How low on fuel do you let your car get before refuelling?

[cactustwirly]

There are plenty of Tesco petrol stations with pay at pump within easy reach of motorway junctions. For example, M4 J3, M25 J9 and M42 J4. Milton Keyes Kingston centre is convenient enough for the M1 as the route between J13 and J14 via Tesco is on fast roads. There is an Asda pay at pump next to M40 J4 and M6 J44. Around Manchester there are Tesco petrol stations next to the M60 at Stockport and Prestwich. So I just fill up when I approach a supermarket petrol station near the motorway when less than 50% full.

There's also Sainsburys, M4 J12 has a Sainsburys with a Starbucks and filling station. It's the cheapest petrol station in the area, often 2p cheaper than Tesco

 

[stuart100100]

I fill mine up usually when it drops below a quarter full and I'm passing the petrol station by me that's always the cheapest. I hate the fuel light coming on and on the odd occasion it does I have to find somewhere to fill up before doing anything else. The estimator wipes itself once the fuel light has been on for a while so you can't judge how much is left based on that

My other half though will happily drive around on zero miles in his car without a second thought. We once pulled in to a petrol station with zero miles which had a Burger King next door, and he decided sitting in the drive thru queue first was more important than getting fuel, the stress of possibly running out in the middle of the queue and being trapped was too much for me and I had to get out and wait by the exit

 

[Peter Sarf]

I fill mine up usually when it drops below a quarter full and I'm passing the petrol station by me that's always the cheapest. I hate the fuel light coming on and on the odd occasion it does I have to find somewhere to fill up before doing anything else. The estimator wipes itself once the fuel light has been on for a while so you can't judge how much is left based on that

My other half though will happily drive around on zero miles in his car without a second thought. We once pulled in to a petrol station with zero miles which had a Burger King next door, and he decided sitting in the drive thru queue first was more important than getting fuel, the stress of possibly running out in the middle of the queue and being trapped was too much for me and I had to get out and wait by the exit

Ah well fuel for his stomach obviously takes priority over the needs of his mechanical steed .

This prompted me to wonder if someone who happily drives on fumes is less likely to consider the other needs of their car - servicing ?. Probably me committing a generalisation there.

 

[315801]

The lowest mine has ever been was to within 18 miles or less because as soon as the available mileage which is ony a rough figure shows 18 miles left, my car then displays a message saying fill up and as soon as that message comes up there is no way to know exactly how much mileage is left but at least it shows the figure of 18 before the fill up message comes on which helps.

 

[andy1pom]

With modern cars when it says 40km to go to empty.
Many years ago when my wife was pregnant with our second child i aways checked we had enough fuel to get to the hospital in Huntingdon. However, the very early morning she went into labour i hadn’t factored in that we had to drop off our youngest with his grand parents in a caravan park some miles away. Got into Huntingdon and 2 miles from hospital i ran out….. no fuel stations open so had to get a taxi; first said no .., we got there in time.
My wife has never forgiven me and everytime the fuel light comes on she reminds me (it was 32 years ago!)

 

[kallyvintage]

I have a very short commute, so can easily do a few days of 'travel' with the fuel light on.
I also live very close to 3 petrol stations so can top up pretty much anytime.

Mrs has just bought a ratty but mechanically sweet 1.6 Diesel Alfa Guilietta, and its a revelation compared to my history of RWD sports cars. 70mpg at 70mph if you are light on the throttle which equates to almost 800 miles range (if you had 800 miles worth of motorway to drive on)
We now use her car wherever possible for the long runs. That gets brimmed when the fuel light comes on as her commute is longer than mine.

 

[Bald Rick]

I have a very short commute, so can easily do a few days of 'travel' with the fuel light on.
I also live very close to 3 petrol stations so can top up pretty much anytime.

Mrs has just bought a ratty but mechanically sweet 1.6 Diesel Alfa Guilietta, and its a revelation compared to my history of RWD sports cars. 70mpg at 70mph if you are light on the throttle which equates to almost 800 miles range (if you had 800 miles worth of motorway to drive on)
We now use her car wherever possible for the long runs. That gets brimmed when the fuel light comes on as her commute is longer than mine.

does it still have the ‘eco’ button, which if you toggle it off is like giving you turbo boost?

 

[kallyvintage]

does it still have the ‘eco’ button, which if you toggle it off is like giving you turbo boost?

No, this has a DNA switch - dynamic, normal and all weather.
I just keep it in normal. Dynamic is better for B-road blasting (in a 100hp diesel maybe not that kind of car) and all weather 'supposedly' better in snow etc (I'm a 'driving specialist' at the minute, with specialties in 4x4 and dynamic driving and if I can get a GT86 anywhere in all weathers im pretty sure I can steer a Diesel Alfa too)

 

[trebor79]

No, this has a DNA switch - dynamic, normal and all weather.
I just keep it in normal. Dynamic is better for B-road blasting (in a 100hp diesel maybe not that kind of car) and all weather 'supposedly' better in snow etc (I'm a 'driving specialist' at the minute, with specialties in 4x4 and dynamic driving and if I can get a GT86 anywhere in all weathers im pretty sure I can steer a Diesel Alfa too)

All weather in my MiTo was surprisingly effective. I got up a 1 in 4 hill with the road covered by compacted snow. Ended up with throttle on the floor and the car just took care of everything and modulated engine power as necessary. Very impressive.