Why do so many always drive on low fuel

CIP4 · 16-01-2016 06:33PM #1

Firstly I can understand there is a certain percentage of people who genuinely can't afford to fill their car tanks with fuel which is fair enough but what about everyone else.

Why do so many people who can easily afford to fill their car still choose to only ever put 10-20 quid of fuel in it at a time meaning it's basically on 1/4 tank or less at all times. I mean I know people with new and 2 year old cars that I'd say have never been filled with fuel. Then you have this thing of people driving around for 30-40km with the light on I mean what's the point there is nothing to be gained.

I fill my car every week or two depending and wouldn't let it go below 1/4 of a tank I'm driving almost five years at this stage and have had a fuel warning light come on I'd say 3 times at most.

I just can't see the benefits of not filling up when you can afford too plus it means you have to spend a lot less of your life sitting in petrol stations, coupled with the fact it's nice to have that safety buffer of having at least 200km range so that if there is an emergency in the middle of the night and you need to get somewhere.

So what's people's thoughts am I the odd one for thinking filling up is the logical thing to do or am I missing some fundamental downside.

Mech1 · 16-01-2016 06:36PM

Your dragging all that extra weight around with you, reduces the 0-60 time by almost a second!!:D

retro:electro · 16-01-2016 06:37PM

My red light is always on, I like living on the edge

DopeTech · 16-01-2016 06:39PM

Laziness, I would be guilty of it the odd time but usually top up/fill when the light comes on.

Mech1 · 16-01-2016 06:39PM

I would double the value of my car if i even half filled it!!

16-01-2016 06:39PM

Also driving near the end of tank can give sediment into injection. Never leave under 25% filled.

joebloggs32 · 16-01-2016 06:40PM

CIP4 wrote: »

Firstly I can understand there is a certain percentage of people who genuinely can't afford to fill their car tanks with fuel which is fair enough but what about everyone else.

Why do so many people who can easily afford to fill their car still choose to only ever put 10-20 quid of fuel in it at a time meaning it's basically on 1/4 tank or less at all times. I mean I know people with new and 2 year old cars that I'd say have never been filled with fuel. Then you have this thing of people driving around for 30-40km with the light on I mean what's the point there is nothing to be gained.

I fill my car every week or two depending and wouldn't let it go below 1/4 of a tank I'm driving almost five years at this stage and have had a fuel warning light come on I'd say 3 times at most.

I just can't see the benefits of not filling up when you can afford too plus it means you have to spend a lot less of your life sitting in petrol stations, coupled with the fact it's nice to have that safety buffer of having at least 200km range so that if there is an emergency in the middle of the night and you need to get somewhere.

So what's people's thoughts am I the odd one for thinking filling up is the logical thing to do or am I missing some fundamental downside.

Firstly, it is more economical to do so as your car has less weight to carry, and therefore increasing fuel efficiency.

Secondly, at the moment as price are falling it makes sense to only buy what you need for a few days at a time. If I filled my tank it would be three weeks before the next fill. I'd expect the price to fall in the next three weeks a couple of times.

The other thing is it is not like we live in the outback. How far are you from a station at any one time?

willowthewisp · 16-01-2016 06:40PM

It's a mental thing....3/4 filled my car today though!

deathtocaptcha · 16-01-2016 06:43PM

people driving around on low fuel has no impact on you or other road users...

there are much bigger problems / complaints you should have with other drivers including:

front fog lights on permanently
misaligned front headlights
queue skipping
roundabout etiquette
indicator use
slow drivers
poor merging
poor parking

kieran. · 16-01-2016 06:46PM

Nothing like a bit of diesel roulette to add a bit of excitement to a mundane journey

rizzodun · 16-01-2016 06:50PM

Sometimes I fill my car, sometimes I stick in 20 quid, all the time I stand looking at those around me and think 'Nobody gives a f*ck either way what I do'

What a weird thread, and what a weird thing to be bothered about...

TheChizler · 16-01-2016 06:51PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Also driving near the end of tank can give sediment into injection. Never leave under 25% filled.

Not really relevant to modern cars with pumps with particle filters in the base of the tank anyway. They use fuel for lubrication so only bad if you run down to the last few drops.

Senecio · 16-01-2016 06:53PM

joebloggs32 wrote: »

Firstly, it is more economical to do so as your car has less weight to carry, and therefore increasing fuel efficiency.

I laugh when I hear this from people. Our cars weigh 1,400Kg+ and people are worried that carrying an extra 20-30Kg is going to make real difference?

Del2005 · 16-01-2016 06:54PM

joebloggs32 wrote: »

Firstly, it is more economical to do so as your car has less weight to carry, and therefore increasing fuel efficiency.

Secondly, at the moment as price are falling it makes sense to only buy what you need for a few days at a time. If I filled my tank it would be three weeks before the next fill. I'd expect the price to fall in the next three weeks a couple of times.

