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If I remember correctly from the dim distant past when I last read the manual, my Focus drops into limp mode when the fuel reaches a certain level, and cuts out before it runs out to protect the injection system. Doesn't help with mobility if you let it get too low though.
Edited by Old Navy on 03/02/2010 at 17:04
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If I remember correctly from the dim distant past when I last read the manual my Focus drops into limp mode when the fuel reaches a certain level and cuts out before it runs out to protect the injection system. Doesn't help with mobility if you let it get too low though.
Very sensible approach by Ford there. I'd hope this approach is adopted across the board, remember the Top Gear test of a Jag diesel (driving to Scotland and back on one tank?) I seem to remember it was running on a cup-full of fuel in the end (judging by the "fueltankcam") - perhaps Jaguar/Ford "helped" with this experiment, turning off the safety system - or perhaps not all cars have it?
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remember the Top Gear test of a Jag diesel (driving to Scotland and back on one tank?) I seem to remember it was running on a cup-full of fuel in the end (judging by the "fueltankcam")
As ever, I stand ready to be corrected, but I thought that the car that accomplished this feat was an Audi A6?
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It was an A6.
It was the Jag that drove from Basle to Blackpool on one tank.
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It wasn't an A6, I saw it on Dave the other day. It was the 4.0 V8 diesel in an A8. An 03 plate if I remember correctly.. They got 37.something MPG.
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I arrived at the filling station with 27 miles to go.
Interesting. I shall have to start erring on the side of even more caution.
I made it to the roundabout by the power of prayer
While not wishing to discourage prayer, I find that on those occasions when I am seriously anxious about running out of fuel, questions about the most economical way of driving cease to be matters of merely academic interest, and become intensely practical.
As I nervously make progress, my mind is filled with these questions. You know the sort of thing: "What speed should I travel at? Is the best policy to slow down to 15 mph? Which gear should I be in? Should I go up hills in the highest possible gear or should I change down? Should I coast down hills in neutral or in top gear? If I have to stop for a minute, should I turn off the engine? etc, etc."
Edited by tyro on 03/02/2010 at 17:20
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Amazing, Hawkeye. EXACTLY the same thing happened to my wife yesterday driving the C8. She ran out of diesel without realising it. I get a panic call from her saying the engine management light came on and the car 'just died'. I get home last night and go to the abandoned car. Sure enough it won't start, and all manner of warning lights 'Anti-Pollution fault', 'Airbag fault' and other error messages are flashing from the dash board. The fuel guage did move slightly and the computer said it had 47 miles left in it. It was a bit embarasing when the RAC man guessed (correctly) that it was a fuel shortage. He put 8 litres in and the compurter then said there were 23 miles left!? Drove straight to the petrol station with RAC man behind me to fill up!
When it started the engine management warning light stayed on until this morning when it had re-set itself. I still took it for an Italian tune-up on the RAC man's recommendation to clear out the injectors.
Of course I didn't laugh at my wife (much) but let's just say I hope to be dining out on the story for many years!
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& the moral of the tale is, don't trust the miles-to-go indicator.
(I know somebody whose gauge, in the early days of these, about a decade ago, reached 2 miles and then the car stopped, and he said "it shouldn't have done that"...)
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My wife never runs out of fuel. When her car is getting low she just uses mine.
:-(
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The first car with a fuel computer that Nicole had and she runs out of diesel in the first two weeks. I went to rescue her and she stood by the side of the road, wildly arguing with me she hadnt run out of fuel because the computer said 26 miles to empty. The tank was as dry as death valley.
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We used to do quite a few out of fuel breakdowns on the motorway.
Could be a bit of bother because they were often called in by the police because the driver had no breakdown cover.
This left him liable for our callout charge.
No breakdown cover often equalled no money and/or an unwillingness to pay.
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I must admit I am prone to playing "fuel" roulette. I have regularly taken my Altea down to less than 5 miles in tank and been fine.
One day I won't though......
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My brother often takes his cars down to 0 miles range - which is why I've stopped lending him mine, unless it already has a full tank!
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Meh. I've been 40 miles past the "0 miles" point with no problems in the Passat TDI. (Yet. Touch wood, sacrifice black cat etc.)
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I know the garage that the OP mentions very well as Richmond is my home town Darlington road can get very busy and isn't verywide so can get blocked up quickly
back on topic I've never dared go lower than 15 miles remaining to fill up my partner though takes her diesel c4 to about the same but we have never dared take it further usually I fill up when it gets down to the last 50 miles
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>...don't trust the miles-to-go indicator.
Haven't got one in the Volvo, so I'm on my own. I do occasionally play the game of nursing it home (85 miles) on barely enough fuel, but my usage and consumption are pretty consistent, so I reckon that if I set off with Trip 1 showing less than 565 it'll get me home. The orange Feed Me light comes on with about 15 to go, and I've never got more than 63 litres into the 70-litre tank, so it doesn't feel like cutting it very fine. But then, that's probably what Hawkeye used to think. }:---)
Even so, I'm happier filling up between 510 and 550 - which still means I can do three there-and-back trips on a tankful.
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i use the brightness of the fuel gauge light...very dim means about 4 litres...when it gets to something like full moon lumina...im on fumes
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I fill both the Naughty Note and the Vulgar Vitara at half on the gauge. I've run out too many times when I was in penury and had to walk home to be doing it now.
After all, you've got to buy the damn stuff sometime so you might as well keep some in !
IIRC, diesels used to be a beggar to start when they'd run out, often having to use Easy Start and wake the area up with the rattling !
I remember being called out to a coach that had run out.......boosted him up with my big jump leads, filled his air filter box with Easy Start and off it went, rattling like two skeletons caught in flagrante delicto !
Ted
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