Corsa low on petrol

[january_bug]

I'm hoping you can help, but I'm not sure what information you need so I'll supply any more as necessary!

I have a 1.4l Corsa and, the combination of roads on my commute means that I tend to average at around 40mph. How many miles do you reckon I can do once the petrol meter goes into the red, before I run out!?

I'm trying to get away with it until Friday morning (i.e., once I've been paid) but as I'm a responsible driver and also a girl, I don't want to run out of petrol and be a hazard to others, or risk my own safety with a long walk down a dark country lane.

Thank you in anticipation.

[saxo_boi]

depends how much petrol uv got in there at the mo? also when you drive try 2 get into the highest gear asap coz that will reduce the amount of fuel u use.

[january_bug]

thanks saxo - I'll do the higher gear thing thanks. I thought that was a good idea, but I'm glad someone's confirmed it for me.

Basically, I'm about to go into the red, and I'm not sure how much that means I've got left! If someone tells me in litres what that is (or millitres if it's that low lol) then I can work out the miles cos I know my miles/litre. I just don't know how much is left in the tank when I'm JUST entering the red zone!

Any more help will be gratefully received! Cheers!

[saxo_boi]

i know that when my red light comes on it means ive got 4 litres left in the tank, so i would have thought that it would be around the same for you if not more seing as your car is the same size but with a bigger engine than mine. i think i found this out from the manual for my car, have you got 1 that you could take a look in? if my red light came on though i dont think it would last that long, depends how far youve got to travel really. also dont rely on me 2 much because i dont want you to end up running out and it all being my fault lol

[january_bug]

No worries - I know it's better to play safe! If I do run out, I'll only blame myself! Right - I do a 22 mile commute and I reckon the petrol station I first pass on the way home is about 11 miles away (I'm SURE you can do 11 miles in the red). BUT, if I make it home, then I could go to a station nearer to home in the morning. That would mean attempting to do about 27 miles between now and filling up, hainvg only just entered the red.

By the way - I still don't understand how a 1.4l car holds more than 1.4l - I am THAT bad with cars! LOL I do really understand that it's to do with tank size and enginge size, but beyond that I am SOOOO lost! LOL

See, I probably do have the manual, but I don't suppose it gives tips on how far I can eek out the petrol - but yours did, so maybe mine will tell me too! I'll have a root around in the old glove box when I return to my car at 5pm!

Either way, I'll let you know what happens by theis time tomorrow! :-)

Thanks again saxo_boi! :-)

[nic3c]

I'm not sure at what point the red light comes on on Corsas but on my Fiesta (which has a smaller engine than yours) i have around 30 miles-worth left when the light comes on (driving sensibly).

[january_bug]

I don't even know if I have a red light! That's the problem!! I'm just talking about the red bit of the dial - yuo know, left hand side of it (I'm not very good at explaining stuff in cars! sorry!)

But that sounds like I'll just about get away with it nic3c - thanks for your help! :-)

[maggie01]

I was always told that it is bad for the car to let the petrol get too low, as you get a lot of muck in the engine. Don't know if that right!

[january_bug]

You're probably right maggie. I assure you it's not a haibt I'll get into - it's just that I don't want my phone bill to bounce and so I'm avoiding spending money until tomorrow in case the phone bill comes out before pay day! If I weren't so skint, I'd look after the car a bit better!!! :-)

[saxo_boi]

yea i would have thought that you would be ok with that jan_bug but its up2 u init! good luck though n let us know if you end up having to get the bus or sumin!

[ELVIS68]

Jan Bug...Hi..My missus used to do that and it will suck all the cr@p out of your tank and eventually run like a pig....try and sub a fiver off someone

[january_bug]

Seriously - even though I'm JUST into the red and only gonna go another 25 miles?! Well, the nearest petrol station is 10 miles away anyway!

Oh b*gger it this is a pain! :-( *wanders off chuntering about stupid 02 and a �70 bill*

[ELVIS68]

She done it and ended up spending �300...it was never the same after that so she ended up selling it for next to nothing which ended up with her getting her New Clio....crafty cow

[january_bug]

Hang on - letting the petrol go into the red on one single occasion cost her �300!?! On what age car?! I'm not talking about running it dry, just pushing my luck a little!

Christ you're really scaring me now! Fair enough you're right to tell me! :-)

[maggie01]

Thats what I was trying to say really. It's false economy because you end up paying more if the engine gets damaged. As Elvis says, try and borrow a fiver from somewhere till pay day.

[qapmoc]

Jan Bug, The fuel gauges on cars are not hi-tech high quality systems, in fact these can be really cheaply made and you can be sure that each car (even the same models) will have different amounts of fuel in the tank with the same gauge position so you can't judge from somebody elses car.

It also depends on if you are going uphill or downhill because the fuel outlet in most cars is in the back of the tank so that makes a difference as well. ill lend you a fiver if you want, 25% interest compounded daily OK for you?

[january_bug]

Actually - you know, this was actually a pointless question I realise - and I'm very sorry.

I'm at work, on my own, and there's no-one to borrow the money from til I get home tonight. In which case I will have done the 22 odd miles and will be able to go to the petrol station first thing in the morning.

It's either that, or risk the phone bill bouncing and getting bank charges.

I didn't mean to waste people's time, but on reflection there's nothing I can do and I was hoping someone would just say "30 miles when you're only just in the red zone and the warning light isn't actually on yet - no problem" - but obviously not gonna happen.

Thanks for your help though. :-)

[ELVIS68]

No not on one occasion, every time i drove her car it was always on red,I warned her but you know what you women are like...Aint got time,money,didnt notice blah blah blah...2 escorts she knackered by doing this the last one was an L reg.....Now she makes sure her Clio always has petrol...or else its going on Ebay

[ELVIS68]

You could always try the old left your purse at home trick in your local garage...I`m sure they wont call the police over a fiver

[maggie01]

Didn't waste my time. I am sitting here doing b all. Hope you are feeling a lot better today!

[january_bug]

Ah - I'm talking about only one occasion Elvis! today being the first and last!

quapmoc - my mum's Corsa does that. If you emergency stop you get a full tank, but when you pull away again it empties!

I live on a hill and it remains steady on the way up and down and is the same depending on if I park up hill or down!

Anyway - have learnt my lesson and will make sure it stays more full in the future! Thanks for your help again! :-)