The other thing is it is not like we live in the outback. How far are you from a station at any one time?

Checking tyre pressure and servicing would be better for fuel economy than driving with a 1/4 tank.

For a 60l tank you save about a Euro so for €20 your saving about 20c each time you refuel, but you have to refuel 3 times vs once which eats into time you could be doing something you enjoy.

Mr_Muffin · 16-01-2016 06:56PM

I have never had enough cash to even half fill the tank. I look forward to the day where i can fill that baby up to the brim (if it ever comes).

16-01-2016 07:00PM

I used to fill my car to the brim but I have found it handles better with half a tank, maybe its in my head but thats why.

CIP4 · 16-01-2016 07:02PM

Senecio wrote: »

I laugh when I hear this from people. Our cars weigh 1,400Kg+ and people are worried that carrying an extra 20-30Kg is going to make real difference?

Ye it's about the weakest argument you could use as your up a huge amount of money by saving a few kg maybe some genuinely think it does make a huge difference but it clearly doesn't the difference in mpg would be negligible.

The Sidewards Man · 16-01-2016 07:05PM

They probably cant change their puncture either.

eeguy · 16-01-2016 07:07PM

Personally I do it because either hate the thoughts of spendin 70 euro just on petrol.

It eases my mind to break it up into 20 or 30 euro sums.

CIP4 · 16-01-2016 07:08PM

Mr_Muffin wrote: »

I have never had enough cash to even half fill the tank. I look forward to the day where i can fill that baby up to the brim (if it ever comes).

That is a decent reason and the one I mentioned in my opening post which if you don't have the cash to fill it you don't. But you see you insinuated that if you had the money to fill it each time you would to save on the inconvience of having to go to the petrol station more often.

CIP4 · 16-01-2016 07:10PM

rizzodun wrote: »

Sometimes I fill my car, sometimes I stick in 20 quid, all the time I stand looking at those around me and think 'Nobody gives a f*ck either way what I do'

What a weird thread, and what a weird thing to be bothered about...

It makes zero difference to me what way people fill their car and it doesn't bother me. The reason I set up the thread was to see was I missing out on some fundamental reason other than the it makes my car more economical and faster crap.

Bio Mech · 16-01-2016 07:12PM

I never let my car go below half full. Half full is empty to me! Just personal preference really.

pippip · 16-01-2016 07:12PM

The most common time i do it is when I am low on petrol and I pull into the nearest station which then turns out not to be as cheap as others.

I always feel even though its only a few cents why give it to them if they don't feel they should price competitively.

con___manx1 · 16-01-2016 07:18PM

I never fill my car. We are the the 4th most expensive country in the world for petrol. Over 70 percent is tax. The oil price is at it lowest in ten years and d government has not brought down the price. This country is a joke for tax.

pippip · 16-01-2016 07:20PM

con___manx1 wrote: »

I never fill my car. We are the the 4th most expensive country in the world for petrol. Over 70 percent is tax. The oil price is at it lowest in ten years and d government has not brought down the price. This country is a joke for tax.

So you have a magic car?

STIG83 · 16-01-2016 07:20PM

Reminds me of a farm near me, one of the workers let the tractor run out of diesel completely.
Took ages to get it started when filled up.

16-01-2016 07:24PM

I top my car up every week. Some weeks it'll only take €10, sometimes €20 and other timed €50+, so I'm probably one of those who you reckon can only afford €10 or €20 a time!

Skylinehead · 16-01-2016 07:26PM

STIG83 wrote: »

Reminds me of a farm near me, one of the workers let the tractor run out of diesel completely.
Took ages to get it started when filled up.

It was airlocked, usually have to pump it out before you start the engine.

jsd1004 · 16-01-2016 07:37PM

A tank of fuel weighs 50 plus kilos. Bad for economy and performance.

Jesus. · 16-01-2016 07:49PM

joebloggs32 wrote: »

Firstly, it is more economical to do so as your car has less weight to carry, and therefore increasing fuel efficiency.Secondly, at the moment as price are falling it makes sense to only buy what you need for a few days at a time. If I filled my tank it would be three weeks before the next fill. I'd expect the price to fall in the next three weeks a couple of times.
The other thing is it is not like we live in the outback. How far are you from a station at any one time?

Still don't think those two reasons make much sense. You're talking pennies there.

OP I know plenty of folk who put in a dribble every few days. Can't understand it myself

aaakev · 16-01-2016 07:54PM

My fuel is free and but i hate going to fill up, its a pet hate of mine but i have to fill up every week and usually wait until the light is nearly on. First world problems.....

To be fair though this time of year i don't let it run down as much just incase i get caught somewhere in the cold but i usually send someone out to fill it up for me!

Why do so many always drive on low fuel

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