A!, diverted through Coldstream, no petrol stations, running short, want to get more fuel. Middle of nowhere, no houses, no petrol stations. enough fuel to get me to Haddington, petrol stations closed. They often close away from large towns and cities. Thankfully I had my spare gallon got to Edinburgh on that and the little left in the tank.

What you are missing is that not every petrol station is open 24/7 outside major cities etc. and you cannot factor in every possibility, especially when responding to an emergency and it is not possible to plan very far ahead. Oh, and if your car is a V12 Jag, you need to have access to petrol stations. so the obvious thing is to keep the tank quite full and carry some spare fuel for the times something doesn't go to plan.

Perhaps you don't do long distances at a moments notice and have the luxury of always being able to plan.

 

[phildwyer]

Perhaps you don't do long distances at a moments notice and have the luxury of always being able to plan.

I do, but I live in the USA, where the petrol stations really do never close. I can't believe they close them in the UK. Where are people supposed to buy fuel when they run low late at night?

 

[dessiato]

I do, but I live in the USA, where the petrol stations really do never close. I can't believe they close them in the UK. Where are people supposed to buy fuel when they run low late at night?

Now you see that is a significant fact missing from your earlier comments.

When I am in the US I have never had a problem and have driven some long distances there. But in the UK it is different. My experience here in Portugal is that most of the petrol stations are open almost 24/7 but will close for religious holidays.

 

[phildwyer]

Now you see that is a significant fact missing from your earlier comments.

But people must run out of fuel all the time! How are you supposed to get fuel if the stations are closed? I'm amazed anyone ever makes it to their destination at all. I feel a bit bad for leaving them stranded on the road now.

 

[dessiato]

But people must run out of fuel all the time! How are you supposed to get fuel if the stations are closed? I'm amazed anyone ever makes it to their destination at all. I feel a bit bad for leaving them stranded on the road now.

We don't because most of us fill up as we go along. It just doesn't work in the event of an emergency and a low tank.

 

[weltweit]

Ran out in a hired diesel van once, on the way to the petrol station.

My bike only managed 100m per tank so I often used to carry a full can strapped to the rear above the rear lights. On one 860m journey I managed not to use it once but I felt good that it was there.

 

[hovis]

no and no. but I have an empty petrol can in the car.

And a kite in case it is windy.

 

[Looby]

I've never run out of fuel before. Partly because the fuel gauge on my first car didn't work at all so I had to go by mileage which made me slightly obsessive about it. I do carry an empty diesel can.

 

[roryer]

Yes, motorists are running out of fuel, about 18 months left before the first major fuel crisis as long as the economy doesn't pick up, in which case possibly even less time. Exciting isn't it?

 

[geminisnake]

Petrol stations never shut.

Have you always lived in a city?? Believe me petrol stations shut all over the UK. Mostly at 10pm. Some(supermarket ones) may have those automatic pumps but sometimes they don't work.

The nearest city to us has a population of over 100,000 and has 1 24 hr station.

Most people who have run out have had dodgy petrol gauges. Cars break

Also if you have a new vehicle you're not always sure how accurate the gauge is or what mileage you can do. We nearly ran out when we got the Triumph. No gauge, the light comes on when there's about 4l of fuel left. You have 30 miles to find a petrol station, not always easy in the NE of Scotland on a Sunday(during the petrol strike)

Repeatedly running out of petrol is a bit stupid though.

 

[Scarlette]

Yes, but more in terms of being unable to start the car than it stopping while out and about. So not too horrendous.

 

[trashpony]

Unless your car is ultra high-tech, trip computers and fuel gauges only record the amount of petrol in the petrol tank itself.

That's useful to know but my fuel indicator didn't work at all - the needle never moved. It was however a very old Triumph Toledo and the fact that the fuse would blow every time you had the windscreen wipers and the lights on at the same time was far more of an issue

 

[Velouria]

Have you always lived in a city?? Believe me petrol stations shut all over the UK. Mostly at 10pm. Some(supermarket ones) may have those automatic pumps but sometimes they don't work.

The nearest city to us has a population of over 100,000 and has 1 24 hr station.

If you are referring to Bonnie Dundee, there's far more than one 24 hour garage ... not counting supermarkets with automated pumps

Jet, Marketgait
Shell, Marketgait
Shell, Forfar Road
Texaco[*], Forfar Road

And there must be at least a few other that I've missed .. Those are just the ones I can remember.

[*] It was a Texaco last time I used it but I think it's changed owner since...

When you keep odd hours, like I used to when I were young, you get to learn where the 24 hour garages are ...

 

[soulman]

So none of you wimps carry 5 litres of spare fuel in your vehicle?

 

[FunkyUK]

Yes and no. I've run out 3 or 4 times on the bike. No fuel guage, but i know roughly how much i can get to a tankfull

 

[Velouria]

So none of you wimps carry 5 litres of spare fuel in your vehicle?

I carry a gallon can in the back, just in case. Only ever had to use it once or twice.

Every couple of months, I chuck it into the tank while at the petrol station, then fill it up again. Petrol goes stale, and its composition changes from season to season...

Did you know, they even dissolve butane (yes, lighter gas!) into petrol? No wonder it's so flammable