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Is this true? Or made up…
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By *inx.x3 OP Woman
over a year ago
Bath |
Iv gave my parents a lot of lifts recently over the last few months.
A few times Iv picked them up and my car has only had anywhere from 12-30 miles left in the tank. Normally my next step would be the petrol station depending on how far I have to drive after. Lowest Iv ran it to was about 4 miles before filling up.
My dad keeps telling me I shouldn’t run the petrol so low as it will fuck up the car engine. Something about if it’s really low it will pick up the crap at the bottom of the petrol tank.
Is there any truth in this or is he talking crap?
He now asks me whenever he sees me have I put petrol in the car as I don’t want to ruin the engine  
Struggling not to roll my eyes when he asks because I can’t see how it’s true so thought I’d ask…
So is it true or not  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I mean sure running low does drag up all the ahit from the bottom but with 4 miles left or so you should be okay, I tend to make an emergency dart to the garage with about 5 miles left myself |
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By *andonmessMan
over a year ago
A world all of his own |
It applies more to older cars with steel tanks. More modern cars have plastic tanks so it's not really an issue, plus as been said, you have a fuel filter inline so that'll prevent any sediment from reaching the engine. |
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"Iv gave my parents a lot of lifts recently over the last few months.
A few times Iv picked them up and my car has only had anywhere from 12-30 miles left in the tank. Normally my next step would be the petrol station depending on how far I have to drive after. Lowest Iv ran it to was about 4 miles before filling up.
My dad keeps telling me I shouldn’t run the petrol so low as it will fuck up the car engine. Something about if it’s really low it will pick up the crap at the bottom of the petrol tank.
Is there any truth in this or is he talking crap?
He now asks me whenever he sees me have I put petrol in the car as I don’t want to ruin the engine
Struggling not to roll my eyes when he asks because I can’t see how it’s true so thought I’d ask…
So is it true or not "
Maybe just fill up the tank? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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The fuel filter will pick up the majority of the crud. I fill my tank every Sunday and use just over half a tank each week. Mainly so I know I have fuel in there if I need extra travel |
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To a certain extent you may pick up any residue or particles that may have collected in the bottom of the tank but this used to happen to older cars, fuel tank technologies have come a long way in the last 20 or 30 years.
Car diesel tanks won't actually fully run out but will always leave about one ltr at the very bottom of the tank so it will self Prime once refilled (your car will stop though!!) Again the diesel fuel filter should catch any nasties that may be in the tank or fuel.
Ideally don't run your car too much into the last quarter on the fuel gauge and try not to go into the red and everything should be OK, but it definitely won't ruin your engine |
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By *x cplCouple
over a year ago
North of Oxford |
The other issue is that all fuel tanks suffer from condensation when there is airspace in them. Which can result in water in the bottom of tanks (water being more dense than fuel and settling at the bottom). Most modern filters will prevent water but its still not good practice to let a fuel tank run really empty. You never know when might need an emergency dash somewhere and trying to get fuel at that time is always a worry. We try and maintain min 1/4 tank full if not more. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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This use to annoy my ex if I didn't fill the car up regular because of this reason.
So I only did it when it was on red. I mean I only ran out of petrol 3 times aswell. |
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"My dads always said that too. That you shouldn’t let it go really low as it could mess up the engine. May be true. May just be a dad thing  . I don’t know. "
It is a dad thing mine is obsessed with it ! |
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I top up mine every day. Not really but frequently as had a bad experience years back when I was stranded as had not realised it was empty, was in the middle if nowhere too. Luckily a good samaritan helped and got out of a sticky situation |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Iv gave my parents a lot of lifts recently over the last few months.
A few times Iv picked them up and my car has only had anywhere from 12-30 miles left in the tank. Normally my next step would be the petrol station depending on how far I have to drive after. Lowest Iv ran it to was about 4 miles before filling up.
My dad keeps telling me I shouldn’t run the petrol so low as it will fuck up the car engine. Something about if it’s really low it will pick up the crap at the bottom of the petrol tank.
Is there any truth in this or is he talking crap?
He now asks me whenever he sees me have I put petrol in the car as I don’t want to ruin the engine
Struggling not to roll my eyes when he asks because I can’t see how it’s true so thought I’d ask…
So is it true or not "
If you're giving them lifts why doesn't he pay for petrol so you can fill it up? |
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By *inx.x3 OP Woman
over a year ago
Bath |
"This use to annoy my ex if I didn't fill the car up regular because of this reason.
So I only did it when it was on red. I mean I only ran out of petrol 3 times aswell. "
Ha ha… I actually ran out of petrol once on the way back after a fab meet. The car said it had 25 miles in it, my house was 18 miles away according to the sat nav so I thought it would be fine and I was tired….. I ran out of petrol 7 miles from my house in a country road  at 1.30am. I had to ring my friend who got out of bed and went to the petrol station and then come to me 
I actually drove past a petrol station on my way home too but I couldn’t be bothered to stop as I was to tired. |
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By *inx.x3 OP Woman
over a year ago
Bath |
"Iv gave my parents a lot of lifts recently over the last few months.
A few times Iv picked them up and my car has only had anywhere from 12-30 miles left in the tank. Normally my next step would be the petrol station depending on how far I have to drive after. Lowest Iv ran it to was about 4 miles before filling up.
My dad keeps telling me I shouldn’t run the petrol so low as it will fuck up the car engine. Something about if it’s really low it will pick up the crap at the bottom of the petrol tank.
