Empty petrol tank

[UrsulaBursula]

My refuel light came on earlier when driving home from work (about 1 mile away from home). I need to collect something urgently from the shop this evening but worried if I would have enough petrol to get me there and back?

Car is a Ford ecosport 2018 and the shop is roughly 2 miles there and 2 miles back (down hill going and coming back up a steepish hill).
I don’t get paid until midnight but need to go out now. Nobody local to go can help.

I read before that cars usually have about 5 miles left once the light comes on- usually I refill before the light comes on but I can’t this time and I’m so worried. Would you chance it?

It'll be fine! I was told you could get 30-40 miles out of it after the petrol light comes on - essentially what should be enough to get you to a petrol station (this could be wrong!)

I wouldn't worry about only a few miles though.

It is usually nearer 30 miles left . Does your dashboard not calculate it based on recent mpg.

I would. I've managed to drive around a fair bit in my car once the light goes on. Not as a regular thing but if you need to urgently then I would.

Mine has 50 miles left when the light comes on.
You’ll be fine.

Yes definitely. A mechanic once told me a car had about 30 miles once the light goes on, so I can’t imagine any car has less than 5.

You’ll be fine.
Most cars have 30 miles or so left once the lights on, but that obviously depends on journey and driving etc.

But you’ll be fine.

You have way more than 5 miles, think about motorways, you’d be stuffed if the light came on. Some services are miles away

More like 30 miles op, you'll be fine .

Thank you so much for answering promptly!! I’m here stressing if I can do the journey

I have heard that some cars give a reading of how much petrol may be left in the tank, however I’m unsure where I would find it as I usually always have at least a half full tank. I’ll check the manual now to see where I may find that info.

Thank you again - I can breath now

Mine comes on when I've still got 50ish miles left, my last car 40ish so you'll definitely be fine to fo 4 miles! I go for days with my light on if I'm not passing a fuel station, 12 mile commute

I’m so glad it has more than 5 miles. I was so panicked. Thank you so much

@BrandNewFor2022

It'll be fine! I was told you could get 30-40 miles out of it after the petrol light comes on - essentially what should be enough to get you to a petrol station (this could be wrong!)

I wouldn't worry about only a few miles though.

Yes this. One of my favourite games!

Once had to empty a fuel tank for a new one to be fitted. Felt like I got about 100 miles out of the light! 😂

I often play roulette with my petrol tank. I can drive around for a good 30+ miles with the light on

I've got a ford eco boost fiesta. I don't often let it get empty enough for the light to come on, but when it does, the amount of miles left goes down REALLY quickly. Did a two mile journey the other day which was nearly all downhill but it went from 28 miles to 16 for a two mile journey

Is there no petrol gauge on the dashboard?!

@WhatIsThisPlease

I've got a ford eco boost fiesta. I don't often let it get empty enough for the light to come on, but when it does, the amount of miles left goes down REALLY quickly. Did a two mile journey the other day which was nearly all downhill but it went from 28 miles to 16 for a two mile journey

It’ll depend how you’re driving on that particular journey. Mine will often say something like 13 miles left, then go up to 20 miles.

@WhatIsThisPlease

I've got a ford eco boost fiesta. I don't often let it get empty enough for the light to come on, but when it does, the amount of miles left goes down REALLY quickly. Did a two mile journey the other day which was nearly all downhill but it went from 28 miles to 16 for a two mile journey

One of my cars had no consistency on the fuel tank. I’ll get 40 miles out of the first quarter, 50 out of the second, 30 out of the third and about 3 till the light comes on!

*has

I can drive to the moon with my fuel light on, if I swear a lot and simultaneously hold my breath 😂

My light comes on with about 30miles to go. In my last car, which was a Ford Focus, I once did approx 8 miles with gauge saying "zero miles to empty", that was a nerve wracking experience!

@WouldIBeATwat

Is there no petrol gauge on the dashboard?!

My car has a digital gauge, separated into 5 blocks but no indication how far through each block I am, so 2 blocks could be almost 3 or almost 1 left. 56 plate so not very techy! The light came on today but no indication of how many miles left.

@WouldIBeATwat

Is there no petrol gauge on the dashboard?!

Of course there is, but like the photo shown - it just has the Empty, Halfway and Full markers. I’m unsure how many actual miles I have left and I read before when the light comes on when there’s around 5 miles left so honestly I’ve never chanced it to know how far empty can get me

Try the end of the indicator for the info - it may scroll through milage, miles left, average speed etc

I live in Leeds and I've tested the theory many times that as long as I've passed Manchester, Sheffield or Wetherby before the light comes on, I'll get home on the fuel I've got. Never even come close to running out.

it just has the Empty, Halfway and Full markers

Reset the mile counter the next time you fill it. See what number it is next time the light comes on. Divide by 2 and 4 for the approx mIleage per half/quarter tank.