running out of fuel

[Ryeman]

Has anybody any experience in running out of fuel in a diesel?


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[GTD_XU1]

I came close three weeks ago, closer than I thought, when I refilled at BP Peak Downs and took 54.51L on the pump, after filling in Chinchilla, I nearly passed out. I think I might have been a litre or two short at Chinchilla. Try not to run out, from what I have read here and 40 years of anecdotal accounts it isn't worth the hassle.

[gldgti]

Has anybody any experience in running out of fuel in a diesel?


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Several times. Usually its not a problem, only if there is some crud in your tank which is more likely (statistically) to be pulled into the pickup if there is very little fuel in there (like gold panning).

Modern diesels (like post 1970's european) typically self prime if the system is otherwise working well so its not normally a problem.

[Ryeman]

I thought the high pressure pump might suffer damage.


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[gldgti]

I thought the high pressure pump might suffer damage.


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It shouldnt run for long enough without fuel to do any damage. Typically a diesel fuel system will stop running once it sucks in a significant amount of air, due to the compressibility. It will continue to pump (if you crank it) but it wont transfer fuel at the rate or pressure required to the engine to run. But there is always fuel remaining in the system to lubricate parts, it just doesnt pump well because the air is compressible.

Once you fill it up again, the pumping action is sufficient to bleed the air from the system but it wont run until such point at which there is enough pressure being generated for the injectors to function properly.

Needless to say, its not a great idea to run it out of fuel, but its certainly not a disaster (unless you are on your way to hospital or running from the bad guys).

[kaanage]

I suspect that if the HPFP was emptied, then it wouldn't develop enough pressure to load the parts that normally require the diesel fuel to lubricate it.

But what does this have to do with fuel economy?

[gldgti]

But what does this have to do with fuel economy?

Not sure :-P

[Ryeman]

In order to know just how far you can go when you get to the bottom of the red ie exactly what is the useable quantity and thus true 'range' knowing the economy.
I have a 'box' on mine which screws up the maxidot L/100KM.


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[Transporter]

I just fill up when the low fuel warning light comes on.
Lets say I just filled up and my average calculated fuel consumption from the fuel docket was 10L/100km and I put 70L in the 80L fuel tank I know that I had 10L in the tank remaining, I could drive another 100km before I would run out of fuel. There is now need to drive until the tank is empty.

[Ryeman]

I simply want the basic ? as to what is the 'useable' quantity?
And
Is it the same as the handbook quoted capacity?
Sometimes I just want to get to my preferred brand.

[Guest001]

Is it the same as the handbook quoted capacity?

Possibly, probably. Fill it when the light comes on and you wont have to worry.

All this worrying about minor details. Fill it up, go somewhere, fill it up again.

If I had to worry about fuel consumption I would ride a bike.

[Ryeman]

So you don't care what brand you use?
The thread is 'running out of fuel' not economy, or have I missed something?
It does happen.


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[Guest001]

So you don't care what brand you use?
The thread is 'running out of fuel' not economy, or have I missed something?
It does happen.


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I usually use one brand and make sure I never get the level too low. Prefer to fill up earlier than later. However if needed I dont mind using another brand except Ethanol added ones. Your reply 8 refers to economy or did i miss something.
Have just done a 990km trip in the Passat and neither ran out or brought the low fuel light on.
It does happen usually by unobservant drivers who dont watch the instruments or ones run it too close to the wind.

[Ryeman]

It's not a problem if live in a large city but sometimes in the country a brand can be difficult to find in more remote areas, particularly the Vic High Country touring.


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[brad]

In my fuel guzzling TSI the light comes on at 1/8th of a tank. This is usually about 100km DTE after having already done 600km.

I think if I was tooling about a remote area I'd ensure that I topped up with fuel when I got to just below 1/2 (about 400km running). On AU roads, 400km is about 5 hours driving so it's probably sensible to stop & have a break.

If you owned a Holden Craptiva V6 or similar you'd have no choice but to fill up after 400km as you'd be on empty anyway. Anything above that is a bonus.

The only other suggestion I can make is fill a 20L jerrycan with fuel and see how far you can get on a tank.