Running out of petrol

30 years driving and never run out. I never leave it that low.

40 years. Never. My dad told me that you shouldn't drive it on the sludge at the bottom because it's not good for the engine and trained me (even when skint) to put petrol in once it dipped below the quarter tank mark.

And before the light came on.

30 years and never

Quinlan How does it happen?

We did a test drive, as we left the dealership the salesman mumbled - “I’ll get petrol afterwards”. The car ground to a halt on the motorway. The manager had to get a police officer with a motorcycle to warn drivers coming over the hill, and another car to pick us up.

25 years. Run out twice. Once I was close enough to push it to the petrol station.

19 years driving and ran out twice. First time was due to a dodgy fuel sender on a new to me car (was reading full). Second time I was chancing it due to money issues and was finally on my way to the petrol station.

It happens and it’s not something I could get worked up about.

Never in 20+ years. Skated pretty damn close to it a few times though!

I don't recall ever running out of petrol in 28 years

22 years driving and never run out, neither has DH and he’s been driving 30 years.

Never. I fill up when I get to 1/4 of a tank and I always fill a full tank and check my tire pressure before setting off on a journey longer than 1h. I cannot invision ever running out except maybe when my partner borrows my car and returns it with an empty tank. But that only happened twice before I refused to give him the keys unless he returns it topped up.

Could be to do with sensor placement within the tank - so when it is showing half it is actually a bit less (especially if more of your driving is up and down slopes) - it may feel like it goes down quicker because when the gague shows half, there is actually less than half left

I've been driving since 1983 and only ran out once which was in the first week after passing my test! I almost made it to a petrol station! I was about 200 yards short!

I ended up at a standstill in the middle of a busy road and thankfully some lovely men jumped out of their car and pushed me into the garage!

Never again did I make that mistake!

Never. And never misfuelled either.

33 years and never. Used to live in HK where running out is a motoring offence if the police see you (points and fine) as it’s considered careless driving resulting in you causing an obstruction. Also you’re not allowed to buy fuel in a can so you have to get towed or get a garage to bring you some.

I've run out once, in the queue to get to the pump when the petrol station I was originally aiming for was shut... Car didn't have much range normally and we both thought the tank was 5l bigger than it was (did a rough calculation of normal mpg vs mileage covered before leaving as other option was cancelling the day's plans and asking DH to come back with a can...

Never. And nearly 40 years. I cut it very fine once in an electric car though.

I think it's a lot harder to do in modern cars though.

I have NO idea and it drives me CRAZY. My theory is that has something to do with the choke, but I've spoken to my mechanic, who took a look at the choke and the computer that adjusts it and he says it looks fine. He also has no idea but tells me that this isn't entirely unusual. One of his colleagues' has a theory that when the tank is less full it evaporates more. Who knows!?

To give you a sense of what I'm talking about: I always measure my mileage vs amount of petrol consumed. So, if I fill up at roughly the same half way mark, it will work out that I've usually been able to achieve around 12-13km/litre (assuming my usual pattern of mostly driving locally, for short journeys). However, if I let it get to almost empty (as I did last week), I will get only around 10km/litre. It will be worse in the winter (one of the reasons I think it's the choke).

Never ceases to drive me crazy.

50 years and never run out once. Got close once on holiday, but managed to find a petrol station in time and was very aware of petrol gauge, but was out in the sticks and hadn't passed a garage for ages.

Never in 40 years. Only time it happened to me was in my driving instructor's car - I was not impressed and gave up on him soon after.

DH tends to let the tank go low though - drives me mad when I need to drive 'his' car (technically mine and 'mine' is technically his)

Driving for 40 years and never run out

Over 30 years driving and have never run out.

20 years driving and never run out. Been bloody close a few times but never had to push it to pump or use a jerry can!

19 years driving and never once run out. That includes a lot of driving around in the highlands where petrol stations can be few and far between.
How does it even happen?

20 years, never run pit.
You are both irresponsible

Once but was in the middle of nowhere and conked out on a steep hill.
Usually leave it til the light comes on for filling up though as don't use it loads and petrol station 1 minute from home.
I just have the display with 8 blocks that disappear as the fuel is used and I think if the last one flashes I really am on fumes as it's only happened once!