Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I’m an idiot (car related)

110 replies

Merryoldgoat · 15/01/2021 07:46

I’ve just had my car collected for its annual service and MOT.

I’ve just realised that the fuel tank is nearly empty. I meant to refuel yesterday but given how little I’m out these days I forgot.

The light hasn’t come on but will soon I’m sure. Will it make the journey to the garage and back?

It’s probably about 6miles each way

YABU - the man will breakdown on the way

YANBU - it’ll be fine but you’ll get (rightly) told off when he brings it back.

I’m so annoyed with myself - I feel like my brain is a foggy bog these days.

OP posts:
WilsonMilson · 15/01/2021 07:51

You get at least 50 miles once the light comes on, so you’re worrying for nothing.

Newfor2021 · 15/01/2021 07:53

As above? I’m really surprised you drive a car and don’t know this!

CastleCrasher · 15/01/2021 07:53

What Wilson said. You'll not be even a quarter of the way into the reserve by the time the car gets back if the light has only just come on and the centre is 6 miles away

BrumBoo · 15/01/2021 07:55

I'm no car expert, but when I went to try before you buy mine, I was assured that even though the petrol light was on it still had a good 40 miles of gas left. If the light isn't even on yet then I'm not sure what the worry is?

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 15/01/2021 07:55

Mine will do at least 60 miles after the light has come on. It will be fine to do 12 miles.

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 15/01/2021 07:55

Should have said, my car is 6 years old.

Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 15/01/2021 07:56

Really? 50 miles?!

I’ll stop freaking out then.

I have literally no idea about cars. I normally fill the car once per month and it’s usually hit a quarter of a tank by that point.

OP posts:
Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 15/01/2021 07:57

Oh - my car is old if that makes a difference? 2002.

OP posts:
Ffsffsffsffsffs · 15/01/2021 07:57

@WilsonMilson

You get at least 50 miles once the light comes on, so you’re worrying for nothing.
Depends on your car model - mine is 20m from light on to "disaster dashboard" where everything flashes at you to stop driving
Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 15/01/2021 07:58

@Ffsffsffsffsffs

That would make me lose my shit

OP posts:
SourMilkGhyll · 15/01/2021 07:59

It will be fine. Should have 30-50 miles left in it when light comes on.

Ffsffsffsffsffs · 15/01/2021 08:06

Also, a full tank in my tiny car is 35 litres and less than 40 quid to fill from vapours to the brim. Dps car costs over 100 quid to fill, so a quarter of a tank is VERY different in terms of mileage.

jendifer · 15/01/2021 08:14

I get 20 miles once the light comes on. I’d call the mechanic and apologise if it will make you feel better.

Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 15/01/2021 08:16

@jendifer

I get 20 miles once the light comes on. I’d call the mechanic and apologise if it will make you feel better.
Oh this is a given!
OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 15/01/2021 08:17

I live in Leeds and know that if the light hasn't come on by the time I pass Manchester or Sheffield, I will get home without running out of fuel.

Even if the light comes on during the trip to the garage, or any little test drive they do, you'll still have plenty of fuel when they bring it back.

randomchap · 15/01/2021 08:17

My car gets about 40 miles when the light comes on. It'll be fine

whoami24601 · 15/01/2021 08:19

There was a Top Gear episode a few years ago where they had to drive from lands end to John o groats on one tank of petrol. The distance they all did on empty tanks was shocking!

smoothchange · 15/01/2021 08:36

I used to regularly drive my car with the light in and even when the display counted down from 60 miles left to 0 miles left I could still do a couple of miles, probably more bit I didn't risk it any further Grin

Your car will be fine. Hope it passes.

PawPawNoodle · 15/01/2021 08:43

If you're that concerned and there's a petrol station on the way you could ring up and ask them to put a tenner in on the way back and you'll pay them for it? My car man would do that for me if I needed him to which I wouldnt because I don't let the car go into the red because of all the horror stories I was told when I started driving about how bad it is for your car

BarbaraofSeville · 15/01/2021 08:48

Seriously, there's no need to apologise for the perceived lack of fuel or ask them to put some in for you. There's absolutely loads in for the journey needed.

singsingbluesilver · 15/01/2021 08:50

Even my really old cars would do at least 30 miles once the light came on. 12 miles and no light on yet- don't worry it will be fine.

singsingbluesilver · 15/01/2021 08:51

If it makes you feel less anxious try googling you car make and finding out if it tells you online how far it will run with the petrol light on.

michaelbaubles · 15/01/2021 08:52

It won't shock or surprise them - I'm amazed that lots of people - maybe even the majority - routinely drive about with the fuel light on and no harm comes to them. I can't bear to be less than half a tank down but my sister only ever puts £10 in at a time and so the light is nearly always on! DP does it too and it stresses me out - but we've never come to a standstill. Probably half the cars they have in the garage have almost no fuel in!

Thefeep · 15/01/2021 08:53

Can’t vote as it’s neither. He won’t break down and you won’t get told off. I drive fir miles with my fuel light on.

cheezy · 15/01/2021 08:53

6 miles is no distance at all!!

Swipe left for the next trending thread