Is there any truth in this or is he talking crap?
He now asks me whenever he sees me have I put petrol in the car as I don’t want to ruin the engine
Struggling not to roll my eyes when he asks because I can’t see how it’s true so thought I’d ask…
So is it true or not
If you're giving them lifts why doesn't he pay for petrol so you can fill it up?"
Money isn’t the issue. I can afford the petrol. I don’t want their money. I just always need to be somewhere and forget I need petrol until it’s really low and I get back in the car. Just always in a rush I suppose.
I need to be more organised. |
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By *inx.x3 OP Woman
over a year ago
Bath |
"Pretty sure this is true, but it's only knowledge I've acquired from my dad who rebuilds classic vehicles, so not sure if it's something that still affects newer cars. "
My dad used to rebuild classic cars so maybe that’s where it’s coming from. Although my car is fairly new. |
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It won’t fuck the engine it will just clogg the fuel line and filter.
It’s generally better to not let it happen.
We run several engines that are filled with diesel from cans, (never an ideal) we have to change the fuel filters far more regularly to prevent issues with blocked filters. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"If mine ever goes below 5 miles , I just park on a slight hill facing up and it magically gets about 50 miles of gas put in by God. "
Do you pull a wheelie all the way to the garage?  |
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It’s a Shrodinger’s saying. Both true and not true. 
Cars, motorcycles etc. all have their fuel pickups at the bottom of the tank. They need to be down there or they wouldn’t be able to get the fuel. They don’t float at the top. This is to prevent a buildup of sediment.
What can happen though, is that you get fine particles and scum on the top, particularly with diesel, and this only gets sucked in if you go really low.
Another issue with empty tanks, as someone else has mentioned, is that they attract condensation, and this water really does cause issues.
The biggest issue, for me, is the fact that an unplanned emergency can see you in trouble if you’re low on fuel. It costs nothing more to put in half a tank at a time, to keep it between 1/2 and full, than it does to keep it between empty and 1/2, except the cost of that first 1/2.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Absolutely right. My Mechanic told me off for driving with the orange light on saying that the crap from the bottom of the tank can be disturbed causing problems |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"It’s a Shrodinger’s saying. Both true and not true.
Cars, motorcycles etc. all have their fuel pickups at the bottom of the tank. They need to be down there or they wouldn’t be able to get the fuel. They don’t float at the top. This is to prevent a buildup of sediment.
What can happen though, is that you get fine particles and scum on the top, particularly with diesel, and this only gets sucked in if you go really low.
Another issue with empty tanks, as someone else has mentioned, is that they attract condensation, and this water really does cause issues.
***The biggest issue, for me, is the fact that an unplanned emergency can see you in trouble if you’re low on fuel. It costs nothing more to put in half a tank at a time, to keep it between 1/2 and full, than it does to keep it between empty and 1/2, except the cost of that first 1/2. ***
"
***  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Iv gave my parents a lot of lifts recently over the last few months.
A few times Iv picked them up and my car has only had anywhere from 12-30 miles left in the tank. Normally my next step would be the petrol station depending on how far I have to drive after. Lowest Iv ran it to was about 4 miles before filling up.
My dad keeps telling me I shouldn’t run the petrol so low as it will fuck up the car engine. Something about if it’s really low it will pick up the crap at the bottom of the petrol tank.
Is there any truth in this or is he talking crap?
He now asks me whenever he sees me have I put petrol in the car as I don’t want to ruin the engine
Struggling not to roll my eyes when he asks because I can’t see how it’s true so thought I’d ask…
So is it true or not "
Yes he is right especially with older cars as well you let it run dry and all crap from tank starts blocking fuel lines and carb  |
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Honestly. It’s an old wives tale.. or should that be an old dads tale now.
Fuel tanks get disturbed, they’re in the same car that you’re bouncing over speed bumps and round roundabouts. Do you not think any sediment won’t be moved about..?
Your tank picks up fuel from the same place whether it’s full or empty. It’ll pick up contaminants if they’re there. The filters will deal with it, just replace regularly. There’s usually an additional filter screen in the tank as well for this reason. |
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Myth for 99% cars you see on the road today.
In 15 years driving across multiple cars I always run them to the light as I monitor my MPG.
I check my filters every time I service the car, nothing to be concerned about ever found.
Now leaving a tank half full for a long period of time with that new E10 shite they're peddling is a different story, that does cause water in the tank, different issue though. |
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It’s also worth pointing out that diesel engined vehicles are really not tolerant of being run out of fuel. Very often they will need to have their fuel system bled of air by a mechanic before they will start again if they’re driven to the point of conking out. |
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By *mizhereMan
over a year ago
belfast area |
Pre 1990 when steel tanks used and welding flux would get sucked into the filters
Post the. Plastic moulded and flushed out
Always still possible for some crap to get onto tank less likely now |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Yes and no if you got a newish car then no to badly as newer cars fule pumps have filters in them at stuff
On older cars from the 80s-90s yes it will as there’s dirt and stuff at the bottom off the tank that will get sucked up with the petrol |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Basically this is an old wives tale( or should that be old man's tale) the fuel pick up pipe sits just above the bottom of the tank,any particals of dirt or water will settle on the bottom of the tank so you are always sucking fuel from just above this, so it makes not a jot of different how much fuel is in the tank.
There are filters in the fuel system to stop any debris from getting to the engine.
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