What to do if you run out of petrol

My_King

Honorary Master
Joined
Jun 5, 2018
Messages
10,671
What to do? Fill the gas tank I guess.
But this is SA. So my guess is don't switch lanes and stay in the 2nd overtaking lane with your hazard lights on until the car comes to a complete stop.Then get a family member or friend to bring you some fuel and have a nice discussion on the higway.
 

bwana

MyBroadband
Super Moderator
Joined
Feb 23, 2005
Messages
89,376
Why would anyone with a brain run out of petrol?
Unfortunate circumstances? I got to a petrol station a couple of weeks ago in the middle of nowhere and their tanks were dry. I was a rental and shouldn't have trusted the KM remaining before I set out but it would have meant driving 40km in the wrong direction to fill up so I chanced it.

Fortunately there was a second petrol station nearby that google maps didn't know about.
 

epah

Honorary Master
Joined
Apr 22, 2014
Messages
11,423
What to do? Fill the gas tank I guess.
But this is SA. So my guess is don't switch lanes and stay in the 2nd overtaking lane with your hazard lights on until the car comes to a complete stop.Then get a family member or friend to bring you some fuel and have a nice discussion on the higway.
This happens quite a lot. some even reverse on the highway. The stupidity.
 

geezer

Expert Member
Joined
May 12, 2006
Messages
4,255
The furthest I had to push a car was about 1.5km when the car I was driving ran out of petrol. It was a company pool vehicle and I had no feel for the consumption of the car and also the fuel gauge possibly got stuck before reaching empty. The car was a 2001 Opel Corsa sedan. I was driving from Sasolburg to Stellenbosch to attend a training course at the University of Stellenbosch. I ran out of fuel about 1.5 km before Richmond (NC) on the N1.

I pushed it alone for about 1km then two youngsters came to my aid and helped me push it the rest of the way to the Caltex at the beginning of the town. The were rewarded very well for their assistance. I must say I was actually quite impressed with the fuel consumption of the Corsa which did about 700km on the 40l tank. That's 17.5km/l.
 

epah

Honorary Master
Joined
Apr 22, 2014
Messages
11,423
Unfortunate circumstances? I got to a petrol station a couple of weeks ago in the middle of nowhere and their tanks were dry. I was a rental and shouldn't have trusted the KM remaining before I set out but it would have meant driving 40km in the wrong direction to fill up so I chanced it.

Fortunately there was a second petrol station nearby that google maps didn't know about.
You make a point, But what about the idiots running out of fuel on the highway in the middle of joburg, Surrounded by at least 4 filling stations in each direction.
 

chrisc

Honorary Master
Joined
Aug 14, 2008
Messages
11,270
A friend regularly runs his car until there is a teaspoon of petrol in it

In the last few years, he has had to replace the petrol pump twice as it sucks up dirt from the bottom of the tank. He won't believe me that this is bad practice
 

Dan C

Honorary Master
Joined
Nov 21, 2005
Messages
36,651
A friend regularly runs his car until there is a teaspoon of petrol in it

In the last few years, he has had to replace the petrol pump twice as it sucks up dirt from the bottom of the tank. He won't believe me that this is bad practice
I panic when the light comes on.
 

nazmo

Expert Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2018
Messages
2,266
Iv run many a tank to 5km range. Never ran empty in 22 yrs of driving. I don't trust my current cars range though so I fill up with a bit left
 

Ragnarök

Expert Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2016
Messages
1,731
I hate stopping and fulling up , such a time waster exercise .

I run till it is absolutely necessary, had a few miscalculations

Just phone a friend
 

epah

Honorary Master
Joined
Apr 22, 2014
Messages
11,423
A friend regularly runs his car until there is a teaspoon of petrol in it

In the last few years, he has had to replace the petrol pump twice as it sucks up dirt from the bottom of the tank. He won't believe me that this is bad practice
Why are you still friends with someone like that?
 

epah

Honorary Master
Joined
Apr 22, 2014
Messages
11,423
I hate stopping and fulling up , such a time waster exercise .

I run till it is absolutely necessary, had a few miscalculations

Just phone a friend
So running out of fuel, blocking the road for everyone else and calling your friend isn't a time wasting exercise?
 

SauRoNZA

Honorary Master
Joined
Jul 6, 2010
Messages
47,842
A friend regularly runs his car until there is a teaspoon of petrol in it

In the last few years, he has had to replace the petrol pump twice as it sucks up dirt from the bottom of the tank. He won't believe me that this is bad practice

Where is his fuel filter?
 

bwana

MyBroadband
Super Moderator
Joined
Feb 23, 2005
Messages
89,376
I hate stopping and fulling up , such a time waster exercise .

I run till it is absolutely necessary, had a few miscalculations

Just phone a friend
One "miscalculation" should have been enough, a few means you haven't thought this approach out adequately.
 

chrisc

Honorary Master
Joined
Aug 14, 2008
Messages
11,270
When the car (Honda CRV) light comes on, its good for 55km. I once filled it right up as the light came on and it took 47 litres. The fuel tank is 53 litres

I think this applies to most cars today
 
Top