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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

When do you fill up your car?

349 replies

kakeya97 · 27/09/2021 15:02

Total wrong timing for this post I know. Putting the whole panic buying fuel thing aside. Before all this did you fill up when low or like to keep topped? The whole fuel thing has sparked this conversation with Dp though.

I have major anxiety about my diesel level getting too low. If it starts getting under half a tank I'll fill up, likely before it hits half a tank though. I can't relax until it's done. I just like the comfort on having it. I live rurally. Closest station is 8 miles away and shuts at 6pm!! Longer opening and 24 hours stations are much further afield. There aren't many stations on my most widely used routes so tend to have to make a special journey for it. I like to be prepared at all times. I have two disabled children and I like to fill up so I don't have to stop with them to get it.

Dp will literally run his work vehicle on fumes for a few days before topping up - even though he works right by a station - he often takes my (family) car to work to fill up if I'm stuck too. Most of my friends are the same - they let it get really low first.

I'm all good for now and I can assure you I am not panic buying fuel. I put some in middle of last week before it all kicked off and still got 3/4 of a tank full which should last a while. I think it will really bother me when it gets under a 1/4 a tank but it rarely gets that low.

Do you let it get right down or do you keep on top of it?

Genuinely curious that's all 😅

OP posts:
SuperStarRose · 27/09/2021 15:10

I usually always fill my tank when it gets to half.

But up until the day before the panic I'd let it run on fumes and it kept bleeping at me so luckily I filled it up the day before everyone lost the plot.

BrisbaneandGone · 27/09/2021 15:10

When it gets down to about 50 miles left, I actually filled up on Friday for the first time in months as I'm barely using my car. Means I won't have to fill up again until after Christmas unless there's any unexpected trips

DeepaBeesKit · 27/09/2021 15:10

Usually when it gets to 1/4 but often when there's only about 40 miles left in, just because I'm busy. I find below that the estimate of how much is left is unreliable and it drops fast. If we are planning a longer trip I will always fill up before we go, unless there's over 3/4 tank in it.

TokenGinger · 27/09/2021 15:10

When the light comes on, or pay day, whichever comes first.

I can generally get a month out of the tank now I'm working from home the majority of the time, so I just fill up on pay day. However, if the car goes into the red before then, I'll top up maybe £15 until payday then put in a full tank.

If I'm making a long journey mid-month, I'll top it right up for that journey.

knittingaddict · 27/09/2021 15:10

In normal circumstances I get petrol when my warning light comes unless I'm going on a long journey. I'm having to drive to do childcare this week , so will have to top up as soon as I can. I can't afford to run out. Currently have half a tank, but know that with my fuel gauge it will be less than half in reality.

freshFortunes · 27/09/2021 15:11

About 3 days after the light comes on usually. This has massively backfired on me now. I have one car on the drive with zero petrol, light has been on for 4 days and I stopped using it a week ago. I put £20 in the other car on Friday morning (not realising the chaos that was about to arrive) and the light is nearly on in that car too. There is no diesel in any of the five petrol stations I have just driven to. FFS.

WatchWait · 27/09/2021 15:11

@Amandasummers

I run mine on fumes…..so does DP to be honest, but one of the reasons for this is because we are both constantly in and out of different vehicles so I’m reluctant to fill up because I could be driving something different the next day and I can’t afford to keep doing that!

My mum is like you OP, her tank is always full, she NEEDS fuel in her eyes before it’s half way. I think she’s mad 🤣

I wonder if I'm your mum 🤣
bloodywhitecat · 27/09/2021 15:11

Like you I live rurally, our nearest 24hr petrol station is a good half an hour away and our local stations shut early. I try to keep the tank topped up as I have a baby with epilepsy and a DH with cancer, I am currently sitting at half a tank and it makes me feel twitchy.

WheresYourSnickers · 27/09/2021 15:11

I've been known to drive with fuel indicator saying 0km to empty.

mum2jakie · 27/09/2021 15:11

When the light comes on but I do have a petrol station at the end of the road!

nokidshere · 27/09/2021 15:12

When the light comes on, there's usually around 30 miles left at that point so I just put 15 quid in next time I'm passing the pump.

Allthingspeaches · 27/09/2021 15:12

I know once it stops displaying how many miles I have left I have 30miles to go before I'm out. I'll fill up a couple of days after that.

I have filled up today though as I could go into labour from any point onwards and I need to be able to get to the hospital when I need to.

Fluffypastelslippers · 27/09/2021 15:12

I don't think it's abnormal to be 12 miles from a pergola station and definitely not to be 8 miles away!

I just fill mine when the light comes on

ohihateithere · 27/09/2021 15:12

Last 20 miles or so when it's on red

SuperstarDog · 27/09/2021 15:12

I used to fill up when it got down to 1/4 full ish, partner would wait for light to come on. We have electric cars now and very glad of them at the moment.

Glittertwins · 27/09/2021 15:12

1/4 tank of diesel left. My car seems to drop like a stone after that left so I tend to see how many miles I have already done but I don't like running it on vapours and never have done.

Theoldcuriosityshop · 27/09/2021 15:13

kakeya97
You're not the only one, I panic if it goes under 1/2. Rest of my family wait until its flashing red, I can't live like that Confused

SuperStarRose · 27/09/2021 15:13

My car is diesel though and if you let it get to low you get a load of sludge in the system and diesel tanks can freeze up in the winter if there's not enough fuel in it so that's the reason why I try and keep it half full

Cactus1982 · 27/09/2021 15:13

When the light comes on as well, but I’ve got three petrol stations within a short drive of my house so it’s not usually a problem.

ohdeariforgot · 27/09/2021 15:13

When the light comes on...

It lit up Friday, but by then there was no petrol in ANY of the garages near us.

Dragonpox · 27/09/2021 15:13

At about 30 miles if staying local. I have two DC under 6 and don't fancy running out with them in the car and trying to push the car out of people's way etc.

WhiskeyNeverStartsToTasteNice · 27/09/2021 15:13

When it goes into red

TheRealMrsMorningstar · 27/09/2021 15:14

When the light comes on and then fill to the top - about once every 3/4 weeks.

Whitefire · 27/09/2021 15:14

The lowest I've got is the 10 mile warning. It is mainly filled when I get the warning which is at 45 miles, so anywhere between that and fumes.

CoalCraft · 27/09/2021 15:15

I usually fill up between the 1/3 and 1/4 mark.